Commissary

Commissary functions as a store inside the correctional facility. Incarcerated people can browse a list of approved items, place orders on a set schedule, and have the items delivered to their housing unit. Common commissary items include snack foods and drinks, shampoo and soap, toothpaste, writing materials, envelopes and stamps, over-the-counter medications, and in some facilities, clothing like socks and undergarments. Selection and prices vary by facility and the contracted commissary vendor.

Orders are typically placed once a week or every two weeks through a paper order form or a kiosk. The cost of the items is deducted directly from the inmate's account. Families cannot purchase commissary items themselves and have them delivered directly to an inmate. The way to support commissary purchases is to add money to the inmate's account, which they then spend at their own discretion during the order window. Some facilities also allow family members to order commissary care packages through an approved third-party vendor.

Commissary plays an important role in daily life inside a facility. Prison meals are often supplemented with commissary snacks and foods. Writing materials like paper and stamps are also purchased through commissary at facilities that have not moved to a fully digital messaging system. Understanding how commissary works helps families decide how much money to send and how often, since orders happen on a set schedule and the balance needs to be available before the order window opens.