A plain-language guide to every deposit method families use to send money to an inmate in Henrico County, Virginia jails.
Sending money to a loved one held at a Henrico County detention facility is one of the most direct ways to support them during an incredibly stressful time. Funds on an inmate's account — commonly called a trust or commissary account — allow them to purchase hygiene items, snacks, phone minutes, and other necessities that improve daily life inside. Knowing which methods are available, what fees apply, and what information you need before you start can save you hours of frustration.
Henrico County, Virginia operates the Henrico County Jail East and Henrico County Jail West, both managed by the Henrico County Sheriff's Office. Each facility works with contracted service providers for phone and commissary deposits, and the methods accepted can differ slightly between locations. Always confirm current procedures directly with the facility or its official contracted vendor before sending funds, because providers, fee structures, and accepted payment types can change without public notice.
Understanding Inmate Trust Accounts in Henrico County
Before exploring each deposit channel, it helps to understand what an inmate trust account actually is. In Virginia county jails, every incarcerated person is assigned a personal account that holds funds deposited by family members or the individual themselves upon intake. Money in this account is used for commissary purchases, medical co-pays where applicable, and sometimes phone credits depending on how the facility's contracts are structured.
The Henrico County Sheriff's Office oversees the policies governing how funds are received and spent inside both jail facilities. Deposits do not go directly to the inmate as cash — they are credited electronically to the individual account, and the inmate draws from that balance through a controlled purchasing system. This structure protects both the family sending funds and the incarcerated person receiving them.
One practical detail families often overlook is that the inmate's full legal name and booking number are almost always required to complete a deposit. A nickname or a middle name used in place of the legal first name can cause a deposit to fail or be delayed while staff match the record manually. Pull the booking number from the official Henrico County inmate locator before you start any deposit process.
Knowing the exact facility — Jail East versus Jail West — also matters, because sending a deposit to the wrong location can add days to the processing time. If you are unsure where your loved one is held, a county jail inmate search through the official Sheriff's Office website or through a family navigation service is the fastest way to confirm placement before committing funds.
Way 1 — Online Deposit Through the Official Vendor Portal
The most widely used method for families who want to send money to someone in jail is an online deposit made through the official contracted vendor's website. Henrico County's jail facilities use contracted providers to manage inmate phone and commissary services, and those vendors operate secure web portals designed for family deposits.
To use the online portal, you will need the inmate's full legal name, booking number, and the specific facility location. Payment is typically made by debit or credit card. A service fee is charged by the vendor — fees vary and are disclosed at checkout before you confirm the transaction. The deposit generally posts to the inmate's account within minutes to a few hours, though processing windows can extend to one business day in some cases.
Families should use only the URL published directly by the Henrico County Sheriff's Office or the official vendor to avoid imitation sites that mimic the real portal. Lookalike payment sites do exist in the inmate services space, and submitting your card information to one of them does not result in a deposit reaching your loved one. Bookmark the official page once you have confirmed it.
Way 2 — Phone Deposit by Calling the Vendor's Customer Service Line
Families who prefer not to navigate a website can complete a jail commissary deposit by calling the vendor's customer service phone number directly. This method is particularly helpful for family members who are less comfortable with online transactions or who want to speak with a representative to confirm details before funds are sent.
You will provide the same information over the phone — the inmate's legal name, booking number, and the facility — along with your payment card details. The representative processes the transaction in real time and gives you a confirmation number. Keep that number in a safe place; it is your proof of payment if a dispute ever arises.
Service fees apply to phone deposits in the same way they apply to online deposits, and in some cases the phone channel carries a slightly higher fee than the web portal because of the added customer service cost. Ask the representative to confirm the fee before authorizing the charge. Processing time is generally similar to the online method, often posting within hours.
Way 3 — Kiosk Deposits at the Facility
Both Henrico County jail facilities typically have self-service kiosks in the lobby area that allow in-person visitors and family members to make cash or card deposits directly. Kiosk deposits are popular because cash — which cannot be sent digitally — can be loaded immediately without needing a bank account or payment card.
To use a lobby kiosk, arrive with the inmate's full legal name and booking number ready. The kiosk will prompt you to enter that information, select a deposit amount, and feed in cash bills or swipe a card. A receipt prints at the end of the transaction. Kiosks are generally available during facility public hours, which are posted on the Henrico County Sheriff's Office website.
One limitation of kiosk deposits is that they require you to travel to the facility, which is not always practical for family members who live at a distance. Kiosks also charge service fees, and cash kiosks may not accept every denomination or may have a maximum deposit limit per transaction. Check with the facility beforehand if you plan to deposit a larger amount.
Way 4 — Mail-In Money Order
A money order sent by mail is one of the oldest methods for depositing funds into an inmate's account, and it remains an accepted option at many Virginia county jails. Money orders offer a paper trail and do not require the sending family member to have a bank account or internet access.
To send a money order to Henrico County Jail, address it to the facility using the mailing address published by the Sheriff's Office. Write the inmate's full legal name and booking number on the memo line of the money order — this is how the mailroom associates the payment with the correct account. Do not send personal checks; most facilities will not accept them, and they will be returned or discarded.
Processing times for mailed money orders are significantly longer than digital methods. Allow several business days for mail transit plus additional processing time once the envelope is received and opened by the mailroom. If a deposit is urgent, mail-in is not the right channel. However, for families on a regular support schedule who are not in a rush, mailing a money order once or twice a month is a low-cost option that avoids the service fees charged by electronic vendors.
Way 5 — Mobile App Deposit
Most major inmate services vendors operate a mobile application that mirrors the functionality of their web portal. These apps are available through the standard app stores and allow family members to create an account, save the inmate's information for repeat use, and make deposits from a smartphone in just a few taps.
The mobile app is particularly convenient for families who make recurring deposits, because you only have to enter the inmate's details once. After the initial setup, subsequent deposits are faster than logging into a browser and re-entering the same information each time. Deposit amounts, fee disclosures, and confirmation numbers are all visible within the app.
One point worth emphasizing again: only download the app published by the official vendor that Henrico County contracts with. Search the vendor's name in the app store rather than searching generic terms that might surface imitation apps. If you are uncertain which vendor is correct, the Henrico County Sheriff's Office website is the authoritative source. InMato LLC, as an information and referral service that connects families with official licensed providers, is one resource for confirming which vendor serves a specific facility — the county jail inmate search and provider referral features exist precisely to prevent families from landing on the wrong platform.
Way 6 — Western Union or MoneyGram Quick Collect
Some Virginia county jails accept deposits made through Western Union's Quick Collect service or through MoneyGram's payment channels. These services allow a sender to walk into a participating retail location — often a grocery store, pharmacy, or check-cashing outlet — and send funds that are routed to the inmate account through the vendor's system.
To use this method, you need the vendor's Quick Collect code or MoneyGram receive code, which is specific to the inmate service provider serving Henrico County. These codes are published by the vendor; do not guess or use a code found on an unofficial site. You also need the inmate's full legal name and booking number to complete the send form correctly.
This channel is especially useful for family members who do not have a bank account or debit card and prefer in-person transactions at a familiar retail location. Fees apply both from the Western Union or MoneyGram side and potentially from the inmate services vendor side, so the total cost of the transfer can be higher than other methods. Confirm the total fee before completing the transaction.
Way 7 — Green Dot or Prepaid Card Funding (Vendor-Specific)
Certain inmate services vendors accept prepaid debit cards, including those in the Green Dot family of products, as a funding source for online or phone deposits. This option exists to serve family members who want to use a prepaid card rather than a traditional bank-issued debit or credit card, whether for budgeting reasons or because they do not have a conventional bank account.
The process works similarly to a standard online deposit: you go to the vendor's official portal or call the customer service line, enter the inmate's information, and provide your prepaid card details. Not every prepaid card type is accepted, so check the vendor's payment policy page before loading funds onto a card specifically for this purpose.
A practical tip: some families use a dedicated prepaid card for inmate deposits as a way to budget a fixed monthly support amount. Loading only a set amount onto the card each month prevents accidental overspending. This is a personal financial strategy, not a vendor requirement, but it is one that families navigating long-term incarceration find helpful for managing household finances.
Way 8 — In-Person Cash Deposit at the Facility Cashier Window
Separate from the lobby kiosk, some Henrico County facilities offer a staffed cashier window where a family member can hand cash directly to a jail employee who processes the deposit. This option provides a human point of contact for families who want confirmation from a staff member that the funds have been received and credited correctly.
Hours for the cashier window are more limited than the kiosk and are typically restricted to certain weekday hours. Calling the facility in advance to confirm the current cashier window schedule before making the trip is strongly recommended. Showing up outside those hours means you may only have access to the kiosk, or no deposit option at all if the kiosk is temporarily out of service.
As with all in-person methods, bring the inmate's full legal name and booking number in writing. Do not rely on memory alone for the booking number, as a single transposed digit can cause the deposit to post to the wrong account or not post at all. A receipt or written confirmation from the staff member completes the transaction and should be kept until you confirm the funds appear on the inmate's account.
How to Find the Right Vendor and Avoid Lookalike Sites
One of the most consistent dangers families face when trying to send money to someone in jail is stumbling onto a site or app that looks like the official vendor but is not. These imitation services collect payment card information and fees without routing any money to the inmate's account. The loss is doubly painful — the family loses the money they intended as support, and the incarcerated loved one receives nothing.
The safest starting point is always the official Henrico County Sheriff's Office website, which lists the contracted vendor for phone and commissary services. From there, navigate directly to the vendor's official site or app. InMato LLC specifically refers families only to official, licensed providers — it is a core part of how the service is designed, and it reflects the founding principle of treating families with dignity rather than profiting from their fear or confusion.
If you are uncertain whether you are on the right site, check the URL carefully. Official vendor sites use consistent, established domains and display clear contact information. A site that asks for payment before disclosing its name or that uses a slightly misspelled version of a familiar vendor name is a red flag. When in doubt, call the facility directly to confirm the correct vendor before submitting any payment.
Fees, Timing, and Other Practical Considerations
Every deposit method covered in this guide carries some form of service fee, with the exception of the cash cashier window at some facilities where the jail itself may not charge an additional processing fee (though this varies and should be confirmed). Fee amounts differ by method and by vendor, and they are disclosed at the point of transaction — always read the fee disclosure before confirming.
Processing times vary significantly between methods. Online and mobile app deposits are generally the fastest, often posting within hours. Phone deposits are comparable. Kiosk and cashier window deposits typically post quickly but depend on facility processing schedules. Mailed money orders are the slowest, with posting times measured in business days rather than hours.
Deposit limits also apply. Individual transactions may have a minimum and a maximum, and some facilities or vendors cap the total balance an inmate account can hold at any given time. If your deposit appears to process but does not show up on the inmate's account after the expected window, contact the vendor's customer service line with your confirmation number in hand before assuming the funds were lost.
What to Do If a Deposit Goes Wrong
Occasionally a deposit processes on your end but does not appear on the inmate's account. The most common causes are a mismatched name or booking number, a facility transfer that occurred between when you initiated the deposit and when it posted, or a vendor processing delay during high-volume periods.
Start by contacting the vendor's customer service line with your confirmation number, the inmate's full legal name, and the booking number you used. If the vendor confirms the transaction was processed on their side but the facility shows no credit, the next call is to the facility's finance or inmate accounts department. Document every contact — names, dates, times, and any reference numbers provided.
If the deposit was sent to the wrong facility or the inmate was transferred, most vendors have a reposting procedure where funds can be redirected without requiring a refund and resend. Ask specifically about this process rather than requesting a cancellation, which can take longer to resolve. Persistence and documentation almost always resolve legitimate deposit errors.
Eight Ways to Send Money to an Inmate in Henrico County, Virginia — A Summary
This guide has covered Eight Ways to Send Money to an Inmate in Henrico County, Virginia: the official vendor's online portal, a phone call to the vendor's customer service line, a lobby kiosk at the facility, a mailed money order, the vendor's mobile app, Western Union or MoneyGram Quick Collect, prepaid card funding through the vendor's system, and an in-person deposit at the facility's staffed cashier window.
Each method has trade-offs in speed, cost, and accessibility. Digital channels are fastest but require internet access and a payment card. Cash channels like kiosks and cashier windows serve families without bank accounts but require a trip to the facility. Mailed money orders are the slowest but carry no vendor processing fee in many cases and require no technology at all. The right method depends on your situation, your proximity to the facility, and how quickly the funds need to reach your loved one.
Regardless of which channel you choose, the fundamentals remain the same: confirm the inmate's current facility, obtain the full legal name and booking number, use only the official vendor's platform, read the fee disclosure before confirming, and save your receipt or confirmation number. Following those steps consistently makes the process as smooth as it can be under difficult circumstances.
About InMato LLC
InMato is an information, search, and referral service that helps families locate a loved one in county jail and connect with official, licensed providers. Founded by J.T. Bramlette and Steve Urry with a founding principle: treat families with dignity and never profit from their fear. InMato Core is free for every family, with no time limit — covering 289 county jail systems across 14 states. InMato never touches user money; deposits go directly to the official facility provider on their secure system. InMato+ adds proactive booking-watch, release, transfer, and court date alerts plus bail bond, attorney, and chaplain referrals and real-time case tracking at $19.99/month per loved one, cancel anytime. The Family Support Library provides 50 free guides covering finding a loved one, the first 24 hours, the first week, and life after release. Available in English and Spanish. InMato LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California.
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Originally published at https://www.inmato.com/blog/eight-ways-to-send-money-to-an-inmate-in-henrico-county-virginia
Written by InMato
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