Deposit Fund History
Funds may be sent to Federal inmates via the United States Postal Service or via the Western Union Quick Collect Program. In either case, the inmate must physically be housed at a Federal Bureau of Prisons’ facility before funds can be received and posted. If the inmate is not physically in a Federal Bureau of Prisons’ facility, the funds cannot be posted and will be returned or rejected.
U.S. Postal Service
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Insert Valid Committed Inmate Name
Insert Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001
The deposit must be in the form of a money order made out to the inmate’s full committed name and complete eight-digit register number. Effective December 1, 2007, all non-postal money orders and non-government checks processed through the National Lockbox will be placed on a 15-day hold. The Bureau of Prisons will return to the sender funds that do not have valid inmate information provided the envelope has an adequate return address. Personal checks and cash cannot be accepted for deposit.
The sender’s name and return address must appear on the upper left-hand corner of the envelope to ensure that the funds can be returned to the sender in the event that they cannot be posted to the inmate’s account. The deposit envelope must not contain any items intended for delivery to the inmate. The Bureau of Prisons shall dispose of all items included with the funds.
In the event funds have been mailed but have not been received in the inmate’s account and adequate time has passed for mail service to Des Moines, Iowa, the sender must initiate a tracer with the entity who sold them the money order to resolve any issues.
Western Union Quick Collect Program
1) At an agent location with cash: The inmate’s family or friends must complete a Quick Collect Form. Click here to view a sample Quick Collect Form. To find the nearest agent, they may call 1-800-325-6000 or go to www.westernunion.com.
2) By phone using a credit/debit card: The inmate’s family or friends may simply call 1-800-634-3422 and press option 2.
For each Western Union Quick Collect transaction, the following information must be provided:
- 1) Valid Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number (entered with no spaces or dashes) followed immediately by Inmate’s Last Name
- 2) Committed Inmate Full Name entered on Attention Line 3) Code City: FBOP, DC
- 3) ONLINE using a credit/debit card: The inmate’s family and friends may go to www.westernunion.com and select “Quick Collect.”
For each Western Union Quick Collect transaction, the following information must be provided:
Please note that the inmate’s committed name and eight-digit register number must be entered correctly. If the sender does not provide the correct information, the transaction cannot be completed. The Code City is always FBOP, DC.
Each transaction is accepted or rejected at the point of sale. The sender has the sole responsibility of sending the funds to the correct inmate. If an incorrect register number and/or name are used and accepted and posted to that inmate, funds may not be returned.
Any questions or concerns regarding Western Union transfers should be directed to Western Union by the sender (general public). Questions or concerns should not be directed to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
For additional information concerning inmate Commissary account deposit procedures, please see the Bureau of Prisons Trust Fund/Warehouse/Laundry Manual (PS 4500.07) or 28 CFR Parts 506 and 540. For information concerning a specific deposit, please contact Federal Bureau of Prisons’ staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET.
Commissary
The commissary access time for inmates is scheduled on a rotating basis. The scheduled hours are posted within the housing units and outside the commissary. Procedures for receiving funds from the outside are also posted. Borrowing commissary items from other inmates is not allowed. Inmates are assigned a shopping day based on the 4th and 5th digits of their register number. Inmates may shop in the morning or during the noon sales of their assigned shopping day. The schedule will be posted in the housing units and at the commissary.
Upon release, accumulated institution earnings and monies sent from outside sources are given to the inmate or may be mailed home. It is the inmate’s responsibility to know the amount of money available in his commissary account. Inmates may check their account balance using the AIM (Automatic Inquiry Machine) located outside the commissary, or over the ITS (Inmate Telephone System). Inmates must present an inmate identification card to commissary staff to access specific account information or to purchase commissary items. If this inmate identification card is lost, inmates must inform a Unit Team member immediately.
Commissary Items
Deposits to Accounts
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Inmate Name
Inmate Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001