The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office provides friends and family members the ability to deposit funds into an inmate’s account while they are incarcerated at the county jail.
These inmate account deposits allow inmates to purchase snacks, personal hygiene items, writing supplies, and other approved commissary items during their stay.
Inmates rely on deposits from outside sources as they are not provided these extra items by the jail itself.
There are multiple ways to deposit money into an inmate’s account, including online, over the phone, by mail, or in person.
Deposit Money into an inmate’s Canteen Account Online
You can use the Touchpad service on the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office website to deposit funds into an inmate Canteen account online. Here’s how:
- Visit the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office website at https://sheriff.charlestoncounty.org/.
- Under the “Online Services” section on the left-hand side, click on the “Inmate Account Deposit” link.
- You will be directed to the Touchpay website www.touchpayonline.com.
- On the Touchpay website, use the search bar to enter the inmate’s name or booking number.
- Choose the desired inmate from the search results.
- Select the amount you wish to deposit.
- Pick your preferred payment method (credit card, debit card, or bank transfer).
- Provide your payment information and finalize the transaction.
Deposit the money into the inmate’s account by mail
If you need to send money, please ensure that the postage contains only money. Do not include personal letters or books. You can mail it to the following address.
When you send mail to an inmate at the Charleston County Detention Center, it will go to the Securus Digital Mail Center first. There, it will be scanned and made available for viewing on tablets inside the facility.
It’s important to address the envelope properly with the inmate’s full name and ID number. If the address is incomplete, your mail could get sent back or delayed.
Photos, drawings, and other paper items that can be scanned are okay to send. Anything that can’t be scanned (like items larger than 8.5 x 11 inches or non-paper objects) will be returned to you. Packages and certified mail will also be returned to the sender.
If you want any original physical mail returned to you, make sure to include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with it. After 60 days, all physical mail is destroyed after being digitized.
Money Orders Only (No personal letters or books):
Personal Mail:
It is not allowed to mail the following things to the jail:
The Charleston County Detention Center does not allow certain items to be mailed or brought in for inmates. This includes:
- Food, candy, or drinks
- Clothing and shoes
- Books, magazines, newspapers, etc.
- Makeup, shampoo, lotions, or other toiletries
- Stationery supplies like paper, envelopes, stamps, pens, pencils
- Cash, personal checks, money orders, traveler’s checks
- Musical or electronic greeting cards
- Paper clips, staples, rubber bands, stickers, tape, glue, string
- Prepaid phone cards
- Polaroid photos
- Razors, razor blades, scissors (anything that could be used as a weapon)
- Any other items considered contraband under South Carolina law or by the facility administrator.
(Note: inmates can purchase these through the facility’s canteen. If an inmate does not have funds for stationery, the jail will provide basic supplies for up to two personal letters per week.)
Contact information
| Division | Phone Number | Information |
| Records Division | (843)554-2450 | Escorts for traffic enforcement, death investigations, funerals, and special events. |
| Detention Center | (843) 529-7358 | To locate an inmate click here For attorney visitations (in person or live video): (843) 529-7358 |
| Patrol Division | (843)529-6216 | To contact a patrolling deputy |
| Detectives | (843)554-2473 or (843)554-2475 | To inquire about investigations and for questions about the sex offender registry |
| Traffic Services | (843)529-5331 | Escorts for traffic enforcement, death investigations, funerals and special events. |
| Warrants Division | (843)529-7391 | To check for a warrant and for information about a wanted person |
| Civil Process | (843)958-2111 or 2133 | For more information click here |
| Judgment Executions | (843)958-2110 | For more information click here |
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I deposit money into an inmate’s account in Charleston County?
Using the Inmate Account Deposit website, you can make an online payment into an inmate’s canteen account. To start the deposit process, you’ll need the inmate’s ID number, booking number, or last name.
Which forms of payment are acceptable for deposits made by prisoners?
Major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover) and debit cards bearing the Visa or Mastercard logo are accepted on the Inmate Account Deposit website. Online cash deposits are not accepted.
What can inmates purchase with canteen funds?
Canteen monies can be used by prisoners to buy drinks, snacks, personal hygiene products, and writing supplies.
Is there a minimum or maximum deposit amount?
It is true that each transaction has a minimum deposit of $10 and a maximum deposit of $250. A 24-hour period allows you to make repeated deposits up to the $500 daily maximum.
How much time does it take for the inmate’s account to reflect the deposit?
Usually, deposits show up in the prisoner’s account 24 hours after the transaction is approved. It might take longer in some circumstances, though.
What occurs if I put money into the wrong prisoner’s account?
Report the error as soon as you can by calling to the Charleston County Detention Center. There’s no guarantee that they will be able to move the money to the right prisoner’s account.
Can my deposit be refunded?
Inmate deposits are usually not refundable. The money cannot be taken back once it has been transferred to the prisoner’s account.
How can I find out how much money is in an inmate’s account?
Using the inmate’s last name, booking number, or ID number, you can use the Inmate Account Deposit website to view the balance of their account online.