How to send money, post bail, and use kiosks or third-party systems
County jails often use lobby kiosks and third-party systems for deposits. One North Dakota detention center allows money to be deposited into an inmate account using a self-service kiosk in the detention center lobby. Cash can be brought in 24 hours a day and deposited in the lobby kiosk. Another county correctional center lets you put money into an inmate's account via the web using TurnKey Corrections. Those funds can be used for commissary or for purchasing phone or messaging time.
For ND DOCR state prisons, do not assume you can hand money to staff or mail in cash. ND DOCR states that money is not accepted in person or in the mail at NDSP, MRCC, JRCC, or HRCC. Families need to use the approved methods listed by DOCR. If your loved one was booked with cash at a county facility, a local inmate handbook explains that paper money found at booking can be deposited into the facility's TurnKey system for commissary use. The person is issued an account number and PIN during intake. The same handbook explains that a facility may consider someone indigent based on their funds at booking, but this does not mean they are indigent in the eyes of the court.
- Go to the jail lobby kiosk. One county correctional center states cash bail can be posted with cash 24 hours per day using a kiosk in the lobby.
- Complete the bail deposit. Follow the prompts on the kiosk to finish the transaction.
- Notify staff right away. After depositing bail money, notify staff at the front desk or via one of the lobby intercoms.
- Use the lobby ATM if needed. The same facility notes an ATM in the lobby with a $200 per-transaction limit and a fee posted on the machine.
Common Questions
Q
Can I leave money or packages with staff at a North Dakota prison or jail?
It depends on the facility, but ND DOCR states that money is not accepted in person or in the mail at NDSP, MRCC, JRCC, or HRCC, so you must use the approved methods listed by DOCR. Some county facilities do accept cash deposits through a lobby kiosk, and one county detention center states cash may be brought in 24 hours a day and deposited in the lobby kiosk. Always follow the specific facility’s deposit or vendor instructions before you go.
Q
How do I add phone time or messages for an inmate in Burleigh County?
Burleigh County’s detention center states that only phone time purchased through Reliance can be used. The facility lists options to buy Reliance phone time by calling Reliance, using Reliance’s website, or depositing cash into an inmate account so the inmate can purchase phone time. The same facility also lists an inmate message line for leaving a message.
Q
If an inmate was booked with cash, what happens to that money?
Some facilities deposit paper cash into the person’s account system during intake. One North Dakota inmate handbook example explains that paper money (bills only) found at booking was deposited into the TurnKey system for commissary use, and the inmate is issued an account number and PIN. That same handbook also explains that a facility’s indigent policy can be separate from court indigence determinations.
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