Ways to put money on an inmate's account
Money deposit options depend on where your loved one is housed, especially when comparing a county jail versus an MDOC prison. DeSoto County Jail, for example, says money can be deposited to an inmate's account using commissary kiosks located in the jail lobby and the visitation area. Those kiosks accept cash and credit cards only, not checks or money orders.
Some Mississippi jails run deposits through a specific commissary vendor and a web portal. Lee County's visitor information states commissary is handled by Tiger Correctional Services, that money orders are not accepted, and that money can be added through web deposits or the lobby kiosk. Always check the specific facility's current instructions before sending funds. The "right" method is the one their system can actually post.
Other facilities may require deposits by mail. Rankin County states that inmate fund deposits must be made by postal money order only and has a $30.00 minimum deposit. If your loved one is in federal custody in Mississippi, federal deposit rules apply instead. The Federal Bureau of Prisons describes MoneyGram ExpressPayment as processing funds seven days a week, with transfers sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST posting within 2 to 4 hours. BOP provides a specific MoneyGram account-number format and receive code. Federal systems describe commissary and related accounts as a way for inmates to buy items or services not provided as basic care.
Common Questions
Q
How can I put money on an inmate's account and how fast does it post?
It depends on the facility. Some Mississippi jails use lobby or visitation-area kiosks for deposits, and other facilities use web deposits through their commissary vendor. For federal facilities, the Bureau of Prisons says MoneyGram ExpressPayment posts within 2 to 4 hours when sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST.
Q
Do commissary kiosks accept money orders or checks?
Not always, and some facilities explicitly do not. DeSoto County states its commissary kiosks accept only cash and credit cards, and it says checks and money orders are not accepted at the kiosks. Other facilities use different vendors and rules, so confirm with the specific jail or prison before you show up with a money order.
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