Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Sending Money

Three Ways to Put Money on an Inmate's Account at San Joaquin Jail (and the Honor Farm Exception)

Putting money on someone's inmate account at San Joaquin Jail comes down to three options: two cash kiosk locations or an online deposit through SmartDeposit.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

The first option is the cash kiosk inside the visiting lobby. Just walk in during normal business hours and deposit cash directly at the machine.

Can't make it during business hours? There's also a kiosk in the jail's 24-hour lobby, so you can deposit cash any time of day or night.

Your third option is depositing online through SmartDeposit. This is the easiest route if you're not local or just want to handle it from home.

Whichever method you choose (kiosk or SmartDeposit), you'll need to identify who the money is going to. Have the inmate's name or LAR number ready before you start.

  • ✓ Be ready to provide your name, plus the date and amount of your deposit if you’re asking staff about funds.
  • ✓ If you contact staff about account funds, they will only provide information about money you personally deposited. They will not share details about what the inmate purchases.

Honor Farm exception: Do not give money to Honor Farm inmates during visiting. Possession of any amount of money during a visit is grounds for disciplinary action against the inmate.

Practical Tips Next Steps

  • ✓ Double-check that you have the correct inmate name or inmate LAR number before you submit a kiosk or online deposit.

Run into a problem with a deposit, or want to confirm what's available before heading in? Call the facility's inmate visiting phone lines. Jail Core Inmate Visiting is (209) 468-4295, South Jail Inmate Visiting is (209) 468-4676, and Honor Farm Inmate Visiting is (209) 468-4384.

Adding money so your loved one can shop commissary? Timing matters. For inmates housed at the Jail Core and South Jail, commissary orders are processed on Mondays and Thursdays.

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