How to Send Money to Someone at Washington State Penitentiary Without It Getting Rejected
Getting money onto someone's account is usually straightforward—until one small detail causes a rejection. Here's how to use the approved options and get the name-and-number format right the first time.
Western Union is one of the DOC-approved ways to send money to Washington State Penitentiary. Most deposits don't get held up because of the payment itself - they get rejected because of how the information was entered. Get the Washington DOC selection details right, format the account number exactly as DOC expects, and your transfer should go through without a hitch.
When setting up your Western Union transfer, select "Washington Dept Corrections." Use City Code "WA DOC" and State "WA." For the account number, enter the incarcerated person's DOC number followed immediately by their last name - no spaces. It should look like 123456Doe.
The account number format is specific: the six-digit DOC number followed immediately by the person's last name, spelled exactly as it appears in the DOC database. You're combining both into one string - no separate "last name" field. So if the DOC number is 123456 and the last name on file is Doe, you'd enter 123456Doe.
Tip: The last name has to match the DOC database exactly. If the person was booked under a spelling like “Hanson,” you must use “Hanson” even if their legal name is spelled differently.
Never mail cash. Any mail containing cash gets rejected and returned - at the incarcerated person's expense.
Personal checks and stamps are also off-limits. Send either one, and the mail comes back - again, at the incarcerated person's expense.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Confirm the incarcerated person’s six-digit DOC number before you send anything.
- ✓ Double-check the exact last-name spelling shown in the DOC database and use that spelling in the Western Union account number.
- ✓ Enter the account number as DOCnumber+LastName with no spaces (example: 123456Doe).
Stick with electronic deposits through Western Union when you can. Speed only matters if the details are right, though. Select "Washington Dept Corrections" (City Code WA DOC, State WA) and format the account number as DOC number plus last name. Get those details correct, and your deposit won't bounce back.
Need to update your relationship status to immediate family? Washington DOC requires copies of official documents like marriage or birth certificates. Mail copies via USPS to: Department of Corrections, Attn: Statewide Visit Unit, PO Box 41118, Olympia, WA 98504-1118.
Find an Inmate at Washington State Penitentiary
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
