How to Send Money to SCI Phoenix

Step 1. Choose a Deposit Method

JPay offers 4 ways to send money: online at jpay.com, by phone at 800-574-5729, by mail with a money order, or in cash at a participating kiosk or retail location (like a Walmart MoneyCenter). Online and phone deposits post fastest, usually within minutes to a few hours.

Step 2. Have the Right Information Ready

You’ll need the inmate’s full name and PA DOC inmate number, which you can confirm through PA DOC’s inmate locator if you don’t already have it. JPay matches deposits to accounts using this number, so an incorrect one can delay or misdirect a transfer.

Step 3. Know the Limits

Card deposits are capped at $300 per transaction and $300 per rolling 72-hour period. Money orders mailed in are capped at $999.99 each. Cash deposits through MoneyGram or a JPay kiosk max out at $5,000. These caps apply per sender, not per inmate account, so multiple family members can each contribute up to their own limit.

Mailing a Money Order

If you’re sending a money order by mail, it goes to JPay’s processing address, not to SCI Phoenix directly. Write the inmate’s full name and PA DOC number clearly on the money order. Processing by mail takes longer than online or phone deposits, often several business days.

What the Money Covers

Deposited funds go into the inmate’s commissary account, which covers items like hygiene products, snacks, and stationery, along with phone and email credit through Securus and ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. There isn’t a separate account for phone versus commissary funds, it’s a single balance.

If a Deposit Fails

Double-check the inmate’s name and number match PA DOC’s current records exactly. A recent transfer, a misspelled name, or an incorrect inmate number are the most common reasons a deposit doesn’t go through. Contact JPay customer service at 800-574-5729 if a transaction fails and you can’t figure out why.

What Happens If He’s Transferred

If the person you’re sending money to leaves SCI Phoenix for another PA DOC facility, his JPay account and commissary balance transfer with him. You don’t need to open a new account or start over, but confirm his new location through PA DOC’s inmate locator before sending anything further.

Is Phone Money the Same as Commissary Money?

No. JPay handles the commissary deposit covered on this page, but Securus runs a completely separate account for phone calls. Funding one doesn’t add money to the other, you’ll need to set up and fund both separately if you want the inmate to have both commissary funds and phone credit.

Court-Ordered Restitution and Holds

Some inmate accounts carry court-ordered restitution obligations or administrative holds that affect how deposited funds get used. If a deposit doesn’t seem to be reaching the commissary balance the way you expect, ask the facility’s business office whether a hold or restitution order applies to the account.