How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
Sending money to someone at Ellis County Jail usually means funding an Inmate Trust Fund (commissary) account through approved online vendors, kiosk or phone options, or by mailing a money order or cashier's check using the facility's centralized deposit instructions. Many Texas facilities also require you to be an approved sender (for example, on an approved list), so confirm that before sending funds. If you run into a JailATM issue, know that support replies may not reach you if the support email gets blocked. Try submitting your ticket from an alternate email address. Never enter full credit or debit card numbers in the JailATM support form. Tickets with full card numbers are deleted automatically. Don't mail cash or personal checks.
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Use approved online vendors, kiosk or phone options, or mail a money order or cashier’s check by following Ellis County’s centralized deposit instructions. Before you send money, confirm whether you must be an approved sender (such as being on an approved list).
No. Do not send cash or personal checks to the facility. If you mail a deposit, use only a money order or cashier’s check, and follow the vendor or kiosk payment rules for accepted payment types and fees.
Try resubmitting your ticket from an alternate email address. Blocked support emails can prevent replies from reaching you. Also, never enter full credit or debit card numbers in the support form. Tickets containing full card numbers are deleted automatically.
If you're trying to get a message to someone at Ellis County Jail, the policy is clear: staff will not hand-deliver it for you. Here's what to do instead, and what to expect when you need to communicate quickly.
During booking at Ellis County Jail, the person being booked is allowed to make free local calls. The point of that booking phone is practical: it’s there so they can try to arrange bail, let family know what’s going on, or reach an attorney.
If your loved one was just arrested, the fastest chance to hear from them is usually during booking. After that, most communication follows the jail's calling and mail rules.
