Commissary, care packages, and ordering cycles
Commissary is how people in custody buy basics like hygiene products, snacks, and writing materials using their commissary fund. At some Kentucky detention centers, that same fund covers video calls and texts/emails too. That is why "putting money on the books" affects more than just snacks.
Care packages are often a separate system from commissary. Some facilities use vendors that sell pre-approved packages designed to meet security standards. Ordering is time-sensitive at many locations: some run on a weekly cycle with a firm cutoff, and orders placed after that cutoff roll into the next delivery window. If your facility publishes cutoff times, treat them like a deadline.
Common Questions
Q
Can I send books and photos to someone in custody?
Books can be restricted by facility, for example one Kentucky jail allows new paperback books but limits them to one per month and treats them as forfeited after they are read. For any mail you send (including photos where allowed), use a complete return name and address and include the inmate number so it is not returned.
Q
What are the typical visiting times and lengths I should expect?
It depends on the facility. One Kentucky DOC example publishes weekend hours from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., while some detention centers limit visits to 20 minutes, and another publishes one 20-minute visit per week.
Q
How can I deposit money for phone minutes or commissary?
Facilities may offer more than one option, including mailed money orders for a canteen/commissary account, deposits at a lobby kiosk, or vendor-based online deposits. For phone minutes in some systems, deposits can be made through the Care-A-Cell joint accounts process.
Q
Do attorneys have different visitation or messaging privileges?
Kentucky DOC publishes a separate process for attorney video visits through Securus, including identity verification and proof of licensure during registration. For Securus attorney video visits, Kentucky DOC states the visit costs $5 for up to a 25-minute session and that visits are not monitored or recorded by staff. For legal documents, attorneys registering for the Legal Mail Portal are required to upload proof of licensure in good standing.
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