How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
Money for Iowa DOC offenders goes through a central IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account in Fort Dodge—individual facilities don't accept mailed deposits. To mail funds, use a cashier's check or money order payable to the IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account. Include the offender's name and number, plus your name and full address. Drop-offs at institutions aren't accepted anymore; everything must be mailed to Fort Dodge. Prefer electronic payments? Options include Access Corrections (online or phone), JPay (online or phone), Western Union, and Send2Corrections (app or website). Each provider sets its own fees. Timing varies too: Access Corrections transfers are typically real-time and available within 24 hours, while JPay deposits made before 11:45 AM are generally available the next day.
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Want to keep costs down when sending money to someone in the Iowa Department of Corrections? Here's the quick comparison: Access Corrections online fees start at $3.49, while JPay online fees range from $3.95 to $10.95 depending on your deposit amount. Both accept Visa- or MasterCard-branded credit or debit cards, so the real difference comes down to the fee shown for your specific amount.
For anyone in the Iowa DOC system—including the Third Judicial District—commissary deposits go through one central location: Fort Dodge Correctional Facility (FDCF). You can't drop off a money order at a different site. All funds are received and processed at Fort Dodge, then routed to the person's account. This centralized setup keeps deposits consistent even when someone transfers between facilities. The tradeoff? Details matter. Whether you mail a money order or use an electronic service, follow Iowa DOC's instructions exactly so your deposit doesn't get delayed or returned.
Sending money for the first time comes down to getting the details right. Follow these steps to avoid delays, rejected deposits, or money ending up in the wrong account.
Getting the details right is everything when you're sending money for the first time — one wrong number and your deposit gets delayed or bounced back. Use these checklists to pick a method and make sure your payment includes exactly what Iowa requires.
Tried to hand-deliver a money order to an Iowa prison and got turned away? You didn't do anything wrong. Iowa DOC now routes all deposits through a single location in Fort Dodge—and you have to mail them in.
Mail deposits to the IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account at the Fort Dodge address designated by Iowa DOC. Send a cashier’s check or money order payable to the IDOC Offender Fiduciary Account and include the offender’s name and number, plus your full sender information.
No. Money orders and cashier’s checks are no longer accepted as drop-offs at individual institutions—they must be mailed to the central Fort Dodge address.
It depends on the provider. Access Corrections deposits are typically transferred in real time and available within 24 hours, while JPay deposits made before 11:45 AM are generally available the next day.
Want to keep deposit costs down in the Iowa DOC system? Compare the fee ranges for Access Corrections and JPay, then check the live total before you hit
Timing a commissary deposit? How long it takes depends on how you send it. Here's what Iowa DOC says to expect for the most common options—and what to do if the money doesn't show up when you expect.
How fast commissary money shows up in Iowa prisons depends on which service you use and how you pay. Here's what to expect from each option—and what to do if the funds don't arrive when they should.
