Helping Loved Ones in Jail: How to Put Money on Their Account

When someone you love is in jail, even for a few days, one of the most practical ways to help is putting money on their account. It covers small things that make a hard stretch a little easier, like phone calls home and basic personal items. The process is simple once you know where to look, but every facility does it a little differently. Here's how it generally works.

What the Money Is Actually For

Jails provide the basics, but many small comforts need to be purchased. Money on an inmate's account is typically used at the commissary, the jail's small store, for things like snacks, toiletries, writing paper, stamps, and extra clothing items allowed by the facility. In many jails it also pays for phone calls or tablet messaging, which for most families is the main reason to send money at all.

Phone Accounts Are Often Separate

This trips up a lot of people. At many facilities, the account for phone calls is run by a separate company and funded separately from the commissary account. Putting money in one doesn't always cover the other. If the main goal is to keep talking, check whether the facility uses a prepaid phone account in your name, a debit account in theirs, or both. If you're not sure, the person in custody can often tell you on their first call which account they've been using.

Start With the Facility's Official Website

The most reliable place to find the right method is the official sheriff's office or jail website, usually under a section for inmate services, inmate funds, or family and friends. It will list which payment companies the facility actually works with. Using only the methods listed there is the best way to make sure the money lands where it should.

The Common Ways to Send Money

Most jails offer some combination of a few options: an online payment through an approved vendor, a payment by phone, or a kiosk in the jail lobby that accepts cash or cards. Some still accept money orders by mail. Online and phone deposits are usually the fastest, while mailed money orders can take several days to post.

Have the person's full name and booking number ready, since deposits are matched to the right account using those details. Booking numbers are often listed on the county's online inmate lookup.

Expect Fees and Limits

Most payment services charge a convenience fee on each deposit, and the amount can vary by method. Facilities may also cap how much can be deposited at once or how much an inmate can spend each week. It's worth checking the fee before choosing a method; sometimes the lobby kiosk is cheaper than paying online.

Watch Out for Scams

Unfortunately, families in a stressful moment are sometimes targeted by people claiming to help. Be cautious about unexpected calls or messages asking you to send money for someone in custody through an app, gift card, or wire transfer. Legitimate jails don't collect deposits that way. When in doubt, hang up and call the facility directly using the number on its official website.

How Much Is Enough?

There's no right amount, and nobody should stretch a tight budget to the breaking point. For a short stay, a modest amount for phone calls and a few personal items is usually plenty. If you're also working on bail, it can make sense to keep deposits small at first, since many people are released within a day or two of bail being posted.

What Happens to Leftover Money

When someone is released, any remaining balance on their account generally goes with them, often as a check or a prepaid debit card issued at release. Policies vary, so it's worth asking the facility how and when the balance is returned, especially if the person is transferred to another facility instead of released.

A Few Common Questions

Can I bring cash to the jail? Many jails have a lobby kiosk that accepts cash. Check the facility's website first, since not every location has one.

How quickly will the money show up? Online and phone deposits often post the same day; mailed money orders can take several days.

Does money on their account help with bail? No. Commissary and phone accounts are separate from bail. A bail agent can explain the bail side.

Can they send money back to me? Policies vary, but leftover funds are usually returned to the person when they're released.

Is there a limit on how much I can send? Many facilities set deposit or spending limits. The official website or jail staff can tell you the current rules.

Putting money on someone's account is one way to help; getting them home is another. Our Auburn team is available any time, day or night, to walk you through the bail side of things.