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Commissary FAQs

  1. How long will it take to complete a refund? 

    Refund requests are processed on a first come, first serve basis. Claim refunds usually take 3 to 4 working days (not including weekends or holidays). 

  2. How are refunds paid? Can I receive my refund in cash? 

    Refunds are paid by check only.

  3. Do I have to submit a Commissary Refund Form online?

    You also have the option of filling out and submitting a form at either the Main Jail Facility located at 150 West Hedding Street, San Jose, or at the Elmwood Correctional Complex located at 701 South Abel Street, Milpitas.

  4. Why was a full commissary refund not issued when I was released from custody? 

    When incarcerated persons are released from custody, they are given up to $20.00 in cash from their commissary accounts, and any remaining funds are issued by check. You may not have received a full refund from your commissary account for the following reasons. 

    * You made a purchase from the commissary store, but you were released from custody before the order could be delivered. Sometimes under these circumstances, the commissary vendor does not have enough time to return money to your account before you are issued your commissary account refund. 

    * A friend, family member, or a loved one tried to deposit money into your commissary account, but the deposit was not recorded in your account until after you were released from custody. 

    * You may have been arrested, temporarily placed into custody, and released soon afterwards after being cited. During this process, money in your possession might have been confiscated and forwarded to the Fiscal Division before you were allowed to leave because preparations were initially being made to house you in a correctional facility. Your money will be deposited into a commissary account in your name, and you can request a refund at any time by submitting a Commissary Refund Form. 

     

  5. I lost my original refund check when I was released from custody. What should I do?

    Please submit a Commissary Refund Form to request a new refund check.

  6. Who is eligible to submit a Commissary Refund Form? Can a friend or family member submit a refund request on behalf of somebody who was previously held in custody in a Santa Clara County correctional facility?

    Commissary Refund Forms should generally only be submitted by former incarcerated persons. There may sometimes be a valid reason why it would be necessary for a friend or family member to submit a Commissary Refund Form on behalf of somebody else. For inquiries on this matter, please contact the Fiscal Division Inmate Welfare Services Unit at (408) 808-3600 or at [email protected]. 

  7. What is a PFN?

    PFN stands for Personal File Number. All incarcerated persons are issued a PFN when they are booked into a Santa Clara County correctional facility for the first time. A PFN is an identification number that stays the same even if you happen to be booked into a Santa Clara County correctional facility more than once.

  8. Will I still be able to receive a refund if I don’t know my PFN, Booking Number, exact dates of arrest and release, or the exact balance left on my commissary account?

    Yes, you should still be able to receive a full commissary refund as long as you can provide other identifying information such as your legal name, date of birth, and/or Social Security Number (if you have one).