ellis-county-jail-commissary funds let family members send money to people staying in the jail facility. This jail is at 300 South Jackson Avenue in Waxahachie, Texas. The money goes into a special account. People in jail use this account to buy things they need. These things include snacks, soap, and phone time. You can add money in person or through the internet. The jail has rules about how much money you can send. You must follow these rules so the inmate gets the funds. Each transaction needs the correct booking number for the inmate. Without the right number, the money might go to the wrong person. The system updates every few hours to show who is in the jail.
How to Use the TouchPay Kiosk for Deposits
The jail lobby has a TouchPay kiosk machine. This machine is open for use from Monday to Friday. The hours are 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. You can use cash in the machine. It also takes credit cards like Visa and MasterCard. Discover and American Express cards work too. When you put money in the machine, it prints a receipt. You should keep this paper. It proves you paid the money. The money shows up on the inmate account right away. This is the fastest way to get funds to someone. The lobby stays busy during the day. You might have to wait in line. The jail staff does not handle the cash. The machine does all the work. You need to know the inmate’s full name. You also need their jail ID number. The machine will ask for these details before you pay. If you use cash, the machine does not give change. Put in the exact amount you want to send.
Depositing Funds Online Through CorrectPay
CorrectPay is the website used for online deposits. You can visit this site from a computer or a phone. First, you make a user account. You need a valid email address. The site sends a code to your email to check your identity. This keeps the account safe. Once you log in, pick the jail name. Then type in the inmate booking number. You can use a debit card or a credit card. Some people use bank transfers. The website takes about 30 minutes to send the money to the inmate. You will get a receipt in your email. CorrectPay lets you send up to $500 each day. This is a higher limit than the cash machine. The website is open all the time. You do not have to wait for the lobby to open. This makes it easy for people who live far away. There is a fee for using the website. The fee depends on how much money you send. The screen will show the fee before you click pay.
Using the eCommDirect Portal for Purchases
The eCommDirect portal is a special system from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It lets you buy items for the inmate instead of just sending money. You can pick snacks and hygiene products from a list. There is a limit of $70 every three months. The three-month blocks are January to March, April to June, July to September, and October to December. You must be on the inmate’s approved list to use this. The items you buy get delivered to the jail. Inmates like this because they get specific treats. You can buy things like chips, cookies, and deodorant. You can also buy phone cards here. The system asks for your ID. This makes sure only safe people send items. If an inmate loses their privileges, they cannot get these items. Check the inmate status before you buy anything. The portal shows if the inmate is eligible to receive a package.
Finding Inmate Booking Numbers
You need a booking number for ellis-county-jail-commissary transactions. The sheriff has a search tool on their website. You type in the last name and the first name. The list shows everyone currently in the jail. It shows their birth date and their jail ID. This ID is the SO number. The search tool also shows the charges and the bond amount. This data changes every four hours. People go in and out of jail all day. Sometimes the name might not show up right away. If you cannot find the name, call the jail at 972-825-4931. The staff can tell you the correct SO number. Make sure you have the right spelling. Many people have similar names. Checking the birth date helps you pick the right person. Using the wrong SO number is a big mistake. The jail cannot always fix a payment sent to the wrong person. Double check the number before you confirm any deposit.
West-Memorial Detention Center Services
The West-Memorial Detention Center is part of the Ellis County jail system. It has a medical clinic inside. Doctors and nurses work there every day. They help inmates who feel sick. They also have a dentist for teeth problems. If an inmate has a big emergency, they go to a local hospital. The jail kitchen makes three meals a day. A manager watches the cooking to keep the food safe. Inmates help cook and clean the kitchen. They follow Texas nutrition rules for all meals. The jail also has a laundry room. They wash inmate clothes and blankets. There are programs for inmates too. Some people take classes to get a GED. Others learn how to fix things or use computers. These programs keep inmates busy. They help people learn new skills for when they leave jail. Counselors also talk to inmates about drug and alcohol problems.
Rules for Jail Mail and Communication
Inmates can get mail at 300 South Jackson Avenue. You must write the name and the SO number on the envelope. If the number is missing, the jail sends the mail back. Do not put stickers or perfume on the letters. Do not send cash in the mail. Use the kiosk or website for money. The jail staff opens and looks at all mail. They check for things that are not allowed. Inmates can also make phone calls. They use a company called Securus. You can put money on a phone account. This is different from the commissary account. Inmates can also send emails or text messages through special tablets. These messages cost money too. The tablets let inmates stay in touch with family. All calls and messages are recorded. The jail watches these to keep everyone safe. If someone breaks the rules, they lose their phone or tablet time.
Jail Roster and Public Records
The Ellis County Jail roster is a list of everyone in custody. It is a public record. This means anyone can look at it. The roster tells you when a person was arrested. It shows the police agency that caught them. You can see the mugshot picture too. This helps you know you found the right person. The roster also lists the jail cell area. Some people stay in minimum security. Others are in medium or maximum security. This depends on what they did. The roster updates all through the day. If a person pays their bail, their name leaves the list. If they go to a state prison, they leave the jail roster too. You can search the roster by the date they arrived. This is useful if you do not know the full name. Local news sites often link to this roster. It is the best way to track someone in the system.
Limits on Commissary Spending
Inmates cannot spend all their money at once. The jail sets a limit on how much they buy each week. This stops people from hoarding items. It also keeps the jail safe. If one person has too many snacks, others might try to take them. Common items cost more than they do at a normal store. A bag of chips might cost two dollars. A tube of toothpaste might cost five dollars. The jail uses the profit to pay for inmate programs. Inmates get a list once a week. They mark what they want to buy. The staff deducts the cost from the account. Then they deliver the items to the housing unit. If an inmate has no money, the jail gives them basic soap and paper. They do not go without the basics. But the commissary lets them buy better brands or extra food.
Security and Safety in the Jail
The jail has high security to keep the town safe. There are cameras in every hallway. Doors have electronic locks. Guards walk through the housing units all day. They count the inmates many times. This makes sure everyone is where they should be. When people visit, they must show a state ID. You go through a metal detector too. You cannot bring bags or phones into the visiting area. The jail uses video visits now. This means you sit at a screen and talk to the inmate. You do not have to be in the same room. This is safer for the guards and the visitors. It also prevents people from trying to sneak in bad items. The jail works hard to keep drugs out. They use dogs to sniff for illegal things. Safe jails mean the staff and inmates stay healthy.
Bail and Bond Information
Bail is the money paid to get out of jail before a trial. The judge sets the bail amount. You can pay the full amount in cash at the jail. You can also use a bondsman. A bondsman charges a fee, usually ten percent. They pay the rest for you. If the person goes to all their court dates, the bail money is returned. If they skip court, the money is lost. The jail roster shows the bond amount for each charge. Some charges have no bond. This happens for very bad crimes. You can pay bonds at the same kiosk used for commissary. The machine has a “Bond” button. Make sure you select the right option. Bond money and commissary money are different. You cannot use commissary money to pay a bond later. You must decide which account to fund at the start.
Contact and Location Details
The Ellis County Jail is easy to find in Waxahachie. It sits near the center of town. Use the main entrance for the lobby and the kiosks. Do not go to the back gates where the police cars enter.
Address: 300 South Jackson Avenue, Waxahachie, TX 75165
Phone Number: 972-825-4931
Kiosk Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Website: elliscountysheriff.com
Common Questions About Inmate Accounts
People often have questions about how to manage money for someone in jail. Sending funds can feel confusing if you have never done it. These answers help explain the rules and what to expect when you use the systems. Most problems happen because of small mistakes with names or numbers. Learning the details helps you avoid these issues. The jail staff is busy, so knowing the rules before you call is best. These topics cover the most frequent concerns family members have while their loved ones are in custody.
What happens if I send money to the wrong inmate booking number?
If you put money on the wrong account, it is hard to get back. The jail systems move fast. Once the money is in an account, the inmate can spend it right away. If the inmate buys snacks or soap, that money is gone. The jail does not take money back from one inmate to give to another. This is why you must be very careful. Always check the SO number twice. Look at the name on the screen or the receipt. If you realize the mistake immediately, call the jail office. They might be able to freeze the account if the person has not spent it. However, there is no guarantee. Most times, the money is considered a gift to whoever’s account it landed on. The jail is not responsible for your typing errors. Using the online search tool first is the best way to prevent this. Write the number down on a piece of paper. Take that paper to the kiosk with you. Do not guess the number. A single wrong digit sends the cash to a stranger.
Can an inmate use commissary money to pay for their lawyer or bail?
Commissary money is mostly for small items inside the jail. It is not meant for big legal fees. The account has a limit on how much it can hold. While an inmate can technically request a check from their account to pay for things, it is not common. The jail prefers that bail be paid through the bond system. If you want to pay a bond, use the bond section of the kiosk. Do not put it in the commissary section. Once money is in the commissary account, it is for “books.” This means it pays for food and hygiene. To pay a lawyer, most families pay the lawyer directly outside the jail. Transferring money from the jail back to the outside world is slow. It requires paperwork and many signatures. It is much easier to keep legal money separate from snack money. If an inmate is released, they get their remaining balance back. This usually comes as a debit card or a check. They can then use that money however they want.
Why are there fees for sending money to the Ellis County Jail?
The fees pay for the technology and the staff who run the systems. Companies like TouchPay and CorrectPay are private businesses. They do not work for free. They build the websites and maintain the kiosks. They also handle the bank security to stop fraud. The jail lets these companies provide the service so the taxpayers do not have to pay for it. When you pay a fee, a part of it goes to the company. Another part might go to the jail’s inmate welfare fund. This fund pays for things that all inmates use, like TVs in the common areas or library books. The fee is usually a flat rate or a percentage. Cash fees at the kiosk are often lower than credit card fees. Online fees are often the highest because they are the most convenient. To save money, you can send the maximum allowed amount in one trip. This way, you only pay the fee once instead of many times for small amounts.
Are inmates allowed to receive physical packages from home?
No, the Ellis County Jail does not allow physical packages from home. You cannot mail a box of clothes or a bag of food to the jail. This rule exists for safety. In the past, people tried to hide drugs or weapons inside items. It takes too much time for guards to search every box. Instead, the jail uses the eCommDirect system. When you use the portal, you are buying items from a trusted warehouse. The jail knows these items are safe and clean. They have not been opened by anyone else. If an inmate needs specific medical items, the medical staff will buy them. You cannot send vitamins or medicine. If you try to mail a package, the jail will refuse it. It will be sent back to you at your expense. If there is no return address, the jail destroys the package. Stick to the official portal if you want to give a gift of food or supplies.
How does the quarterly spending limit work for care packages?
The quarterly limit is a rule from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. It means an inmate can only receive $70 worth of items every three months. The year is split into four parts. The first part is January, February, and March. If you spend $70 in January, the inmate cannot get another package until April. This limit keeps things fair. It stops wealthy inmates from having way more than others. It also keeps the storage rooms from getting too full. The $70 does not carry over. If you spend nothing in the first three months, you still only get $70 in the second three months. You do not get $140. This is a “use it or lose it” rule. This limit is separate from the money they spend on the weekly commissary list. An inmate can still buy snacks every week with the money you put on their books. The $70 limit only applies to the special eCommDirect portal purchases.
Can I send money if I am not a family member?
Yes, friends and other people can send money. You do not have to be related to the inmate. However, you must follow the same rules. You still need the SO number and the full name. For the eCommDirect portal, you might need to be on an approved list. But for the TouchPay kiosk and CorrectPay website, anyone with a card or cash can deposit funds. The jail does not care where the money comes from as long as it is legal. Be careful about sending money to people you do not know well. Some inmates might ask for money and promise things in return. This can be a scam. Only send money to people you trust. Once you send it, you cannot control how they spend it. They might use it for phone calls to other people or for snacks you do not approve of. The jail will not tell you what the inmate bought with your money. That information is private between the inmate and the jail staff.