How to send money to an inmate at Buchanan County Jail (kiosk, online, and order deadlines)

Want to add funds from home? You can deposit money to an inmate's account through inmatecanteen.com. This is often the easiest route when you're racing a deadline and can't make it to the jail in person.

Prefer to pay in person? The jail has a lobby kiosk where you can add funds directly to an inmate's account. Most families use this when they're already at the facility.

For Tuesday commissary orders, the deadline is 8:00 AM on Monday. Deposit after that, and the money won't be available until the next order window.

For Friday orders, deposits must be in by 8:00 AM on Thursday. That early-morning cutoff is strict - waiting until Thursday afternoon means you've missed it.

Here's where it gets confusing: the jail's own information contradicts itself about cash. One statement says the lobby kiosk accepts cash or credit cards. Another says the jail no longer accepts cash, checks, or money orders for bonding or commissary - everything must go through the kiosk. It's unclear whether "through the kiosk" means the kiosk still takes cash, or whether cash is off the table entirely. Bottom line: don't count on using cash until you've confirmed with the jail directly.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Build in extra time if you’re trying to meet a commissary cutoff - Tuesday orders require your deposit by 8:00 AM Monday, and Friday orders require your deposit by 8:00 AM Thursday.
• ✓ If you’re depositing from home, use the jail’s listed online option (inmatecanteen.com) so you’re not depending on an in-person trip.
• ✓ If you use the lobby kiosk, keep your receipt or confirmation until you see the funds post to the inmate’s account.

If anything about payment methods is unclear - especially the cash question - call ahead. A quick phone call can save you a wasted trip and make sure your deposit counts for the next commissary order.