Missouri
Staying connected with someone in Missouri starts with understanding which system they're in: a county jail or a Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) prison. Here's how families typically handle calls, messages, money, visits, mail, and where to turn when you need answers.
Phone & Messaging
In Missouri, incarcerated people can make outgoing calls but generally cannot receive incoming ones (unless they're on restricted status, which limits even...
Read guideSending Money
If your loved one is in a Missouri DOC prison, you can deposit funds electronically through JPay or mail a money order or cashier's check payable to the...
Read guideVisitation
County jails may require appointments and can be strict about check-in times. In Buchanan County, general-public visitors must schedule appointments during...
Read guideFacility Info
Missouri county jails are run by local sheriff's offices and often post detailed jail-specific rules. DOC prisons run under statewide policies. Even between...
Read guideMail & Photos
Start by finding the exact mailing format for the facility, then follow it closely. Buchanan County Jail instructs people to send inmate mail through the...
Read guideFinding phone numbers, constituent services, and local sheriff contacts
For Missouri DOC questions that go beyond a single facility, Constituent Services is a key starting point. The DOC says Constituent Services provides...
Read guideFind an Inmate
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Common Questions
Q
Can an inmate receive incoming telephone calls?
Generally, no. Missouri DOC states offenders cannot receive telephone calls, but they can make outgoing calls if they are not on restricted status, and segregation housing may have limited phone access. In some county jails, calls are outgoing collect only and may not connect if your phone line blocks collect calls.
Q
How do I set up an account to video visit or message an inmate?
It depends on the facility’s vendor, but systems like CIDNET require you to create a customer account and buy data, which is consumed as you communicate. After you submit a link request, the facility decides whether you are approved or denied. Some Missouri jails also use HomeWAV for video visitation and phone-related services, and Buchanan County requires general-public visitors to schedule visitation appointments by phone or in person during the scheduling window it posts.
Q
What are my options for depositing money to an inmate, and are there deadlines?
For Missouri DOC, you can deposit money electronically through JPay, or mail a money order or cashier’s check with a DOC deposit slip to the Offender Finance Office P.O. Box. In some county jails, deposits are handled through kiosks and online portals. Buchanan County lists commissary cutoffs tied to delivery: deposit by 8:00 a.m. Monday for Tuesday commissary, and by 8:00 a.m. Thursday for Friday commissary.
Q
Can I send photos or index cards to an inmate in Missouri jails?
Some Missouri jails do not allow them. Christian County states it is a postcard-only facility for personal mail, and it specifically says no index cards or photographs are allowed for incoming personal mail. Buchanan County also notes that incoming mail is subject to search and that packages will not be accepted, so items that do not follow the facility’s format can be rejected.