What does it cost to support someone in custody?
Commissary deposits, phone calls, visits and postage add up faster than most families expect, and the total is rarely obvious until it is already being paid. Enter your own figures to see the monthly and annual number.
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How this works
Support costs fall into four buckets: money deposited to the inmate's account, the cost of calls and video visits, the cost of travelling to visit, and everything else such as postage, photographs and vendor fees.
Each bucket is priced differently and by a different vendor. Commissary goes through the facility's contracted provider, calls through a separate telephone contract, and visits cost whatever the trip costs you.
This tool does not supply any of those figures, because they vary by facility and change over time. It adds up the numbers you enter and shows what they mean over a year.
Where the defaults come from
Every rate in this tool is editable. The starting values are the most common figures we could source, and you should replace them with the actual figures that apply to your jurisdiction.
- Inmate telephone serviceFederal Communications Commission
- Corrections dataBureau of Justice Statistics
- Loan and advance-fee scamsFederal Trade Commission
Frequently asked questions
Is there a limit on how much I can deposit?
Most facilities set a maximum account balance and a per-transaction cap. The vendor the facility contracts with publishes both, and the facility's handbook is the authoritative source.
Why do deposits go through a specific vendor?
Facilities contract with one provider for inmate accounts. Money sent outside that system is usually returned or lost, which is why you should never hand cash to a third party who offers to deposit it for you.
Are there fees on deposits?
Often, yes. Many vendors charge a transaction or convenience fee that is separate from the amount deposited, and the fee differs by payment method.
Do these costs continue for the whole sentence?
They continue for as long as the person is in custody, though they usually drop after the first months as calls and visits settle into a routine.
What is the cheapest way to stay in contact?
Video visits are frequently cheaper than voice calls, and letters cost less than either. Ask the facility what it offers and at what rate before committing to a phone plan.
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