How to Send Money to FCI Mendota (CA)

If you're sending money through MoneyGram ExpressPayment, get the account number format right. Use the person's eight-digit register number (no spaces or dashes) followed immediately by their last name. Example: 12345678DOE.

Once money hits an account, it's typically spent at commissary. A recent Bureau of Prisons Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual revision added healthy food options to commissary, along with standardized female/transgender items that may be available through regular commissary or a special purpose order (SPO).

Steps-to-follow

• ✓ Use MoneyGram ExpressPayment only if you can enter the account number exactly as required: the inmate’s 8-digit register number (no spaces or dashes) plus the last name immediately after it.
• ✓ Double-check the account number for typos before you submit it (example format: 12345678DOE).

• ✓ Keep in mind that BOP commissary options can include healthy food choices and standardized female/transgender items (some may be available by special purpose order), which can affect how your loved one uses funds.

Before sending money, confirm the details that change most often: which payment services are currently accepted (beyond MoneyGram), the exact step-by-step instructions the vendor requires, any fees you'll be charged, and typical posting times to the trust account. Stick to official BOP information and FCI Mendota's contact channels for accurate answers.

The Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual update is a system-wide policy, so it's worth checking how it applies at FCI Mendota specifically. Ask what commissary options are currently available and how special purpose orders work for items not on the regular commissary list.

1. Confirm the sending method you plan to use - check the current instructions for that payment service and make sure it is accepted for BOP deposits.
2. Verify the register number and last name spelling - you need the 8-digit register number and the last name exactly, because the MoneyGram ExpressPayment account number must be formatted as 12345678DOE (no spaces or dashes).
3. Check timing and fees before you pay - confirm what you will be charged and how long deposits usually take to post.
4. Ask about local commissary and SPO practice - confirm what items are available through commissary and what requires a special purpose order at FCI Mendota.