How to send money to someone at Jenkins: options, fees, and the approved-visitor requirement

To send money to someone housed at Jenkins, you must be on that person's approved visitor list. This applies no matter which payment method you choose: online deposits, walk-in options, or money orders. If your payment keeps getting rejected or you can't complete the process, check your approved-visitor status first.

1. Complete the Visitation Request Form - fill it out with your information.
2. Submit the form to the facility where the inmate is housed - approval starts with the facility that has custody of your loved one.

Families sending money to Jenkins typically use one of three methods: JPay (online, mobile, or phone-based), mailing a money order through the voucher/lockbox process, or making a walk-in MoneyGram deposit. Which one works best depends on how you weigh speed against fees. Online and walk-in deposits are convenient but cost more. The voucher-based money order option avoids the deposit fee, though it takes longer to arrive and process.

• ✓ Have the inmate’s Inmate ID ready, since JPay uses it to route the deposit.
• ✓ Pay with a credit or debit card through the JPay website or the JPay mobile app.
• ✓ Use live-agent help if you get stuck. JPay has live agents available 24/7 to help you send money.

• ✓ Create the free money order voucher, print it, and mail it in with your money order.
• ✓ This lockbox/money order voucher method is free (no deposit fee).
• ✓ Plan ahead. You should allow up to two weeks for mail and processing time.

Prefer to pay in person? Walk-in deposits through MoneyGram cost $4.95 per transaction for amounts up to $5,000.00. This can be a good fit when you need to send a larger amount without dealing with tiered online fees.

JPay internet deposits use tiered pricing, so the fee depends on how much you send. For $0.01 to $20.00, the fee is $3.50 per transaction. For $20.01 to $100.00, it's $5.00. For $100.01 to $300.00, it's $6.50. The tiering hits hardest on small deposits: if you send multiple small transfers, you pay that fee each time. It adds up fast.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Confirm you are on the inmate’s approved visitor list before you try to send money, since that requirement applies to every payment method.
• ✓ If you use JPay online, consider fewer, larger deposits when you can. The internet fee is charged per transaction and the price increases by tier ($3.50 for $0.01 to $20.00, $5.00 for $20.01 to $100.00, and $6.50 for $100.01 to $300.00).
• ✓ If your top priority is avoiding the deposit fee, use the lockbox/money order voucher option. It is listed as free when you use the voucher.
• ✓ Build in time for mail and processing if you mail a money order with the voucher. The guidance is to allow up to two weeks.