How to Send Money to an Inmate's Account

"Money on the books" means money in an inmate's trust fund/commissary account -- what they use to buy things like food, hygiene items, phone/email credit, and stamps. There are exactly three official ways to add money to it. Anything outside these three is not an official BOP channel, full stop -- see the warning at the bottom.

Always confirm the inmate's full committed name (as BOP has it on file, not a nickname) and their 8-digit register number before sending anything -- money sent with mismatched info can get delayed or returned.

1. MoneyGram (fastest)

• Go to moneygram.com (or use their app)
• Receive code: 7932
• Recipient name: the inmate's full committed name + register number
• Maximum: $300 per transaction
• Posts to their account in 2-4 hours if sent 7am-9pm ET, or by the next morning if sent later

2. Western Union

• Use the Send2Corrections app or send2corrections.com, or call 1-800-634-3422 (option 2), or find an agent location in person
• Code city: FBOP DC
• Same 2-4 hour / next-morning posting window as MoneyGram

3. Mail (US Postal Service)

Send a money order, U.S. government check, or cashier's/certified check/bank draft only -- never cash, never a personal check -- to:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
[Inmate's full committed name]
[Inmate's 8-digit register number]
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001

This is a centralized lockbox for every federal facility -- don't mail money directly to the facility's own address (that's for physical mail/parcels, not funds; see the Packages & Mail guide).

A word of caution

These three methods are the only legitimate ways to add funds. If anyone -- online, over the phone, or even someone claiming to work at the facility -- asks you to send money any other way (gift cards, crypto, a "processing fee" to speed things up, a link that isn't moneygram.com or send2corrections.com), it's a scam targeting families. When in doubt, call the facility directly using the phone number on its page here on InmateForum, or BOP's general line at 202-307-2712.

Details like fees and limits can change -- if something here looks off, double-check against bop.gov/inmates/communications.jsp before sending anything.