When a private equity firm in Miami controls what inmates eat, call, and wash with, you know something’s gone off the rails. Virginia handed the commissary keys to Keefe—part of a billion-dollar portfolio—because the real punishment, apparently, is profit.
The Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) contracts with Keefe Commissary Network, LLC to manage commissary services across state correctional facilities. This partnership allows inmates to purchase approved items such as snacks, hygiene products, and electronics through Keefe’s system. The current contract term began on May 1, 2018, and is set to expire on April 30, 2026, with no further renewals available. VADOC+1Keefe Group+1
Keefe Commissary Network is a subsidiary of the Keefe Group, a leading provider of commissary services to correctional facilities nationwide. They offer a range of products and services tailored to the needs of incarcerated individuals and the correctional institutions they reside in.
It’s important to note that while Keefe handles commissary services for state-run facilities, individual regional and county jails in Virginia may have separate agreements with other vendors. For example, the Rappahannock Regional Jail utilizes Oasis Commissary for its inmate commissary needs. rrjail+1WTRJ+1
🔍 Who Owns Keefe Commissary Network?
Keefe is a subsidiary of TKC Holdings, Inc., which also owns:
- Trinity Services Group (correctional food)
- Access Securepak (care packages)
- ICSolutions (inmate phone/video)
- Courtesy Products (hospitality amenities)
TKC Holdings itself is owned by a private equity firm called H.I.G. Capital, a massive global investment firm.
So in short:
Keefe → TKC Holdings → H.I.G. Capital
That means commissary services in Virginia prisons are ultimately controlled by a private equity firm with no public oversight and every incentive to maximize profit.
🕰️ Who Did Virginia Use Before Keefe?
Before Keefe Commissary Network took over in 2018, commissary services in Virginia were mostly:
- Run in-house by VADOC, OR
- Contracted locally to smaller vendors, depending on the facility
Documentation about exact previous vendors is limited publicly, but Keefe’s 2018–2026 contract replaced a mix of local or internally managed systems.