The jail did not have a stocked commissary like you often see in movies. I’m not sure if this is common or not. Instead, there was a list of items with unique numeric identifiers. You would use the telephone system to enter your order by keying in the identifier and quantity. Inmates could place orders each week and have the items transported to the jail. Inmates delivered the stuff to each block in large garbage bags. These bags contained smaller bags that contained the items for each inmate. Each bag had an invoice, and while a guard observed, you reconciled the contents with the invoice. If there was a disagreement, you notified the guard who would check. If the invoice agreed with the bag’s contents, you signed the invoice and retained a carbon copy for your records.
The most popular thing people ordered from the commissary were Ramen noodle packs. These were the de-facto currency in the jail and cost $1 each. Items typically cost two to three times as much in jail as outside. You were technically not allowed to gamble, but there were Ramen noodles wagered for everything from poker games to guard behavior. In addition to flavoring the noodles, inmates used the MSG packets on anything from the kitchen.
The packaged treat section at a convenience store or gas station will give you an idea of the food items one could order. From what I recall, oatmeal was about the only healthy thing you could order. I was not familiar with the brand of most of the items as no region in which I’ve lived sold these brands. I cannot recall the name, but I had the impression that they were from around Kansas City for some reason. I suspect that maybe the delivery company was based in that area and delivered items to jails around the midwest.
Besides food, you could order office supplies such as computer paper, legal pads, small journals, and pens. Other items included athletic shoes that weighed significantly less than the standard-issue boots but considerably more than name-brand athletic shoes. They were also much more comfortable than the boots. I recall being amazed at how light they seemed when I first got a pair. I still have them, and now they seem extremely heavy. You could also purchase a sweatshirt and sweatpants as well as thermal underwear. At night I would fold the sweatshirt into a nice pillow since the jail did not provide one. You could also buy a small radio and replacement batteries. It was nice to have the radio, but very few stations had a signal strong enough for good reception in the jail. I recall being excited to find an alternative rock station I could occasionally tune with the analog station selector among a few country music stations. The housing of the radio was clear apparently, so you could not hide contraband inside. Inmates passed down most of these items as they were released or transferred. The only reason I still have the shoes (and sweatshirt and sweatpants) is because of the strange circumstances under which the jail released me the last time. There were also some ‘exotic’ items–mainly better radios–that inmates had brought when they transferred from a different jail. The following image gallery is a collection of my commissary orders, so can see all the junk food I ate in jail.
Order receipt showing purchased items and financial details.
This is a scanned document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated 07/05/2016. It lists various food items such as pretzels, sausages, and cookies with quantities and prices, totaling $1.14 before tax. The bottom includes signatures and handwritten dates.
Printed sales order receipt with itemized envelopes and handwritten signatures.
The image shows a printed sales order document from KeepE Commissary Network Sales dated August 8, 2016. It lists three envelope items with quantities, prices, and totals, along with subtotal, tax, and end fund balance figures. Handwritten signatures and dates appear at the bottom right.
Order receipt from August 2016 listing supplies for a prison facility.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 08/14/2016, addressed to Eric Michael Mockensturn at Centre County Prison. The document lists five items including blue round stick pens and typing paper with corresponding prices and totals. It includes facility numbers, barcode identifiers, and a signature line at the bottom.
Printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing purchased items with prices and totals.
The document is an order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 08/22/2016, showing a customer named Eric Michael Mockensturm ordering five inventory items including stamps, envelopes, and cards. The subtotal is $15.35 with no sales tax applied, and the end fund balance is listed as $229.50. At the bottom, there are handwritten signatures labeled 'SIGNED' and 'WITNESSED BY', along with a date of 8/24/16.
Receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing ordered stationery items.
This is a printed sales receipt dated July 17, 2016, from Keefe Commissary Network Sales. It lists three items: a legal pad, large stamped envelopes, and a book of ten stamps, with quantities, prices, and totals. The subtotal is $12.54, with no tax applied, and an end fund balance of $29.71. A handwritten signature appears near the bottom.
Order receipt for supplies sent to Centre County Prison.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated July 17, 2016. It lists three items: a legal pad, large stamped envelopes, and a book of stamps, with a subtotal of $12.54 and no tax applied. The document includes facility information for Centre County Prison and shows a handwritten signature at the bottom.
Printed sales order receipt for stationery items.
This is a scanned document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' showing an order placed on 07/24/2016. It lists five line items including Manila envelopes, thank you cards, and typing paper with quantities, unit prices, and totals. The subtotal is $15.86 with no sales tax applied.
Receipt detailing food and office supplies ordered for Centre County Prison on July 10, 2016.
This is a printed sales receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 07/10/2016. It lists various items including snacks, beverages, and stationery with quantities, unit prices, and line totals. The subtotal is $48.15 with no tax applied, resulting in an order total of $48.15.
Order receipt listing food items and costs for a prison commissary transaction dated May 2016.
This is a printed sales receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated May 2, 2016. It lists various food items such as tea bags, sugar substitutes, ramen noodles, and envelopes with their quantities, unit prices, and totals. The subtotal is $51.08 with no tax applied.
Order receipt listing various food items and supplies with a handwritten signature and date.
The image shows a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated May 9, 2016. It lists multiple items such as baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, root beer barrels, ramen noodles, health mix, oatmeal, cereal, tortillas, envelopes, and stamps. The subtotal is $51.48 with no sales tax applied. There are handwritten annotations including a large signature, a date of 5/10/16, and notes like 'catmeal' and quantities.
Receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing various food items and their costs.
The image shows a printed receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 05/09/2016. It lists multiple items such as baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, rootbeer barrels, sour fruit balls, ramen noodles, nacho chips, health mix, apple-cinn oatmeal, strawberry cereal, flour tortillas, large stamped envelopes, and a book of ten stamps. The subtotal is 51.44 with no sales tax applied. There are handwritten notes including '6520 Issue credit 6' and signatures at the bottom.
A scanned food order receipt showing itemized purchases and totals.
This is a printed document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated 06/27/2016. It lists various food items such as ramen, tortillas, and envelopes with quantities, prices, and a subtotal of 46.51. The document includes facility information for Centre County Prison and has handwritten signatures at the bottom.
Order receipt showing items purchased for a prison facility.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated July 5, 2016. It lists various food items and supplies such as pretzels, sausages, oatmeal, tortillas, cookies, pickles, envelopes, sweatpants, and shorts. The total order amount is $1.14 with no sales tax applied.
Printed sales order receipt with itemized envelopes and handwritten dates/signatures.
The image shows a printed document titled 'KEEPE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' listing three envelope items with quantities, prices, and totals. Handwritten entries include a date of 8/9/16 near the bottom right corner, along with illegible signatures under 'SIGNED' and 'WITNESSED BY'.
Printed order receipt listing purchased items and totals.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated August 14, 2016. It lists five items purchased for Centre County Prison, including blue round stick pens, tea bags, typing paper, and stamped envelopes, with an order total of $19.70.
Order receipt listing stationery items purchased on August 21, 2016.
The image displays a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated August 22, 2016. It lists five line items including books of stamps, envelopes, and cards with quantities and prices totaling $15.35. The document includes facility information for Centre County Prison and shows signatures at the bottom.
Receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing ordered stationery items.
The image shows a printed sales receipt dated July 17, 2016, from Keefe Commissary Network Sales. It lists three items: a legal pad, large stamped envelopes, and a book of stamps, with quantities, prices, and totals. A handwritten signature appears near the bottom right.
Order receipt for Centre County Prison with itemized list and total of $12.54.
This is a scanned document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated July 18, 2016, listing three items purchased for the Centre County Prison facility. The subtotal is $12.54 with no sales tax applied. A large handwritten number eight appears in the center of the page.
A scanned sales order receipt for stationery items.
This image shows a printed sales order document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated 07/25/2016. It lists five line items including envelopes, thank you cards, and typing paper with corresponding quantities, prices, and totals. The subtotal is $15.86 with no tax applied.
Receipt listing purchased items and totals for a prison commissory order.
This is a printed sales receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 07/10/2016. It lists various food and office supplies ordered for Centre County Prison, including pretzels, wafers, beans, and envelopes, with individual prices and a subtotal of 48.15. The document includes facility details, order numbers, and handwritten signatures at the bottom.
Order receipt for Centre County Prison commissary purchases dated May 2016.
This is a printed sales receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 05/02/2016. It lists various food items ordered for Centre County Prison, including tea bags, sugar substitutes, ramen noodles, and envelopes, with individual prices and a subtotal of $51.08.
Order receipt listing various food items with prices and quantities.
The image shows a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated May 9, 2016. It lists multiple items such as baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, root beer barrels, fruit balls, ramen noodles, chips, health mix, oatmeal, cereal, tortillas, envelopes, and stamps. The subtotal is $51.48 with no sales tax applied, resulting in an order total of $51.48. There are handwritten annotations including a large signature-like mark across the middle, a note indicating '6' under item #620 (apple-cinn oatmeal), and a date written as 5/10/16 at the bottom right.
Receipt listing various food and office supplies purchased on September 5, 2016.
The image shows a printed sales receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 05/09/2016. It lists items such as baby powder, bowls, wafers, ramen noodles, and oatmeal with quantities, unit prices, and totals. There are handwritten annotations including a large signature in the center and notes about an issue with item 6520 (Apple-Cinn Oatmeal). The subtotal is $51.44 with no sales tax applied.
A scanned food order receipt from a commissary network sales document.
This image shows a printed order receipt from 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated June 27, 2016. The document lists various food items such as ramen, tortillas, and envelopes with quantities, prices, and totals. It includes facility information for Centre County Prison and ends with a subtotal of $46.51.
Order receipt showing purchased items and financial details.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated July 5, 2016. It lists various food and supply items such as pretzels, sausages, oatmeal, tortillas, cookies, pickles, envelopes, sweatpants, and shorts with their quantities, unit prices, and totals. The subtotal is $1.14, sales tax is $0.00, and the order total is also $1.14. There is a handwritten date of 7/6/16 at the bottom right.
Printed sales order receipt with itemized envelopes and handwritten signatures.
The image shows a printed document titled 'KEEPE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' listing three envelope items with quantities, prices, and totals. The subtotal is $3.60 with no tax applied, resulting in an order total of $3.60. Handwritten signatures appear at the bottom along with dates including 8/9/16.
Purchase order receipt listing office supply items with prices and totals.
The image shows a printed purchase order document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated 08/14/2016. It lists five line items including pens, tea bags, typing paper, and envelopes with quantities, unit prices, and totals. The subtotal is $19.70 with no tax applied, resulting in an order total of $19.70. A handwritten signature appears at the bottom along with a witness signature.
Order receipt listing stationery items purchased on August 21, 2016.
The image shows a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated August 22, 2016. It lists five line items including books of stamps, envelopes, and cards with quantities and prices totaling $15.35. The document includes facility information for Centre County Prison and handwritten signatures at the bottom.
Order receipt from July 17, 2016, listing stationery items purchased for a prison facility.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated July 17, 2016. It lists three items: a legal pad, large stamped envelopes, and a book of stamps, with a subtotal of $12.54. The document includes facility details for Centre County Prison and shows a handwritten signature at the bottom.
Order receipt for supplies sent to Centre County Prison.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated July 17, 2016. It lists three items ordered: legal pads, large stamped envelopes, and a book of stamps, with a subtotal of $12.54 and no tax applied. The document includes facility information for Centre County Prison and shows a handwritten signature and date at the bottom.
Printed sales order receipt for stationery items from July 2016.
This is a scanned document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' showing an order dated 07/24/2016. It lists five line items including envelopes, cards, and paper with quantities, prices, and totals. The subtotal is $15.86 with no tax applied.
Receipt showing a purchase order from July 2016 for food and office supplies.
This is a printed sales receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 07/11/2016. It lists various items purchased, including snacks like peach drink and pretzels, as well as office supplies such as letter pads and envelopes. The subtotal is $48.15 with no tax applied.
Printed order receipt listing food items and costs for a prison commissory network sale.
The document is an order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated May 2, 2016, for Eric Michael Mockensturm at Centre County Prison. It lists ten food items with quantities, unit prices, and totals, summing to a subtotal of $51.08 with no tax applied. The bottom section includes handwritten signatures and dates.
Order receipt listing various food items and their costs.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated May 9, 2016. It lists multiple food items such as baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, root beer barrels, sour fruit balls, ramen noodles, nacho chips, health mix, apple-cinn oatmeal, strawberry cereal, flour tortillas, large stamped envelopes, and a book of ten stamps. The subtotal is $51.46 with no sales tax applied.
A receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing various purchased items with prices and quantities.
The image shows a printed receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 05/09/2016 for order number 6019748. The receipt lists multiple items including baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, rootbeer barrels, fruit balls, ramen noodles, nacho chips, health mix, oatmeal, cereal, tortillas, envelopes, stamps, and a book of ten stamps. There is a handwritten note at the bottom indicating an issue with item 6520 (Apple-Cinn Oatmeal) and signatures.
A scanned food service order receipt showing itemized purchases and totals.
This is a printed document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated June 27, 2016. It lists various food items such as ramen, tortillas, and envelopes with quantities, prices, and a subtotal of $46.51. The bottom section includes signature lines for 'SIGNED' and 'WITNESSED BY' with handwritten entries.
Order receipt showing purchased items and financial summary.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated July 5, 2016. It lists various food and supply items such as pretzels, sausages, oatmeal, tortillas, cookies, pickles, envelopes, sweatpants, and shorts with their quantities, unit prices, and totals. The subtotal is $1.14, sales tax is $0.00, and the order total is also $1.14. There is a handwritten date of 7/6/16 at the bottom right.
Printed sales order receipt from KeepE Commissary Network Sales dated August 7, 2016.
The document is a printed sales order receipt titled 'KEEP E COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' with customer name Eric Michael Mockensturm and facility Centre County Prison. It lists three inventory items: Manila envelope, legal pad yellow, and large stamped envelope, along with unit prices and totals. The bottom section includes handwritten signatures and dates.
Order receipt from August 2016 listing prison supplies.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated August 14, 2016, for the facility Centre County Prison. The document lists five items including pens and typing paper with individual prices totaling $19.70. It includes fields for signature and date at the bottom.
Printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales with itemized charges and handwritten signatures.
The image shows a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 08/22/2016, listing five inventory items including stamps, envelopes, and cards. The document includes customer information for Eric Michael Mockensturm at Centre County Prison, itemized prices totaling $15.35, and handwritten signatures at the bottom.
Receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing stationery orders and totals.
The image shows a printed sales receipt dated July 17, 2016, from Keefe Commissary Network Sales. It lists three ordered items: legal pads, stamped envelopes, and a book of stamps, with an order total of $12.54. The document includes facility information for Centre County Prison and has handwritten signatures at the bottom.
Order receipt for prison supplies dated July 17, 2016, featuring a prominent handwritten number eight.
This is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 07/17/2016. It lists three items purchased: legal pads, large stamped envelopes, and a book of stamps for Centre County Prison. A large, hand-drawn number '8' is visible in the center of the document.
Printed sales order receipt for stationery items from Keefe Commissary Network Sales.
This is a scanned document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' showing an order dated July 24, 2016. It lists five line items including envelopes, thank you cards, and typing paper with quantities, prices, and totals. The subtotal is $15.86 with no sales tax applied.
Receipt listing food and office supplies ordered for a prison facility in 2016.
This is a scanned receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 07/10/2016, showing an order placed by Eric Michael Mockensturm for Centre County Prison. The document lists various items including snacks, beverages, and office supplies with quantities, prices, and totals.
Printed food service order receipt showing itemized purchases and financial details.
The image shows a printed document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated May 2, 2016. It lists various food items such as tea bags, sugar substitutes, ramen noodles, and envelopes with quantities, unit prices, and totals. The subtotal is $51.08 with no sales tax applied.
Order receipt listing various food items with prices and a total of $51.46.
The image shows a printed order document titled 'KEEFE COMMISSARY NETWORK SALES' dated 05/09/2016, listing multiple food items such as baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, root beer barrels, fruit balls, ramen noodles, nacho chips, oatmeal, strawberry cereal, flour tortillas, envelopes, and stamps. The subtotal is $51.46 with no sales tax applied. Handwritten annotations include a signature, date '5/10/16', and notes like 'Oatmeal' and '6'.
A receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales listing various purchased items with quantities and prices.
The image shows a printed receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 05/09/2016. It lists multiple items such as baby powder, thank you cards, bowls, wafers, rootbeer barrels, fruit balls, ramen noodles, nacho chips, health mix, oatmeal, cereal, tortillas, envelopes, stamps, and a book of ten stamps. There is a handwritten note indicating an issue with item 6520 (Apple-Cinn Oatmeal). The subtotal is $51.44, and the order total is also $51.44.
A scanned food service order receipt from June 27, 2016.
The document is a printed order receipt from Keefe Commissary Network Sales dated 06/27/2016 for customer Eric Michael Mockensturm. It lists multiple food items such as ramen and tortillas with quantities, prices, and totals, along with facility information for Centre County Prison. The bottom section includes subtotal, tax, order total, and signatures from two individuals.
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