Sending Money in Maryland (DPSCS)

Money for an incarcerated person in Maryland is sent to a banking account managed for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) through Access Corrections. There are two ways to deposit: online or by phone through Access Corrections, or by mailing a money order to the DPSCS lockbox. Funds are not accepted in the visiting room.

Online and phone deposits (Access Corrections)

Access Corrections handles electronic deposits to a person’s Maryland banking account:

• Online: at accesscorrections.com.
• By phone: 1-866-345-1884 (toll-free).

Both methods accept Visa and MasterCard debit and credit cards and charge a vendor fee that varies by deposit method and amount. To send a deposit, the sender identifies the person and the facility; confirm the current fee schedule and any per-deposit or daily limits with Access Corrections before sending.

By mail (money order to the lockbox)

DPSCS processes mailed funds through a lockbox. The lockbox accepts money orders (not personal cash). As listed by DPSCS, the address is:

P.O. Box 17111, Baltimore, MD 21297-0382

A money order must show, in black or blue ink:

• the incarcerated person’s legal name (no nicknames or aliases),
• the facility name or abbreviation,
• the person’s State Identification number (SID), and
• the sender’s name and address.

DPSCS reports that processing usually takes 2–7 business days after the lockbox receives a correctly completed money order, and up to 10 days including mail delivery. Money orders of $250 or more are placed on a 30-day hold.

What the account pays for

The deposited funds sit in the person’s banking (trust) account, which is used to purchase commissary items and to cover other authorized charges. Commissary funds are commonly drawn on for phone use as well — for how phone and video calling are set up and paid for in Maryland, see Phone and Video in Maryland.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Sending Money.