What You Need to Know About the Commissary at FDC Houston

The commissary gives incarcerated people a way to buy items that aren't part of basic care - or to choose something different from what the facility provides. In practice, commissary funds make a real difference in daily comfort, especially when standard-issue options fall short.

The Trust Fund/Deposit Fund program handles key services for inmates: commissary, telephone, and laundry. All of these run through the Trust Fund system, which manages inmate funds and purchases.

Bureau of Prisons policy determines what's available through commissary. The Trust Fund manual spells out which items can be sold, how pricing works, and the process for Special Purpose Orders (SPOs). Selection and prices vary by facility, but the basics stay the same: commissary covers approved products, and SPOs let inmates request certain approved items through a formal ordering process.

You can send money electronically through MoneyGram ExpressPayment. The account number format is specific: use the inmate's eight-digit register number immediately followed by their last name, no spaces or dashes (for example, 12345678DOE). Double-check everything - incorrect information can get a transaction rejected or send money to the wrong account.

Once funds hit your loved one's Trust Fund account, they can spend that balance on commissary - the extras that aren't part of basic care, or better versions of what's issued. If this is your first time sending money, focus on accuracy. The register number, last name, and receive code all need to match BOP requirements so the money posts correctly before commissary ordering comes around.