Commissary Operations is a highly automated, profit-based unit with fiduciary responsibilities over inmate funds. Commissary Operations provides high quality products and services to inmates at the Sheriff's jail facilities and secondly to provide funding to the Sheriff's Inmate Welfare Fund to support vocational and educational training programs. There are approximately 140 items available through Commissary Operations. Categories include personal care (hygiene for hand and body); hair care; snacks, nuts, and chips; beverages; candy; food items; stationery supplies; and greeting cards. Inmates are continually introduced to new items through the "Introductory" category. While any of these items may be ordered with sufficient funds, Welfare Packs (consisting of hygiene and stationery items) may be ordered by inmates having a balance of less than $3.60. Commissary Operations delivers these products to approximately 3,500 inmates confined in each of the five jail facilities. Inmates may order and receive regular commissary up to two times per week. Commissary Operations staff of civilian employees are responsible for processing approximately 140,000 orders annually, with annual sales of more than $4.2 million dollars.
