Simpson-county-jail-commissary services provide a way for families to send money and items to people in jail. This system works through two main locations depending on if you are in Kentucky or Mississippi. Both jails use special companies to handle the money. These companies make sure the money gets to the right person safely. People in jail use this money to buy snacks, soap, and clothes. Having these items helps make their time easier. It also helps them stay clean and healthy while they stay at the facility.
Money Deposits for Kentucky Inmates
The Simpson County Detention Center in Franklin, Kentucky, works with a company called CorrectPay. You might also see the name JailFunds used for this service. This company handles all the money sent to inmates for their needs. Families have four ways to put money on an account. The first way is using the internet portal. This portal takes credit cards and debit cards. It is fast and works at any time of day. Most people like this way because it is simple to use from home.
The second way to send money is by phone. There is a special phone line just for payments. You talk to a computer that tells you what to do. You will need the inmate name and their ID number. The third way is using a machine in the jail lobby. This machine is called a kiosk. It looks like an ATM. You can put cash or cards into the machine. It prints a receipt right away. The fourth way is sending a money order by mail. This takes the longest time but is good for people who do not have a bank card.
Each time you send money, the jail takes a fee. This fee is 2% of the money you send. If you send $100, the fee is $2. The money does not show up in the account instantly. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours for the jail to clear the funds. Always keep your receipt number. This number is your proof that you paid. If the money does not show up, you can call 270-586-5351 for help. The jail staff will use that receipt number to track the payment.
Ordering Items in Mississippi
The Simpson County Jail in Mendenhall, Mississippi, uses a different system. They work with Tiger Commissary. This company sells items like food, drinks, and hygiene tools. You can look at a list of items on their website. The list has prices for everything. They update these prices every three months. This helps keep the costs fair for everyone. You must know the inmate ID number before you start your order. Without the ID number, the system will not let you buy anything.
Tiger Commissary offers more than just food. They have small electronics like radios or headphones. They also have basic clothing like white t-shirts and socks. Families can choose items and pay with a credit card or a voucher. A voucher is a pre-paid paper you buy. The online store has a chat team that stays open 24 hours. They help if you need to stop an order or if something is missing. They also explain what items are not allowed in the jail. This stops you from spending money on things the jail will take away.
Mailing Money Orders to the Jail
Sending a money order requires care. You must put the money order in an envelope and seal it tight. Write “Commissary Deposit” on the front of the envelope in big letters. This tells the mailroom workers that the money is not a letter. Inside the envelope, you must include the inmate name and their jail ID number. If you forget these details, the jail will return the mail. They will not put the money in the account without clear proof of who it is for.
The address for the Kentucky facility is 217 E Kentucky St., Franklin, KY 42134. For the Mississippi facility, the address is 217 E Kentucky St., Mendenhall, MS 39114. Even though the street names are the same, the cities and states are different. Double check the zip code before you mail your letter. Mail is checked by a clerk. This clerk looks for rules being broken. They do not read legal mail from lawyers, but they do check money orders. This keeps the jail safe from illegal items or wrong money.
Rules for Inmate Communication
People in the Simpson County Detention Center have rules for mail. One big rule is that inmates cannot write letters to other inmates. This stops people from planning bad things. All letters must have a return address. This is the address where you live. If there is no return address, the jail will throw the letter away. You should use the full name of the inmate when you write to them. Adding their booking number makes the delivery faster.
CorrectPay also lets you send text messages and do video calls. A video call costs $3.95 for 15 minutes. This is a good way to see your loved one without driving to the jail. You must schedule these calls ahead of time. The system will tell you if the jail is too busy for a call. Not all services work at every jail. The website will show you only what is allowed at the Simpson County location. If a service is grey or dark, it means the jail does not use it right now.
Finding an Inmate Online
Before you use the simpson-county-jail-commissary, you need to find the person. The jail has an online list of everyone in custody. This list is called a roster. It updates every fifteen minutes. You can search by the person’s last name. You can also search by the date they went to jail. The roster shows a picture of the person. It also shows why they are in jail and when they might get out. This tool is free for anyone to use.
The search tool also tells you where the person is staying inside the jail. This is called a housing unit. Knowing the housing unit helps the jail staff get the commissary items to the right room. If the status says “Released,” the person is no longer there. If it says “Transferred,” they moved to a different prison or jail. You should check this list before you send money. If the person is gone, your money might get stuck in the system for a long time.
Safety and PREA Compliance
Safety is very important at the Simpson County Detention Center. They follow a law called the Prison Rape Elimination Act, or PREA. This law protects inmates from being hurt by others. The jail has a phone line that is private. Inmates can call this line to report if someone is hurting them. Families can also report problems by calling 1-800-555-PREA. There is also an email for investigators at prea@simpsoncojail.org. Every report is looked at by the sheriff.
The jail keeps a record of all safety reports. They write a report every year about how they kept people safe. They list how many times they had to investigate a problem. This helps the public see that the jail is following the law. The sheriff’s office reviews these records every week. They want to make sure the staff and the inmates are all following the rules. This makes the environment better for everyone who works or lives there.
The Weekender Program
The Kentucky facility has a special program for some people. It is called the Weekender program. This lets people serve their time only on Saturdays and Sundays. This way, they can keep their jobs during the week. To be in this program, a judge must say it is okay. When a person arrives for the weekend, they must pay a $55 fee. They also must be sober. This means no alcohol or drugs in their body.
If a person arrives and has been drinking, the jail will arrest them. They will then have to stay in jail for a long time. The jail will also tell the judge about the mistake. People in the Weekender program must bring a state ID card. They follow the same rules as everyone else regarding the simpson-county-jail-commissary. They can still receive money for snacks or phone calls while they are there for the two days.
Why Commissary Items Matter
Items from the commissary are very helpful for inmates. The jail provides basic meals, but they are not always enough. Buying extra snacks like ramen noodles or crackers helps an inmate feel full. Hygiene items like better soap or shampoo are also popular. The jail gives out basic soap, but it can be hard on the skin. Being able to buy a brand from home makes a person feel more human. It helps them stay clean and reduces the spread of germs in the cells.
Writing tools are also sold in the commissary. Inmates buy paper, pens, and stamps to write letters to their families. This keeps them connected to the outside world. When an inmate can talk to their family, they are usually calmer and follow rules better. This makes the jail safer for the guards too. The money in the account can also pay for medical fees if the inmate gets sick. The jail takes the co-pay money directly from the commissary balance.
Manage Inmate Accounts and Refunds
When an inmate leaves the jail, the money in their account must go with them. If they are released, the jail usually gives them a debit card. This card has the remaining balance on it. If they are transferred to a state prison, the money is sent to the new facility. This can take a few weeks. Families should stop sending money once they know a transfer is coming. This prevents the money from being lost during the move.
If there is a problem with an order from Tiger Commissary, you must act fast. You can use the live chat on their website. They can fix orders that have not been delivered yet. If the inmate has already received the items, you cannot get a refund. Items like food cannot be returned because of health rules. If you sent money to the wrong person, call the jail at 270-586-5351. They will try to help, but it is hard to get money back once it is in an account.
Facility Locations and Contact Information
It is easy to get confused between the Kentucky and Mississippi locations. Both use the name Simpson County. Always check the state and the phone number before you send money. The Kentucky jail is in Franklin. The Mississippi jail is in Mendenhall. Using the wrong website or phone number will result in your money going to the wrong place. The staff at one jail cannot see the records of the other jail. They are two separate government offices.
| Detail | Simpson County, KY | Simpson County, MS |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Franklin, KY | Mendenhall, MS |
| Phone Number | 270-586-5351 | 601-847-1439 |
| Money Service | CorrectPay / JailFunds | Tiger Commissary |
| Fee Amount | 2% per transaction | Varies by item |
| Wait Time | 24 to 48 hours | Next delivery day |
The Simpson County Detention Center office is at 217 E Kentucky St, Franklin, KY 42134. You can email questions to prea@simpsoncojail.org. The jail is open for money deposits in the lobby 24 hours a day using the machine. For other questions, call during normal business hours. This is usually 8 AM to 4 PM. Staff are busy during meal times and shift changes. If no one answers the phone, wait thirty minutes and try again.
Questions People Often Ask
Many people have questions about how the simpson-county-jail-commissary works. These questions range from how to send money to what happens if an order is wrong. Providing clear answers helps families avoid mistakes that cost money. Most issues happen because of wrong ID numbers or choosing the wrong facility. Reading the rules carefully is the best way to ensure your loved one gets what they need without any trouble.
How do I find an inmate’s ID number for the commissary?
To find the ID number, use the online inmate search tool for the specific jail. In Kentucky, visit the Simpson County Detention Center website. Type in the person’s last name. The search results will show the booking number or ID number next to their picture. In Mississippi, you can call the jail at 601-847-1439 or check the Tiger Commissary website. The website often has a search feature where you select the jail first and then type the name. Always write this number down. You will need it every time you send money or buy a care pack. If you use the wrong number, the money will go to someone else. The jail staff cannot easily move money from one person to another. It is your job to make sure the number is right before you click the pay button.
What items can I buy through the Simpson County Jail Commissary?
The list of items changes every three months. Most of the time, you can buy snacks like chips, cookies, and candy. They also sell meals that just need hot water, like ramen or soup. Hygiene items are also available. This includes toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, and specific brands of soap. You can also buy stamps and envelopes. This is how inmates send letters home. Some jails allow you to buy small electronics. These might be digital radios or headphones. You cannot buy anything that is not on the official list. You cannot send items from a regular store like Amazon or Walmart. All items must come from the official vendor. This ensures everything is safe and does not have any hidden illegal items. The prices are usually a bit higher than a regular grocery store because of the shipping and security costs.
Can I send a personal check for an inmate’s account?
No, the jail does not take personal checks. Personal checks can bounce, which means there is no money in the bank. This causes problems for the jail. You must use a money order, a debit card, or a credit card. Money orders are the only way to send a paper payment through the mail. You can buy a money order at the post office or at most grocery stores. When you buy one, you pay the cash upfront. This makes the money order “guaranteed” funds. The jail knows the money is real. Make sure to sign the money order and write the inmate’s name clearly. If you are at the jail in person, you can use the kiosk machine. The machine takes cash and cards. It is the fastest way to get money into the system. Using cash in the kiosk is often better than mailing a money order because there is no wait for the mail to arrive.
What happens to the money if an inmate is moved to another jail?
If an inmate is moved, their money goes with them. The jail staff will close the account and see how much money is left. If the person goes to a state prison, the jail writes a check to that prison. They mail the check to the new location. Once the new prison gets the check, they put the money in the person’s new account. This can take two or three weeks. If the person is moved to a jail in a different county, the process is the same. If the person is released and goes home, they get their money back immediately. Usually, the jail gives them a pre-paid debit card. They can use this card at any store or ATM. You should not send more money if you know a transfer is happening. Wait until the person is at their new home and has a new ID number.
Why is there a fee for sending money to the commissary?
The fee pays for the computer system and the staff who manage the money. Companies like CorrectPay and Tiger Commissary provide the website and the machines. They charge a fee to keep their business running. The jail also has costs for the staff who check the mail and manage the accounts. A 2% fee is common in many jails. Some ways of sending money have higher fees. For example, using the phone might cost more than using the website. Sending a money order by mail has the lowest fee from the jail, but you have to pay for the money order and the stamp. These fees are not controlled by the inmates. The companies and the county government set these prices. Always check the total cost before you finish your payment so you are not surprised by the extra charge.
How often can an inmate receive a commissary order?
Inmates usually get their orders once a week. The jail has a specific day for deliveries. For example, inmates might have to turn in their order list by Tuesday to get their items on Friday. If you order online through Tiger Commissary, the website will tell you the next delivery date. If you miss the cutoff time, the order will wait until the next week. There is also a limit on how much an inmate can spend. This limit is often around $100 or $150 per week. The jail does this so inmates do not have too many items in their cells. Too many items can be a fire hazard. It also stops inmates from trading items or bullying others for their snacks. If you try to send more money than the limit, the system might block the payment. Check with the jail staff if you are planning to send a large amount of money.
What should I do if the money I sent is not showing up?
First, wait at least 48 hours. The system is not instant. If the money is still not there, look at your receipt. Check the inmate name and the ID number you used. If the info is correct, call the jail at 270-586-5351. Give them the receipt number. They can look in the computer to see where the money went. If you used a credit card, check your bank statement. Sometimes a bank will block a payment if they think it is a scam. If the bank blocked it, the money was never sent. If you used CorrectPay, you can also call their help line at 1-800-555-CORRECT. They can fix technical errors with the website. Always be polite to the staff. They want the money to get to the right place too. Keeping all your papers and screenshots will make fixing the problem much faster.
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