Three Ways to Put Money on an Inmate's Account at Carteret County (And What Each One Costs)
Trying to put money on someone's account at Carteret County? You've got three options: an in-person kiosk, online deposit, or mailing an approved payment. Which one makes sense depends on how fast you need the funds available and how much you're sending.
Carteret County offers three ways to add funds to an inmate account. You can use the deposit kiosk in the main lobby of the Carteret County Sheriff's Office at 304 Craven Street, Beaufort, NC 28516. Not local? Deposit online through JailATM instead. And if you'd rather skip the card entirely, mail in a money order or certified check to be credited to the inmate's trust fund.
The trade-off comes down to speed versus fees. Kiosk deposits post immediately - great when someone needs commissary money now - and charge a flat fee per transaction. Online deposits work from anywhere, but the fee is a percentage of what you send. Bigger deposit, bigger fee.
The deposit kiosk sits in the main lobby of the Carteret County Sheriff's Office at 304 Craven Street, Beaufort, NC 28516. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed holidays). If you can get there during business hours, this is your fastest option.
Speed is the kiosk's biggest advantage. Deposits post to the inmate's account immediately - no waiting. When timing matters, this is the way to go.
The kiosk charges a flat $3.00 transaction fee regardless of how much you deposit. For larger amounts, that flat fee works in your favor since it doesn't scale with the deposit.
To deposit online, create an account with JailATM, search for the facility, enter the inmate's name, and pay by card. JailATM accepts Visa, MasterCard, and Discover - credit or debit.
JailATM charges a 10% transaction fee on online deposits. Send $50, pay $5 in fees. Send $100, pay $10. The fee scales with the amount.
Want to fund the account by mail? The facility accepts money orders, certified checks, and payroll checks. Personal checks and cash aren't accepted - stick to the approved payment types to avoid delays or rejection.
Make the money order or check payable to the inmate's full name. Getting this right helps the facility match the payment to the correct person.
Send money orders and certified checks directly to the detention facility - not to a separate mail processing center. Include only the payment in the envelope. Once received, mailed deposits typically post the following business day. Plan for a little turnaround time compared to the kiosk's instant posting.
Here's where the kiosk and online options really differ: the kiosk charges a flat $3.00 per deposit, while JailATM takes 10% of whatever you send. A few quick examples show when each one saves you money.
- ✓ $20 deposit: kiosk fee $3.00 vs. online fee $2.00 (10% of $20) - online is cheaper
- ✓ $30 deposit: kiosk fee $3.00 vs. online fee $3.00 (10% of $30) - same cost
- ✓ $50 deposit: kiosk fee $3.00 vs. online fee $5.00 (10% of $50) - kiosk is cheaper
- ✓ $100 deposit: kiosk fee $3.00 vs. online fee $10.00 (10% of $100) - kiosk is cheaper
Action
- ✓ Need the money to show up right away: use the kiosk (kiosk deposits post immediately).
- ✓ Want to deposit from home and you’re okay paying a percentage fee: use JailATM (10% transaction fee).
- ✓ Don’t want to use a card: mail a money order, certified check, or payroll check (posted the following business day).
Going in person? The deposit kiosk is in the main lobby of the Carteret County Sheriff's Office at 304 Craven Street, Beaufort, NC 28516. It's open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed holidays).
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