According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (U.S. Department of Justice), commissaries run under trust fund programs and written policy that govern deposits, spending limits, product categories, and audits
What “Jail Commissary”?
In everyday terms, jail commissary is the little store inside a jail. People in custody can buy approved items with funds from an inmate trust account. Think snacks, hygiene items, stationery, OTC medicines, and basic clothing. The commissary doesn’t sell everything. It never sells weapons, alcohol, or unauthorized electronics.
- Entity: Jail commissary
- Attribute: Purpose
- Value: Supplement basic issue items with optional food, hygiene, and comfort goods
Jail vs. Prison commissary:
- Jail: Usually run by counties or cities; shorter stays; smaller menus; more turnover; more variability in rule sets.
- Prison: Operated by state DOCs or the federal BOP; longer stays; larger menus; sometimes extra categories like hobby craft in prisons.
The Money Side: Inmate Trust Accounts
Inmate trust account = a ledger where all money goes and flows.
Typical inflows
- Money orders mailed in
- Online deposits through a vendor portal (e.g., cashier services)
- Lobby kiosk deposits (when available)
- Payroll from in-jail jobs (for sentenced individuals)
- Refunds/credits (overcharges, commissary returns)
Typical outflows
- Commissary purchases
- Co-pays for medical visits (where charged)
- Court-ordered obligations or fines
- Postage, phone credits, tablet credits
- Laundry fees or property fees (by facility)
Some facilities place holds on incoming funds to cover debts first. A $50 deposit might see $10 routed to a medical co-pay debt, leaving $40 spendable.
Learn More: Tax Fraud: Definition, Types, Penalties & Offenses
Deposits: Methods, Cutoffs, and Fees
Facilities use multiple ways to accept money. Families and friends care about speed, fees, and cutoff times before the weekly “store day.”
- Mail-in money orders: Lower fees, slower posting; common hold time 2–7 days.
- Online deposit portals: Fast posting, convenience fees charged per transaction.
- Lobby kiosks: Fast posting; per-transaction fees similar to online portals.
- Phone deposits: Available in some places; similar fees to online.
Numbers you can expect (examples, not universal):
- Deposit fees can run from $3.00 to $6.95 per transaction for a $25–$100 deposit range.
- Cutoff times often fall 24–72 hours before commissary day.
Send one larger deposit rather than multiple small ones to reduce per-transaction fees, when you can afford it.
Spending Limits, Schedules, and “Store Day”
Facilities cap how much someone can spend within a window.
- Weekly limits in jails: Common examples include $50, $75, or $100 per week.
- Monthly limits in prisons: A frequent federal reference point is a monthly cap for general commissary purchases.
- Separate buckets: Many systems exclude stamps, phone credits, or legal materials from the cap.
Schedule facts:
- Commissary typically runs once per week in jails.
- Orders get filled 1–3 days after the order date, depending on staffing and vendor logistics.
- Housing unit rotations matter. One pod might shop Tuesdays, another Thursdays.
Temporary restrictions: Disciplinary status, lockdowns, or medical isolation can limit spending or cut the menu to “hygiene-only”.
What People Can Buy (and What They Can’t)?
Core categories:
- Food & snacks: Ramen, tuna, rice, coffee, chips, candy, shelf-stable meals
- Beverages: Instant coffee, tea, drink mixes
- Hygiene: Soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, sanitary pads, tampons
- OTC health: Aspirin, ibuprofen, antacid tablets, cough drops
- Stationery: Paper, envelopes, pens, pencils, stamps
- Clothing: T-shirts, underwear, socks, thermal layers, shower shoes
- Miscellaneous: Reading glasses, playing cards, calendars (facility-specific)
Banned or tightly restricted items:
- Metal objects or anything that can be weaponized
- Alcohol or intoxicants
- Unapproved electronics
- Bulk ingredients or powders that conflict with safety rules
Indigent kits:
People with very low or no account balance can qualify for basic hygiene kits and a small number of stamped envelopes. Facilities define “indigent” at a numeric threshold, such as $0.00–$2.00 average balance over 7–14 days, as one typical example.
Prices, Markups, and Why They Look High?
Prices inside jails rarely match outside grocery stores.
Common realities:
- Smaller volumes raise per-unit costs.
- Security handling adds labor.
- Private contracts introduce commissions or service fees paid to the facility.
Observed ranges (examples)
- Ramen: $0.35–$1.00 per pack, depending on facility
- Instant coffee (single-serve): $0.30–$0.80 per packet
- Deodorant: $2.50–$5.50 per stick
- Stamped envelope: $0.70–$1.25 each
- Socks: $2.00–$6.00 per pair
The Prison Policy Initiative has reported on commissary pricing and markups across states and facilities. Your exact list will vary, so always check your jail’s official item sheet.
Who Runs Commissary? Public vs. Private
Two models dominate:
- Publicly run commissary
- Operated by the sheriff’s office or DOC internal trust fund staff.
- Facility buys wholesale and sells at set prices.
- Surplus revenues might fund inmate programs, libraries, or recreation.
- Privately contracted commissary
- Vendors handle ordering, warehousing, and delivery.
- The facility receives a commission on sales, expressed as a percentage.
- Contracts specify product lists, nutrition standards, and service levels.
Vendor examples: Keefe Group (Keefe Commissary Network), Trinity Services Group, Aramark. Your jail’s handbook or county purchasing office publishes the current vendor name.
Ordering: How People Actually Shop?
Three common methods:
- Order forms: Paper forms filled out in the housing unit; picked up by staff.
- Kiosk/tablet: On-unit terminals or tablets with digital menus and balances.
- Window counter: Smaller jails still run a walk-up window during a set hour.
Fulfillment: Bagged orders get delivered to the housing units. Staff verify identity at pickup. Shortages get credited back to the trust account.
Quality, Nutrition, and Allergies
Commissary is not designed to replace balanced meals, yet many people rely on it for calories and flavor. Nutrition varies:
- Protein choices: Tuna, mackerel, beef sticks, peanut butter
- Whole grains: Oatmeal packets where available
- Sugary items: Candy, pastries, sweetened drink mixes—watch for high-sugar choices
- Allergen flags: Peanut, soy, dairy, gluten—read labels on the menu sheet, when provided
People with medical diets or religious diets (Kosher/Halal) should apply through medical or chaplain services. Special diets come through food service, not through commissary, though some commissaries stock certified items.
Learn More: Property Crime: Types, Examples, Laws & Penalties
Security Rules That Affect Commissary
Facilities write commissary rules with safety in mind:
- Container limits: Squeeze bottles and plastic tubs often replaced by pouches
- Quantity limits: Caps on number of ramen packs, drink mixes, or OTC meds per order
- Packaging: Clear containers in some jails for easy inspection
- Sanctions: Commissary restriction (for days or weeks) after disciplinary violations
Access to commissary is generally a privilege, not a constitutional right. Courts often hold that loss of commissary privileges alone doesn’t violate due process, though retaliatory or discriminatory denials can raise legal issues.
Taxes, Fees, and Commissions
Expect sales tax in many jurisdictions, just like stores outside. Private contracts may include a commission back to the jail or DOC. Some systems charge restocking fees for refused orders. A few jails add surcharge line items to cover handling.
Numeric example (illustrative):
- Subtotal: $28.50
- Sales tax at 6.0%: $1.71
- Total: $30.21
When commissary and phone services operate through the same vendor ecosystem, families can feel costs across multiple services: deposit fees, phone call rates, messaging fees, and commissary markups.
Returns, Refunds, and Release
- Returns: Perishable food rarely qualifies for returns. Wrong item or damaged item may be credited.
- Transfer: Balances transfer with the person, or a check gets mailed after accounting closes. Timelines differ by jail.
- Release: Balances get returned, often by check or prepaid card. Some places return cash at release, while many avoid on-site cash handling.
Keep receipts. They matter for resolving disputes.
Grievances, Audits, and Oversight
Trust fund operations are audited. People can file grievances about missing items, overcharges, or policy violations. Policies define deadlines for filing and review. County commissions and state DOCs typically maintain internal audit functions. Public-records laws sometimes allow families to request contracts, price lists, and commission terms.
Reform Trends: Price Caps, Transparency, and Basic Access
Across the U.S., governments and advocates push for:
- Price transparency: Publishing full commissary price lists
- Cap markups: Setting maximum percentages above outside retail
- Lower deposit fees: Encouraging low- or no-fee options
- Indigent standards: Clear, humane rules for free hygiene and postage
- Nutrition baselines: Setting minimum standards for commissary food
- Oversight: Stronger contract monitoring and public reporting
Legislative sessions in multiple states revisit these issues, and local county boards negotiate terms during vendor renewals. Stakeholder pressure helps.
Practical Tips for Families and Friends
1) Check the exact rules
Find the jail’s Inmate Handbook or “Commissary” page. Look for limits, cutoff times, approved items, and deposit methods.
2) Bundle deposits
Pay fewer transaction fees by sending one bigger deposit instead of many small ones, when your budget allows.
3) Balance calories and protein
Choose items such as tuna, mackerel, peanut butter, and oatmeal to supplement cafeteria meals.
4) Focus on hygiene first
Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and feminine hygiene products come first, then snacks.
5) Watch the caps
Spending limits reset weekly or monthly. Plan orders to avoid leftover pennies you can’t use efficiently.
6) Track the receipts
Save paper receipts or screenshots. Tracking helps fix shortages and identify patterns.
7) Remember the timeline
Place orders before cutoff. Delivery happens after items get picked and packed.
8) Avoid duplicates
Housing restrictions limit property totals. Two radios or two hot-pots won’t pass in many places.
9) Ask about indigent status
Indigent kits require proof of low balances over a set period. When someone qualifies, staff should provide essentials.
10) Prepare for transfer or release
Document balances. Confirm whether refunds arrive by check or card.
Jail vs. Prison vs. Federal
| Factor | County Jail | State Prison | Federal (BOP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custody length | Days to months | Months to years | Months to decades |
| Commissary menu size | Small to medium | Medium to large | Medium to large |
| Limit type | Weekly (e.g., $50–$100 typical) | Weekly or monthly | Monthly general cap with some items excluded |
| Vendor model | Public or private | Often private | BOP Trust Fund per policy |
| Shopping method | Paper forms, kiosks | Kiosks/tablets common | Kiosks/tablets and forms |
| Variability | Very high across ~3,000 jails | Medium | Lower within BOP system |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Waiting past the cutoff then missing store day
- Sending many small deposits and paying more in fees
- Ordering bulk perishables without storage options
- Ignoring quantity caps such as limits on ramen, OTC meds, or drink mixes
- Skipping hygiene and overspending on snacks
- Losing receipts that help fix shortages or billing errors
Final Thought
Jail commissary blends finance, logistics, and strict security. The basics remain steady across systems: money flows into a trust account, menus stick to approved items, spending caps keep order, and schedules drive the rhythm of living inside. Prices and rules change by facility, so local handbooks matter. Families save money by bundling deposits and prioritizing hygiene, while people inside stretch budgets by mixing protein with shelf-stable staples.
When you understand the moving parts—deposits, limits, menus, fees, and timelines—you reduce headaches and help your loved one make smarter choices.
Quick Checklist (Print-Friendly)
- Find the Inmate Handbook page for commissary rules
- Note cutoff times and delivery day
- Confirm weekly/monthly spending cap
- Choose deposit method with lowest fee you can access
- Prioritize hygiene essentials first
- Track receipts to resolve shortages
- Ask about indigent kits when balances stay low
- Plan for transfer/release refunds
FAQs
What is jail commissary?
A small, controlled store that sells approved items to people in custody, paid from an inmate trust account.
How does someone get money for commissary?
Family, friends, or the person’s facility job deposit funds into a trust account through mail, online portals, kiosks, or phone.
How much can someone spend?
Jails often set weekly caps such as $50–$100. Prisons often use monthly caps. Some items sit outside the cap.
What can people buy?
Hygiene, snacks, beverages, OTC meds, stationery, and basic clothing. Banned items never appear on the menu.
Why do commissary prices seem high?
Security handling, small volumes, and private contract commissions raise per-unit costs compared to outside stores.
Do jails give free hygiene items?
Indigent kits exist under specific low-balance rules. Eligibility depends on policy.
Can commissary be taken away?
Yes. Commissary is a privilege in most systems. Rule violations can lead to restrictions.
Do people pay tax on commissary?
Many jurisdictions charge sales tax, similar to outside retail.
What happens to the money when someone gets released?
Remaining balance gets refunded, often by check or prepaid card, after accounting closes out.
Can families see price lists?
Many jails post current menus online or provide them upon request. Public records laws can help obtain contracts and price lists.
Are there nutrition standards for commissary items?
Standards vary. Some contracts require certain nutrition baselines, while many menus include high-sugar snacks.
Do religious diets affect commissary?
Religious diets come through food service. Commissary may stock certified items, yet diet approvals flow through chaplain or medical channels.
Are phone credits part of commissary?
Phone and tablet credits often get purchased through the same account ecosystem. Some facilities exclude those from commissary caps.
Can people return items?
Perishable food rarely qualifies. Damaged or wrong items can lead to credits.
Where can I verify a rule?
Check the jail’s Inmate Handbook or website. For federal prisons, start at bop.gov. For broader analysis, read PPI’s “The Company Store” at https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/commissary.html.
