Sending funds using the United States Postal Service

Inmates can receive funds at a BOP-managed facility, which are deposited into their commissary accounts. If you would like to send an inmate funds through the mail, you must use the United States Postal Service.

Please read and follow these steps carefully:

  1. Wait until an inmate has physically arrived at a Federal Bureau of Prisons' facility. Locate Inmate Whereabouts
  2. Obtain a money order. View Details
  3. Send the money order to our central processing location. View Details

Only Send a Money Order

Obtain a money order and include both the inmate's:
Full committed name AND complete eight-digit register number.

Non-postal money orders and non-government checks will be placed on a 15-day hold.

NO Personal Checks

NO Cash

NO Additional Items

Additional items (non-funds intended for delivery to the inmate) will be disposed of.

John Doe
123 Main St.
Herndon, VA 22071
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Insert Valid Committed Inmate Name
Insert Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

Return Address

Your name and return address must appear on the upper left-hand corner of the envelope to ensure that the funds can be returned in the event that they cannot be posted to the inmate's account.

Delivery Address

Send the funds to the address above. Replace the second line with the inmate's valid, full committed name. Replace the third line with the inmate's eight digit register number.

Postage

After ensuring that the inmate has physically arrived at their facility, send the money order - but don't forget to add a stamp!

It's been a reasonable amount of time since I mailed the funds, why hasn't he/she received it yet?
If sufficient time has passed for your mail to have reached Des Moines, Iowa, you should initiate a tracer with whoever sold you the money order.
Why were my funds returned?
The funds could not be posted to the inmate's account. This is most likely because the deposit and/or envelope did not contain valid inmate information. For example, you may have used an inmate's alias rather than the name we have on record or the inmate's register number was missing or incorrect.
Where can I get more information?
For additional details regarding the Inmate Commissary and deposit procedures, please read the Trust Fund/Deposit Fund Manual.
Who can I contact with questions about a specific deposit?
You may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET.