How to Send Money and Help an Inmate Buy Commissary or a Tablet at SCI Retreat
If you want to help someone at SCI Retreat with commissary, you'll be using JPay, Pennsylvania DOC's approved payment processor. Stick to the official methods, and avoid anyone asking you to send money to a person, a separate website, or an email account.
Pennsylvania DOC uses JPay to process credit card and money order payments to inmates, including people housed at SCI Retreat. Treat any "alternative" payment request as a red flag. Never send money for an inmate to another individual, website, or email account.
Accepted Methods
- ✓ JPay website deposits
- ✓ JPay phone deposits at 800-574-5729
- ✓ Mail a money order to JPay
- ✓ Use the lobby kiosks at the state prison
Need to deposit by phone? Call JPay at 800-574-5729. It’s toll-free and available 24/7.
Before you send funds, know the deposit limits so your payment doesn't get held up. Credit card deposits are capped at $300 per card every 72 hours. Money orders max out at $999.99 each. Cash and walk-in MoneyGram transactions have a $5,000 limit per transaction.
Heads up: An inmate’s account cannot be funded anonymously. Be prepared to provide identifying information when you deposit.
At SCI Retreat, only the inmate can order a tablet, and they do it through the DOC commissary system. Your role is funding: send money to their account so they can make the purchase. A JPay account is required.
If your loved one mentions "link units," that's the currency used on the tablet. One link unit equals one penny. They're used for things like buying songs, sending emails, playing games, and other DOC-approved content. Link units are purchased through commissary orders.
What the tablet can (and can't) do: DOC-approved tablets don't have Wi‑Fi or camera capabilities and can't take photos. They can be used for approved features like email, music, pre-approved games, and eBooks.
Vendor Support
- ✓ JPay deposits and transaction help: 800-574-5729
- ✓ ViaPath Technologies friends & family tablet support: 877-650-4249
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