What You Need to Know About Commissary
Commissary services allow inmates to maintain an electronic account used to purchase hygiene items, snacks, stationery, and other approved products.
Inmates cannot carry cash. All money is deposited into their account for purchases, phone calls, or medical co-pays. Any balance remaining at release is transferred to a debit refund card.
- When a person is arrested, any funds they have are deposited into an electronic account maintained by the Sheriff’s Office. The inmate then has the ability to use those funds to make phone calls, purchase commissary, or pay their bond.
- Since inmates are not allowed to possess cash money while in custody in the Phillips County Jail, the jail maintains a “bank account” for the inmate to purchase products and services from their commissary (canteen) store.
- Commissary funds allow inmates to purchase items such as personal hygiene products, snacks and stationery supplies from the jail store.
- Inmates can use money from their account to purchase phone time credits in order to make outside phone calls to friends and family members.
- Inmate accounts are also used to pay the co-payment for medication and visits to the jail’s medical clinic should they become ill.
- People who have never been to jail would be surprised by the large amount of candy, snacks, art supplies, playing cards, hygiene products and clothing that can be purchased through a jail’s commissary.
- When an inmate leaves the Phillips County Jail, any balance remaining will be transferred to a Debit MasterCard. The card is provided to the inmate upon their release.
- Anybody can contribute to an inmate’s books or commissary fund as long as there isn’t a no-contact order in place.
- Because of the ability for family members and friends to deposit money online using a credit or debit card, jail inmates can now receive funds from anywhere in the world.
- Each inmate has a maximum of $300.00 per week that can be added to their account as set by the credit card company.
Option 1 — Deposit at the Jail (In-Person)
- Just bring the money to the jail in person, Phillips County Jail, 301 State Street, 1st Floor Courthouse and use the self-serve Stellar Teller in the lobby. The teller system allows persons to quickly and easily make cash or credit card deposits into an inmate’s account.
- Personal checks are not accepted.
Option 2 — Deposit Online
- Persons who have access to the Internet may go online at www.jailatm.com and click on “Commissary” and create an account. Once you sign in with your account you select the facility “Phillips County Jail, KS.” and follow the simple directions.
- Address associated with the credit card must match the user account.
- Also, you may want to check with your credit card company to make sure you can use this service.
- Inmates are not allowed to purchase items for other inmates or leave funds to other inmates. Inmates are limited on spending to $50.00 a week. Please monitor how much inmates are spending on themselves.
- Put your financial needs first and the inmate’s second. Don’t forget, the inmate is getting three free meals a day. The food may not be of the highest quality, but the commissary food is generally much less nutritious. Phillips County does provide basic needs for inmates.
- Set a weekly or monthly deposit budget.
- Encourage the inmate to prioritize essential items.
- Monitor account activity regularly.
- Avoid overloading funds shortly before release.
- Phillips County Jail and others often use a private company to process all online deposits to an inmate’s account. The company charges you a small fee for doing this.
- When an inmate leaves the Phillips County Jail, any balance remaining will be transferred to a Debit MasterCard. The card is provided to the inmate upon their release.
Need Assistance?
If you have questions about commissary, please contact the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office.
Phone: (785) 543-6885
Address: 301 State Street, Suite G, Phillipsburg, KS 67661