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How Inmates Spend Their Money: The Truth About Prison Commissary & Inmate Banking

Line of inmates outside of a commissary window, placing their orders.

Published on February 5, 2025, by InmateAid

Table of Contents

 

 

Introduction

Money plays a significant role in an inmate's experience behind bars. Although prisons and jails provide the essentials—food, clothing, and basic hygiene—many incarcerated individuals rely on their funds to improve their daily lives by purchasing additional items through the prison commissary. Understanding how inmate banking works and how they manage their limited finances offers insight into the economy behind bars and the challenges inmates face in affording basic needs.

What Is Inmate Banking?

Inmate banking refers to the financial system used within correctional facilities to manage money that inmates receive from outside sources or earn through prison labor programs. Unlike free citizens, inmates cannot have traditional bank accounts or credit cards. Instead, their funds are stored in inmate trust accounts, which are managed by the facility’s financial department.

Sources of Inmate Funds

An inmate’s trust account may receive money from:

  • Family and friends who deposit funds via online services, kiosks, or money orders.
  • Prison jobs, where inmates earn wages for tasks such as kitchen work, laundry services, and facility maintenance.
  • Government benefits, such as veteran’s pensions (though access is often limited).
  • Legal settlements, where an inmate wins a lawsuit or compensation claim.

The Role of the Prison Commissary

The prison commissary is essentially an inmate-operated store, where incarcerated individuals can purchase approved items that enhance their quality of life. Since personal belongings are heavily restricted in jails and prisons, the commissary provides inmates with an opportunity to buy personal hygiene items, snacks, stationery, and entertainment materials.

Common Items Available in Commissary

  • Hygiene products: Toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, razors
  • Food & snacks: Instant ramen, chips, coffee, canned fish, candy
  • Writing materials: Stamps, envelopes, pens, notebooks
  • Electronics: Radios, headphones, MP3 players (where permitted)
  • Clothing: Thermal underwear, socks, extra uniforms
  • Recreational items: Puzzle books, playing cards, religious texts

While these items are not necessary for survival, they make life more manageable and comfortable. Commissaries are especially important in facilities with low-quality or insufficient basic state-issued hygiene supplies.

How Inmates Manage Their Money

Since inmates do not carry cash, all purchases are deducted from their inmate trust account. They must carefully budget their limited funds, as prison jobs pay extremely low wages (ranging from $0.05 to $1.50 per hour, depending on the facility and job type). Many rely on family members to send money so they can afford basic needs beyond what the prison provides.

Commissary Spending Limits

To prevent economic manipulation or hoarding, prisons enforce spending limits on commissary purchases. The cap varies by facility but is typically around $100 to $300 per month. Some restrictions also apply to how frequently inmates can shop—often once per week.

Deductions and Fees from Inmate Accounts

Correctional facilities deduct money from an inmate’s trust account before they can use it freely. This can drastically reduce how much an inmate has available for commissary purchases.

Deductions and Fees from Inmate Accounts

  • Court-ordered fines and restitution for victims
  • Child support payments
  • Medical co-pays (inmates must pay a fee for non-emergency medical visits)
  • Disciplinary fines for rule violations
  • Cost of incarceration fees, where some states charge inmates for their incarceration

These deductions significantly impact indigent inmates, making it even harder for them to afford basic commissary items.

Financial Inequality in Prison

Just like in society, economic disparity exists behind bars. Inmates with family support can afford more commissary items, while those without financial help must rely on state-issued supplies, which are often low quality or limited. Some inmates resort to trading and bartering, participating in an underground economy where items like ramen noodles and coffee become currency.

Commissary in Private vs. Public Prisons

Private prisons often charge higher commissary prices than state-run facilities. Reports show that inmates in some private prisons pay more for basic items like ramen or hygiene products. Since prison labor wages remain low, this pricing system makes it harder for inmates to afford basic goods, increasing their dependency on family support.

The Digital Shift: Debit Cards & Cashless Transactions

In recent years, many prisons have modernized their financial systems, replacing traditional paper vouchers with inmate debit cards or electronic kiosks for transactions. Some facilities also allow tablet-based commissary orders, further automating the inmate financial system. While this is convenient, it often comes with transaction fees, adding another financial burden on inmates and their families.

 

FAQs: How Inmates Spend Their Money

  1. How do inmates receive money while in prison?
    Inmates receive money through deposits from family and friends, wages earned from prison jobs, and, in some cases, legal settlements. Deposits can typically be made through online services, kiosks, money orders, or wire transfers to their inmate trust account.

  2. What is a prison commissary?
    The commissary is a store within a correctional facility where inmates can purchase approved items such as hygiene products, snacks, writing materials, and clothing using funds from their inmate trust account.

  3. Do inmates get paid for working in prison?
    Yes, but wages are extremely low, typically ranging from $0.05 to $1.50 per hour, depending on the state and job type. Some states do not compensate inmates at all for certain tasks.

  4. Are there limits on how much an inmate can spend at the commissary?
    Yes, most facilities impose weekly or monthly spending limits, usually around $100 to $300 per month, to prevent hoarding or financial manipulation among inmates.

  5. Can inmates send money to their families or other inmates?
    In most cases, inmates cannot send money directly to other inmates, as this could be used for illegal trade or gambling. However, some prisons allow inmates to send money to family members under specific conditions.

  6. Are there fees or deductions from an inmate’s account?
    Yes, facilities often deduct funds for court fines, restitution, child support, medical co-pays, and disciplinary infractions. Some states also charge inmates for their incarceration, reducing how much money they have for commissary.

  7. Why are commissary prices higher in private prisons?
    Private prisons often set their own commissary prices, which are generally higher than in state-run facilities. Since inmates earn very little, this can make it difficult for them to afford even basic necessities.

  8. Can inmates save money for when they are released?
    Yes, inmates can accumulate funds in their trust account, and some facilities issue a debit card upon release with the remaining balance. However, due to wages, fees, and deductions, most inmates leave prison with very little money.

Conclusion

While inmates are provided with the basics needed to survive, prison commissary offers a way to improve their daily life behind bars. However, due to low wages, fees, and financial restrictions, not all inmates can afford even essential personal hygiene or food items. Understanding how inmate banking and commissary systems work highlights the economic challenges within correctional facilities and the financial burden placed on both inmates and their families.