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Sending Money

How to Send Money to Someone in a Louisiana Prison: All Your Options and What to Expect

Sending money to someone in a Louisiana prison is straightforward once you know the DOC-approved options. Here are the main ways to deposit funds, what payment types work, and the rules that can slow things down.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

Louisiana DOC accepts several ways for family and friends to send funds. You can mail a money order, use a MoneyGram walk-up location, deposit online through JPay (including their mobile app), transfer by phone, or use a lobby kiosk. The best option depends on what you have access to (cash vs. card, internet vs. phone) and how quickly you need the money to post.

For online deposits, Louisiana DOC uses JPay (also available as a mobile app). JPay only accepts Visa and MasterCard credit or debit cards, so have one of those ready before you start.

Fees: JPay charges transaction fees on online deposits, so you'll pay more than the amount the person actually receives.

Prefer to handle it by phone? Call 1-800-574-5729 with a Visa or MasterCard credit or debit card ready. Those are the only card types accepted for phone deposits.

If you'd rather pay in person, MoneyGram walk-up locations are another DOC-approved option. This works well if you don't want to create an online account or prefer paying with cash.

Some facilities have lobby kiosks where you can deposit cash directly. The fee is $4.00 per transaction for deposits from $0.01 to $500.00.

Large deposits: Deposits totaling $500 or more trigger an investigation. The funds won't be available until that review is complete.

Stick with DOC-approved methods only. Louisiana DOC explicitly states that using Cash App to send money to inmates is illegal. Even if someone asks you to use it, don't.

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