Sending money: trust accounts, kiosks, and third-party vendors
In Oregon DOC, adults in custody typically have two separate "buckets" of money: a phone account (for calls, electronic messaging, and tablet services) and a commissary or trust account (for facility purchases like snacks and toiletries). Oregon DOC lists several contracted companies families may encounter: JPay, ICS Corrections (with Access Corrections for trust deposits), and Telmate. For Oregon DOC trust accounts, friends and family can request deposit details or general information from Central Trust.
County jails often accept money differently than ODOC. Clatsop County Jail, for example, states that money sent by mail must be a cashier's check or money order. Cash should not be mailed. Personal checks are not accepted and will be held in the person's property until release. If you prefer to deposit cash in person, Clatsop states that a lobby kiosk is available 24 hours a day. A fee applies and ID is required.
Tip: Always confirm which system you’re using before you pay. Oregon DOC lists multiple contracted vendors for money-related services, and other systems (like the federal prison system’s MoneyGram ExpressPayment process) use completely different deposit instructions.
Common Questions
Q
How do I deposit money for phone/tablet use versus commissary purchases?
In Oregon DOC, phone/tablet funds and commissary (trust) funds are separate accounts, and they are used for different things. Oregon DOC lists JPay, ICS Corrections (with Access Corrections for trust deposits), and Telmate as contracted companies you may see, and it also says friends and family can request deposit details or general information about AIC Trust Accounts from Central Trust. If you are working with a county jail, confirm with that jail which account you are funding and which payment methods they accept.
Q
Can I mail cash or personal checks to an inmate?
Do not mail cash, and do not assume a personal check will be accepted. Clatsop County Jail states that money sent by mail must be a cashier’s check or money order and that cash should not be mailed, and it also states personal checks are not accepted and will be held in property until release. If you need another option, Clatsop also states cash can be deposited at a lobby kiosk, but a fee applies and ID is required.
Find an Inmate
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
