Sending Money to an Inmate at Denton County Jail: Commissary vs. Phone Accounts

Denton County Jail uses separate funding paths depending on what you’re trying to pay for. Commissary deposits (money your loved one can use for items inside the jail) are handled through CorrectPay, while phone-debit funds (money used for calls) are handled through SmartInmate / Smart Communications. One reason this trips people up is that CorrectPay’s service menu can show both “Commissary Deposit” and “Phone Time,” so you’ll want to slow down and make sure you’re selecting the service that matches your goal.

If you’re trying to add money for commissary at Denton County Jail, use CorrectPay. You can deposit online by setting up an account at CorrectPay.com, or you can deposit by phone by calling 1-855-836-3364. This is the route to take when your goal is to help your loved one buy commissary items, not to cover phone calls.

• ✓ Commissary deposits (Denton County Jail): CorrectPay.com
• ✓ Commissary deposits by phone: 1-855-836-3364
• ✓ When selecting a service in CorrectPay, look specifically for “Commissary Deposit” (not “Phone Time”).

If your goal is helping with phone calls, you’ll fund the inmate’s phone debit account instead of commissary. Denton County Jail lists smartinmate.com as the place to add these funds online. SmartInmate is part of Smart Communications, and it’s set up for families and friends to create an online account and manage this type of funding.

• ✓ Phone debit funds online: smartinmate.com
• ✓ Phone debit funds by phone (Smart Communications customer service/support): 1-727-349-1561

Before you hit “submit,” take an extra minute to confirm which account you’re funding. Commissary and phone funds are not interchangeable, and Denton County Jail points families to different vendors depending on the purpose. Even though CorrectPay may show both “Commissary Deposit” and “Phone Time” as service options, Denton County’s phone-debit funding is handled through SmartInmate. If you’re trying to help with commissary purchases, stick with CorrectPay’s commissary deposit option.

1. Name the goal (commissary vs. phone) - Decide whether you’re adding spending money for commissary or money for phone calls; the vendor you use depends on that choice.
2. Use CorrectPay for commissary deposits - Deposit online through CorrectPay, or call 1-855-836-3364 if you’re funding commissary.
3. Use SmartInmate/Smart Communications for phone debit - Add phone-debit funds at smartinmate.com or call 1-727-349-1561, and make sure your account is created before you try to add money.