What Happens to Money You Send: How Commissary Accounts Work at Rivers CI and What Information You Share

Money you send doesn't sit in a pile waiting to be handed over. It goes into a commissary account the institution maintains for that person - essentially a bank-type account they use to make commissary purchases. When you add money, you're funding the balance they can spend.

The Bureau of Prisons tracks these accounts through a system called TRUFACS. It's a real-time system that processes all commissary-related financial activity - deposits, withdrawals, purchases. Think of it as the recordkeeping backbone that logs when money comes in, when it's spent, and everything in between.

When you send funds, you're also sharing identifying information tied to that payment. Your name, home address, and financial details (like check information) become part of the transaction record. Treat this like any other formal financial transaction - keep your own documentation too.

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• ✓ Use the correct channel for mailed funds - don’t send money to Rivers CI using the facility’s postal address; mailed funds must be addressed to a BOP processing center in Des Moines, Iowa.
• ✓ Include the person’s identifying details carefully (especially the register number) so the funds can be credited to the right commissary account.
• ✓ Remember where the money is going - deposits are stored in the commissary account the institution maintains.
• ✓ Keep your proof of payment (receipt, confirmation page, money order stub, etc.) until you know the funds posted.
• ✓ Follow up if the balance doesn’t update as expected - having your receipt and the exact amount/date helps staff track the transaction.

Because TRUFACS processes everything in real time, it creates a detailed transaction trail. Your name, address, and payment details are all part of that record - and the BOP can review it if they need to investigate unusual or suspicious activity. If you're sending money regularly, consistency helps: same sender details, clear records, clean paperwork. This can prevent avoidable delays or questions down the line.