How to Send Money to Someone at Clarke County Jail (mail, kiosk, limits, and commissary deadlines)
Getting money onto someone's account at Clarke County Jail is straightforward once you know the rules. Here are your options, the limits, and the one weekly deadline that catches people off guard.
You have two ways to add money to an inmate account at Clarke County Jail: use the Kiosk Smart Deposit machine in the front lobby, or mail a money order to the Business Office. The lobby kiosk takes cash, credit, or debit - you'll get a receipt when the deposit goes through, though there's a service fee. Mailing money? Stick to money orders. They're handled differently than lobby deposits.
Two rules matter most. The jail won't accept deposits if the account balance is already $200.00 or more. And if you want the money available for this week's commissary, it needs to be received by Tuesday at 7:00 PM.
Heads-up: Don't mail cash or checks. Money orders are the only mailed option - and you can't drop one off at the jail or hand it to staff during visitation. Money orders must be mailed.
Kiosk Lobby
- ✓ Cash
- ✓ Credit card
- ✓ Debit card
- Go to the Kiosk Smart Deposit machine in the front lobby - this is where deposits are taken in person.
- Select the correct inmate - make sure you’re choosing the right person before you submit payment.
- Deposit your funds (cash, credit, or debit) - follow the prompts on the screen to complete the transaction.
- Keep your receipt - the kiosk provides a receipt when money is added, and a service fee applies.
Mail your money order to the Clarke County Jail Business Office at 3015 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605. Include the inmate's name and inmate number so it gets credited to the right account.
Money orders are mail-only at Clarke County Jail. You can't drop one off in person or hand it to staff during a visit. If you're using a money order, it has to go through the mail.
Do not mail: Cash, personal checks, and payroll checks aren’t accepted for inmate accounts by mail.
There's a firm cap: Clarke County Jail won't accept deposits when an inmate's balance hits $200.00 or more. Try to deposit above that limit, and it'll be refused.
The account is meant to safeguard an inmate's money while they're inside and let them buy commissary items. It can also go toward bail or fines. It's not designed to pay household bills or cover family expenses - think of deposits as "inside-the-jail" money with a $200.00 ceiling.
The commissary cutoff is Tuesday at 7:00 PM. Money received after that won't be available until the following week. If you're close to the deadline, pick whichever method gets funds in on time.
Common Pitfalls
- ✓ Mailing cash, personal checks, or payroll checks (mail deposits must be money orders)
- ✓ Trying to bring a money order to the jail (money orders are accepted by mail only)
- ✓ Handing a money order in at visitation (money orders aren’t accepted during visits)
- ✓ Depositing when the inmate’s account balance is already $200.00 or more
Before sending anything, double-check your details. The Business Office address is 3015 Lexington Rd, Athens, GA 30605. Make sure the money order includes the inmate's name and inmate number. If you use the lobby kiosk instead, keep your receipt - you'll need it to track the deposit or confirm the service fee was paid.
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