5 Ways to Put Money on an Inmate's Account at Monterey County Jail (and Which Fees to Avoid)
Trying to add money to someone's commissary account at Monterey County Jail? The method you pick makes a real difference in fees. Here's a breakdown of all five approved deposit options, what each one costs, and how to dodge the most common fee traps.
The jail lobby has a kiosk machine for in-person deposits. If you're already heading to the facility, it's a simple way to add funds to someone's trust/commissary account - no mailing required.
Prefer to handle things from home? You can deposit funds online through web.connectnetwork.com, the jail's approved commissary provider. For most people, this is the easiest option when a trip to the lobby isn't practical.
Phone deposits are another approved method. For commissary deposits by phone, Monterey County Jail lists 1-888-988-4768 as the number to use.
Smart Communications phone/tablet features are another option listed by Monterey County Jail. Families often use this route when they want to fund both commissary and calling-related accounts in one place.
Want to skip card-processing fees entirely? Mail a money order or certified check to Smart Communications for deposit. Include the incarcerated person's name and booking number, plus your phone number as the depositor - this ensures the funds get credited to the right account.
Convenience comes at a cost. Online deposits, lobby kiosk deposits, and automated operator deposits all carry a $3.00 processing fee. Making frequent small deposits? That flat fee adds up fast.
Live operator deposits hit your wallet harder - expect a $5.95 processing fee. Fee-for-fee, this is the most expensive way to add money to an account.
Fee saver: Deposits sent through the mail are not subject to a processing fee, which is why mailing a money order or certified check is often the lowest-cost option.
Using SmartInmate online account funding? Watch for two cost rules: a $5.00 minimum deposit and a $1.50 processing fee on every transaction.
Running into trouble with a deposit or calling-account funding? Contact Smart Communications Customer Care at 727-349-1561. Live operators are available 7:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight EST.
When mailing funds, the details matter as much as the payment. Include the incarcerated person's name and booking number, along with your phone number as the depositor. This ensures the deposit gets matched to the correct account.
Some older Monterey County Jail materials still list a previous mailing address: Smart Communications Deposit Center, P.O. Box 1848, Pinellas Park, FL 33780.
Updated guidance effective 12/4/2024 gives a different address. Mail money orders or cashier's checks to: Smart Communications – Monterey County Jail, Attention To: Incarcerated Person Name #Booking Number, P.O. Box 9199, Seminole, FL 33775-9199. Double-check the current address in the latest jail or vendor instructions before sending anything - wrong addresses mean delays or returned deposits.
Note: Two different Smart Communications P.O. Box addresses appear in Monterey County Jail guidance. Use the effective-dated address as your starting point, and verify the current mailing address before you mail a money order or cashier’s check.
Practical Tips Cheapest Safe Options
- ✓ Cheapest on fees: mail a money order or certified check (no processing fee)
- ✓ Expect a $3.00 processing fee for online deposits, lobby kiosk deposits, and automated operator deposits
- ✓ SmartInmate deposits have a $5.00 minimum and a $1.50 processing fee per deposit
- ✓ Live operator deposits cost the most in fees: $5.95 processing fee
- ✓ Put the incarcerated person’s name and booking number on the mailed deposit so it credits correctly
- ✓ Include your phone number (the depositor’s phone number)
- ✓ Double-check the mailing address before you send it, since different Monterey County Jail materials show different Smart Communications P.O. Boxes (a newer effective-dated address and an older one)
Need help with a deposit or calling-account issue through Smart Communications/SmartInmate? Call 727-349-1561. Live operators are available 7:00 AM to 12:00 Midnight EST - helpful when you're trying to fix a posting problem quickly.
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