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Sending funds using the United States Postal Service

Family and friends may deposit funds into an inmate's Commissary account by sending an acceptable negotiable instrument to the FBOP's centralized Lockbox via the United States Postal Service.

Please read and follow these steps carefully:

  1. Wait until an inmate has physically arrived at a FBOP-managed facility. Locate Inmate Whereabouts
  2. Select how you will send money through the mail - we only accept money orders, U.S. government checks, certified/cashier's checks, or a bank draft. Please do not send cash or personal checks, they will not be accepted. Click on view details to see what information needs to be provided on what you send in the mail. View Details
  3. Send the acceptable negotiable instrument through the US Postal Service to the centralized Lockbox. View Details

Only Send an Acceptable Negotiable Instrument:

Money Order, U.S. Government Check, or Cashier's check/certified check/bank draft

  • The inmate's full committed name (no nicknames) AND eight-digit register number must be printed legibly on all negotiable instruments AND on the outside of the envelope that contains the negotiable instrument.
  • Non-U.S. postal money orders and non-government checks will be placed on a 15-day hold.
  • Foreign negotiable instruments payable in U.S. dollars are held for 45 days.

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 a FBOP-managed facility, send the money order or other acceptable negotiable instrument - 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/issued the negotiable instrument.
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.