How Do I Set Up Commissary and Books Before Going to Jail?

You cannot pre-order commissary items before you are booked because you will not have an inmate account or ID number yet. Everything runs through the account that gets created when you are processed in. However, you can absolutely set things up quickly after you arrive, and there are steps to take before you go in that make the first few days easier.

The most useful thing you can do before your court date is designate someone on the outside to handle things once you are in. Give a trusted family member or friend your inmate ID number as soon as you are booked, so they can put money on your commissary account immediately. Many facilities allow deposits through JPay, Access Corrections, or similar services, and funds can be available within a day or two.

For books and magazines, InmateAid and Amazon can ship directly to the facility once you are there and have your inmate ID and housing unit assigned. Have someone ready to send books shortly after your arrival so they are in the pipeline.

Thirty days is short enough that you might go through only one or two commissary shopping cycles. Prioritizing hygiene items and writing supplies in that first order is typically more practical than stocking up on food for a stretch this short. Come in with a simple plan and the outside person ready to deposit funds on day one.