How to Send Money to an Inmate at Montana State Prison (Online vs Mail)

Want to help someone at Montana State Prison cover commissary and other expenses? There are two approved ways to fund their trust account. You can deposit online using the OKTA-based Inmate Trust Account Deposit service, or mail in a cashier's check or U.S. Postal Service (USPS) money order. Both work - but the details matter. Names need to match, IDs need to line up, and what you put in the envelope makes a difference.

For mailed deposits, address the envelope exactly like this: Attn: Mail Room Staff, Inmate's Name, AO Number, 700 Conley Lake Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722.

The online option uses the Inmate Trust Account Deposit service, which runs through OKTA for account setup and sign-in. If you want the fastest route and don't mind creating an online account, this is the way to go.

• ✓ Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, and make sure it matches your visitation application exactly (no nicknames or variations).
• ✓ Have the last four digits of your Social Security number ready for OKTA account creation.

Mail Steps

• ✓ Inmate’s full name and DOC/AO number
• ✓ Sender’s full name and address

Address your envelope like this: Attn: Mail Room Staff, Inmate's Name, AO Number, 700 Conley Lake Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722. Including the inmate's name and AO number helps the mail room route your deposit to the right account.

Only send a cashier's check or a U.S. Postal Service money order. Personal checks aren't accepted - they'll get sent right back to you.

Timing matters here. The facility must receive your deposit within 20 days of the purchase date printed on the cashier's check or money order. Miss that window and you're looking at a return or delay.

Here's one people miss: the envelope has to be postmarked from the area where the approved sender lives. If the postmark doesn't match your listed address, it can cause problems.

Sending a personal check is one of the most common mistakes. Montana State Prison only accepts cashier's checks and USPS money orders for mailed deposits. Personal checks get returned.

For online deposits, name matching trips people up. Use your legal name exactly as it appears on your ID, and make sure it matches your visitation application. Even small differences - like a nickname in one place and your full name in another - can trigger an error in the OKTA system.

Don't overlook the postmark rule for mailed deposits. If the envelope isn't postmarked from your area of residence, your deposit may be delayed or returned.

Stuck during OKTA setup or can't get your deposit account created? Call (406) 444-4234 for help.

If your mailed deposit gets returned or doesn't show up, check the basics before resending. Make sure you used a cashier's check or USPS money order (not a personal check). Confirm the inmate's full name and DOC/AO number were included, along with your full name and address. Verify the facility received it within 20 days of purchase. And if you tucked a personal letter in with the deposit, that's your problem - resend the deposit by itself.