How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
Sending money to someone at Ellis County Jail means funding their Texas Inmate Trust Fund (commissary) account. Options include approved online vendors, on-site kiosks, monthly ACH debits, or mailing a money order or cashier's check using the facility's deposit instructions. Having trouble with an online deposit? Ellis County routes support through JailATM. Never type your full credit or debit card number into the support form—those tickets get deleted automatically. Also check your spam folder: if your email provider blocks JailATM messages, you won't see their reply. Include an alternate email when submitting a ticket. The trust fund office can usually confirm whether a deposit arrived, but they typically won't share balances or transaction details with third parties. Don't mail cash or personal checks.
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Don’t enter your full credit or debit card number in the JailATM support form—those tickets are deleted automatically. If your email blocks JailATM replies, include an alternate email address on your ticket.
Options include approved online vendors, facility kiosks, monthly ACH debits, or mailing money orders and cashier's checks per the facility's deposit instructions. Make sure you're an approved sender and follow the vendor's processing rules and fees.
No. Don’t send cash or personal checks—they aren’t accepted and may be returned. Use money orders, cashier’s checks, or approved vendor/kiosk options and follow the deposit instructions exactly.
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.
When someone you care about gets booked into Ellis County Jail, that first phone call is often the quickest way to get basic information and start figuring out next steps. Here's what to expect—and how to make sure you actually receive it.
Waiting for that first phone call? The rules depend on where your loved one is in the process. Here's how calls work at Ellis County Jail—from the free booking call to collect-call hours once they're in general population.
