How Does Prison Commissary Work? A Plain-English Guide for Families

Prison commissary is a store inside a prison or jail where your loved one can buy food, hygiene items, stamps and other basics. They don't use cash. Money sent by family, or earned from a prison job, goes into an account, and purchases are taken out of that balance. Every facility sets its own item list, ordering days and spending limits, so the details below are examples, not rules for every prison.

What is commissary in prison?

Commissary (some places call it "canteen") sells items the prison does not hand out, or does not hand out enough of. Common items include snacks, instant noodles, coffee, soap, toothpaste, envelopes, clothing and small electronics. For a full rundown, see our prison commissary list.

The store can be large. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice says its unit commissaries carry over 700 items. A Prison Policy Initiative study of Illinois, Massachusetts and Washington found people spent an average of $947 a year at commissary, and most of that went to food and drinks. Our guide to prison commissary food explains why.

How the trust account works

Your loved one's money sits in an account run by the prison. It is often called an inmate trust account or trust fund. Here is how it works in practice:

• Money goes in. Family deposits and prison wages are added to the account.
• Purchases come out. When an order is filled, the cost is taken from the balance. Oregon's commissary policy says staff verify the money is in the person's general trust account before filling the order.
• Some money is set aside. Systems may take deductions for fees, debts or savings. Washington, for example, applies deductions to money above its monthly commissary cap.

Texas says money in its trust fund earns no interest, so it suggests keeping only what your loved one needs right away. Texas also says any balance left is given to the person when they are released. To learn about deposits, read how to put money on commissary.

How purchases are ordered

There is no single way to shop. Facilities use paper forms, phone systems, kiosks and tablets.

• Order forms or shopping lists. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) publishes price lists so people can prepare their shopping list ahead of time. The commissary list at FCI Milan in Michigan says that leaving the commissary after turning in a slip voids the list.
• Phone or form on set days. Washington State DOC says orders are placed by telephone or order form, only on the days assigned to each facility.
• Kiosks. The D.C. Department of Corrections says every housing unit has a kiosk screen. A person enters their ID number and a PIN, then picks items and amounts.
• Tablets. Some jails also allow tablet ordering. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office in California says people can order through housing-unit kiosks or tablets.

Weekly schedules and spending limits

Most places limit how often your loved one can shop and how much they can spend.

• Oregon: Policy allows one order per week, except for special orders.
• Washington, D.C.: People in general population can order weekly, up to $100 at one facility and $125 at the other.
• Federal prisons: The BOP's commissary policy, dated May 7, 2026, sets a spending limit of $460 per month. It goes up by $50 during the November and December holiday period.

Some items, such as stamps and over-the-counter medicine in federal prisons, do not count toward that limit. Limits are different from deposits. Read our full guide to commissary spending limits.

Who pays for commissary?

Commissary is paid for in two main ways: prison wages and money from home.

Prison wages are very low. A 2017 Prison Policy Initiative survey found regular prison jobs paid an average of $0.86 to $3.45 a day. It also found that six states, including Texas, Georgia and Florida, paid nothing for most regular jobs.

Because wages are so low, families carry much of the cost. The Prison Policy Initiative's commissary study says most commissary money likely comes from family transfers. A 2024 Vera Institute article notes that the $947 average yearly spending is far more than the $180 to $660 a year that typical prison jobs pay. If you are covering these costs, our guide to supporting a loved one in prison on a budget may help.

What if your loved one has no money?

People with little or no money are often called "indigent." Most systems give them a few basics so they are not left without soap or a way to write home.

A 2021 Prison Policy Initiative review found that state indigence cutoffs range from $0 to $25, and most require a low balance for 30 days. Indigent people usually get a hygiene kit and supplies for a limited number of letters. Some states expect repayment later.

Rules are changing in some places. Washington DOC now says a person is indigent if they have not had more than $100 in their account in the 30 days before a request. That is up from $25. In Sonoma County's jail, indigent people get items like a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, writing materials and two stamped envelopes.

Rules differ a lot from place to place, so check with the facility.

Tips for families

• Find the facility's commissary list and schedule online, or call and ask.
• Ask your loved one what they actually need before sending money.
• Remember that a deposit may not be spendable right away. Texas holds single deposits of $500 or more for 14 days.
• Keep receipts for every deposit.