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Lockbox FAQs

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  • Q. 1 - What is the Lockbox?
    • The Lockbox is a service provided by a bank where money orders received at the designated P.O. Box are picked up and delivered to the bank responsible for processing and depositing the incoming Money Orders sent to incarcerated individuals at some State of Maryland Correctional Institutions.
    • The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - Division of Correction only accepts Money Orders. NOTE: Cashier Checks, Personal Checks, Official Checks, Bill Pay Checks, Bank Checks, Non-Electronic Transfers and Non-US Currency Checks/Money Orders will not be accepted.
  • Q. 2 - What correctional institutions use Lockbox?
    • BCBIC - Baltimore Central Booking & Intake Center
    • BCCC - Baltimore City Correctional Center
    • BCF - Brockbridge Correctional Facility
    • CDF - Chesapeake Detention Facility
    • CMCF - Central Maryland Correctional Facility
    • DRCF - Dorsey Run Correctional Facility
    • ECI - Eastern Correctional Institution
    • ECI-A - Eastern Correctional Institution Annex
    • EPRU - Eastern Pre-Release Unit
    • HDU - Home Detention Unit
    • JCI - Jessup Correctional Institution
    • MCIH - Maryland Correctional Institution-Hagerstown
    • MCIJ - Maryland Correctional Institution-Jessup
    • MCIW - Maryland Correctional Institution for Women
    • MCTC - Maryland Correctional Training Center
    • MRDCC - Maryland Reception, Diagnostic and Classification Center
    • MTC - Metropolitan Transition Center
    • NBCI - North Branch Correctional Institution
    • PATX - Patuxent Institution
    • RCI - Roxbury Correctional Institution
    • SMPRU - Southern Maryland Pre-release Unit
    • WCI - Western Correctional Institution
    • YDC - Youth Detention Center
  • Q. 3 - What information is required on the money order?
    • The Incarcerated Individual's Name, Institution and Incarcerated Individual SID # (State Identification Number).
    • Sender's Name and Address.
    • Please use Black or Blue Ink pen only on the money orders and neatly PRINT the required information. See Sample Money Order in Q4 below.
  • Q. 4 - Who should the money order be made payable to?
    • Money Orders should be made payable to the Incarcerated Individual (Full Committed Name; no AKA's, etc). See Example Money Order Below. Do not send blank money orders; they will be returned to sender.

      Sample Money Order
      sample money order

      Sample Addressed Envelope
      sample addressed envelope

  • Q. 5 - What is the address to send money orders for Lockbox institutions?
    • Money Orders should be addressed to the Incarcerated Individual, SID # and Institution, and sent to P.O. Box 17111, Baltimore, MD 21297-0382. See Example envelope below.
  • Q. 6 - Will the Lockbox accept other items, such as cards, letters, packages, pictures, magazines, etc.?
    • NO.The Lockbox is set up to accept Money Orders only. Please do not send cards, letters, packages, pictures, magazines, etc. to this P.O. Box, as it may delay the processing time of money orders and the items may be returned to sender.
    • Cards, letters, packages, pictures, etc. must be sent directly to the Institution where the incarcerated individual is housed.
  • Q. 7 - How long does it take for funds to be deposited to an incarcerated individual's account?
    • Once received at the P.O. Box and delivered to the Lockbox, money orders that have the required information accurately completed, will take 3-7 business days to completely process. If money orders are not completed correctly, they will take longer to process and may be returned to sender.
  • Q. 8 - Can I send a money order by overnight, next day, priority mail or other expedited courier service?
    • Yes. It will only arrive sooner to the Lockbox. It will not expedite how the money orders are processed. Money orders will be processed as indicated above in 3-7 business days. Note: We recommend using standard size envelopes or no larger than "6x9'' envelopes.
  • Q. 9 - Are holds placed on money orders?
    • Yes. Money orders in the amount of $250.00 or more are placed in a hold status for 30 days.
  • Q. 10 - Will the incarcerated individual receive a receipt?
    • Yes.
  • Q. 11 - Does an incarcerated individual's account need to be transferred when the incarcerated individual is moved to another Institution?
    • No. The incarcerated individual's account automatically follows the incarcerated individual as long as he/she is committed to the State of Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services - DOC & DPDS.
  • Q. 12 - Once I send my money order to the lockbox, is it refundable?
    • No. Once a signed money order is received and deposited by our Banking System, it is not refundable.

    • Prior to making an inquiry about the status of a money order, please contact the money order company about the status of the money order (outstanding or cashed). If cashed, obtain the cashed date (not the purchase date) and have this date along with the money order receipt available when inquiring via email or phone. If the money order is still outstanding, not cashed, the DOC staff will not yet have any information to reference to assist you.

    Money Order Companies:
    • Postal Office: 1-866-459-7822
    • Western Union: 1-800-999-9660
    • Money Gram: 1-800-542-3590
    • Global Express: 1-800-394-4525
    • Wells Fargo: 1-800-869-3557

    For questions regarding Money Orders sent to the P.O. Box/Lockbox, please email CRF.Inmateaccounts@maryland.gov and put Lockbox in the Subject field or call 410-540-6221, 410-540-6222, 410-540-6223, or 410-540-5712 and have the following information readily available:

    • Money Order number
    • Amount of the Money Order
    • Incarcerated Individual’s Name
    • Incarcerated Individuale’s SID number
    • Incarcerated Individual’s Institution
    • Date Money Order was cashed (contact the money order company for this information)