Why does an inmate need money?
Inmates buy a variety of things from the jail commissary: candy, snacks, beverages, writing materials, shoes and clothing, provided they have sufficient funds to pay for what they order. When money is placed into an inmate’s trust account, the first $15.00 is automatically placed in his personal account, which is used for medical co-pays while in custody. The remaining money is automatically placed in his commissary account, which can be used to buy commissary items. The inmate must maintain a balance of $15.00 in his personal account at all times. Any balance above that can be used to purchase commissary items. The inmate may not use the personal account balance to pay for commissary items. Funds must be placed into the inmate’s account 48 hours before his dorm or cell is scheduled to receive commissary, excluding weekends and holidays.
