Send Money to Swain County Detention Center: Commissary and Phone Account

The Two-Account System

Sending money at Swain County works differently than at some other facilities. There is no single deposit that covers everything. Commissary purchases and phone/messaging time draw from separate accounts managed by two different companies. You may need to fund both if you want the person to be able to buy goods and make calls.

Account 1: Commissary Through Inmate Canteen

Inmate Canteen handles all commissary orders at Swain County Detention Center. Commissary lets people inside buy food, snacks, hygiene items, and other approved goods beyond what the jail provides.

How to order:

1. Go to team3.inmatecanteen.com.
2. Search for Swain County Detention Center.
3. Enter the person’s name and SO number (booking number) to confirm the account.
4. Browse available items and add them to the cart.
5. Pay by credit or debit card.
6. Orders are typically delivered on the facility’s commissary schedule.

Maximum order: $125 per order.

Need help? Call Inmate Canteen customer service at 715-690-2965 or email [email protected].

When Commissary Orders Are Delivered

Commissary at county jails is typically delivered once or twice per week on a set schedule. The specific delivery days at Swain County are set by the facility. The person inside will know when commissary day is. If you want to confirm the schedule, call (828) 488-0159 during office hours (8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday).

What Commissary Covers

Commissary funds pay for items from the jail store list, which typically includes:

• Food and snacks (chips, ramen, candy, drink mixes)
• Hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste)
• Writing supplies (paper, envelopes, pens)
• Stamps
• Over-the-counter medications (subject to medical approval)

Commissary does not pay for phone calls. Phone calls draw from the NCIC account described below.

Order Limits and Restrictions

The $125 per order maximum applies to each order placed. The person inside may have account limits set by the facility based on their custody status. If an order is rejected, contact Inmate Canteen customer service to find out why.

What Happens to Commissary Funds If Someone Is Transferred

If the person is transferred to another facility before the commissary order ships, contact Inmate Canteen at 715-690-2965 to ask about a refund or transfer of the order. Policies on this vary.

Account 2: Phone Calls and Messaging Through NCIC

Phone calls and video calls at Swain County go through NCIC (National Correctional Inmate Communications). The NCIC account is separate from the Inmate Canteen commissary account.

How to add money to the NCIC account:

Option 1: Online at ncic.com

1. Create a free NCIC account at ncic.com if you do not already have one.
2. Log in and select Swain County Jail.
3. Find the person by name or ID.
4. Choose an amount and pay by credit or debit card.
5. The deposit fee is $3.00 per transaction.

Option 2: By phone Call 800-943-2189. A live agent can process a deposit for you. The live agent fee is $5.95 per deposit in addition to the $3.00 deposit fee.

Option 3: Kiosk in the jail lobby If you are visiting the facility in person for an on-site video visit, there is a kiosk in the jail lobby where you can make a cash deposit to the NCIC account.

What NCIC Funds Cover

Money on the NCIC account pays for:

• Phone calls at $0.21 per minute (prepaid collect) or $0.25 per minute (non-prepaid)
• Video calls (remote visits scheduled through intouch.ncic.com)
• Secure messaging (email-style messages through the NCIC platform)
• NCIC tablet services if available at the facility

Fees Summary

Deposit method	Transaction fee
Online at ncic.com	$3.00 per deposit
Phone (live agent)	$3.00 deposit fee + $5.95 agent fee
Lobby kiosk	Confirm fee at kiosk

Fees are charged per deposit, not per call. If you deposit a larger amount less often, you pay fewer fees overall.

How Quickly Does the Money Post?

Online deposits through NCIC typically post within a few minutes. If a deposit does not appear after an hour, call NCIC customer service at 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069.

What Happens to NCIC Funds If Someone Is Released or Transferred?

If the person is released or transferred, NCIC account funds are typically handled by NCIC’s refund or transfer process. Contact NCIC at [email protected] or 800-943-2189 to ask about options for the remaining balance.

Do Not Mail Cash

Do not put cash in a letter. Cash mailed to the facility is considered contraband and will not reach the person. Use Inmate Canteen for commissary and NCIC for phone time.

Which Account Should You Fund First?

That depends on what the person inside needs most. If they need to call you, fund the NCIC account first. If they need food or hygiene items, use Inmate Canteen. You can fund both on the same day if needed.

A good approach for new families: fund NCIC with enough for a few calls so you can coordinate, then set up a commissary order through Inmate Canteen for the week’s needs.