How to Send Money to an InmateTrust Fund Deposits Explained
Money deposited into an inmate account covers phone calls, hygiene items, food, and postage. You cannot send cash directly. You cannot use Venmo, Cash App, or Zelle. The correct deposit method depends on which service the facility has contracted — and that varies by state and county.
Corrections agencies, sheriff’s offices, and the FTC have issued repeated warnings in 2025 and 2026 about scammers targeting families of inmates. No legitimate jail, prison, or corrections agency will call you and ask for payment via Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If you receive a call demanding payment through any of these methods — hang up. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
To send money to an inmate, use the service contracted by their facility — typically JPay, GTL ConnectNetwork, or Access Corrections. Find the correct service by searching the facility on jpay.com or connectnetwork.com, or by checking the facility’s own website. Deposit online with a debit or credit card, at a cash agent location, at a facility kiosk, or by mailing a money order to the provider’s lockbox. You need the inmate’s full legal name and inmate ID number.
What the Money Is Actually Used For
Understanding what commissary funds cover explains why regular deposits matter more than many families realize.
Facilities provide inmates with basic meals, housing, and minimal clothing. Everything else comes from the commissary — the facility’s internal store. An inmate without funds depends entirely on what the facility provides, which covers the bare minimum.
In many facilities, phone credits come from the trust account. An inmate without funds may be unable to call home.
Better soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant than facility issue. Important for daily comfort during a long sentence.
Ramen, tuna, peanut butter, coffee, and snacks to supplement facility meals. Commissary prices vary by facility.
Stamps, envelopes, and paper. Without funds, an inmate can receive mail but cannot afford to reply.
Email and messaging credits through tablet programs like JPay or TRULINCS in federal facilities, where available.
Some facilities charge inmates a co-pay for medical visits, deducted from the trust account.
How much is needed? Individual needs vary. Even a modest monthly deposit makes a difference in communication and daily comfort. Federal commissary has a monthly spending limit of $360; state and county limits vary by facility.
Step 1 — Find the Right Service for Your Facility
This is the step most guides skip. Using the wrong provider means funds do not arrive.
Three companies handle the majority of inmate trust deposits across U.S. correctional facilities: JPay (Securus subsidiary), GTL Financial Services (ConnectNetwork / ViaPath), and Access Corrections. Some facilities use MoneyGram or Western Union as cash agents for one of these primary providers. A small number of facilities use other regional services.
The facility — not the inmate — chooses its contracted provider. Some work with only one; others accept multiple. Always verify before sending funds.
Three Ways to Confirm the Provider
- 1Check the Facility Website
The county sheriff’s site or state DOC facility page usually lists the accepted deposit provider under an “Inmate Services” or “Sending Money” section. This is the most authoritative source.
- 2Search on JPay or ConnectNetwork
Go to jpay.com and search for the facility — if it appears, JPay is accepted. Do the same at connectnetwork.com. If the facility appears on one but not the other, that identifies the correct provider.
- 3Call the Facility Directly
Ask the intake or records department which service handles inmate trust account deposits. Two minutes on the phone eliminates guesswork.
Most reliable when website info is unclear
The Main Deposit Services — What Each One Is
Provider coverage changes as facilities renegotiate contracts. Verify for your specific facility before depositing.
Widely used across state and county facilities. Also handles email and tablet services. Accepts card payments online, by phone, and at MoneyGram agent locations. Search your facility at jpay.com to confirm availability and current fees.
jpay.com →GTL Financial Services operates as ConnectNetwork and ViaPath depending on the facility. Accepts online deposits, phone deposits, mail via lockbox, and kiosk deposits. GTL lockbox: 10005 Technology Blvd West, Suite 130, Dallas TX 75220.
connectnetwork.com →Used by many county jails and some state systems. Online at accesscorrections.com, by phone at 1-866-345-1884, at facility kiosks, and at CashPayToday cash deposit locations. Confirm current fees before depositing.
accesscorrections.com →Many facilities accept cash through MoneyGram or Western Union locations acting as agents for the primary provider. You need the facility’s receive code and the inmate’s name and ID. Find agents at moneygram.com or westernunion.com/corrections.
moneygram.com →Provider contracts change. New Jersey’s DOC transitioned from JPay to ViaPath/ConnectNetwork in 2025-2026. Illinois DOC stopped using GTL for state inmates. These changes happen without broad public notice — always verify the current provider for your specific facility before depositing.
Deposit Methods — How to Actually Send the Money
Once you have confirmed the right provider, choose the deposit method that works for you. Fees and processing vary by method and facility.
| Method | How It Works | What You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Online — Provider Website | Create a free account on jpay.com, connectnetwork.com, or accesscorrections.com. Deposit by credit or debit card. Fees apply — check before depositing. | Inmate full name, ID number, facility state. Debit or credit card. |
| Phone | Call the provider’s line and deposit by card. JPay: 1-800-574-5729. GTL/ConnectNetwork: 1-888-988-4768. Access Corrections: 1-866-345-1884. | Same as online. Card ready for the call. |
| Cash Agent — MoneyGram or Western Union | Go to a MoneyGram or Western Union location. Pay cash. Provide the facility receive code and inmate information. | Facility receive code, inmate name and ID, cash for deposit and fee. |
| On-Site Kiosk | Some facilities have lobby kiosks accepting cash or card. Available during facility hours. Confirm whether your facility has one before visiting. | Inmate name and ID. Cash or card depending on kiosk type. |
| Money Order by Mail | Make the money order payable to the provider (not the facility). Mail to the provider’s lockbox with a deposit slip. Download deposit slips from the provider’s website. | Money order, completed deposit slip, inmate name and ID, correct lockbox address. |
Never send cash by mail to a facility. Cash cannot be tracked or recovered if lost. Money orders are the acceptable mail method — made payable to the service provider, not the jail or prison, unless the facility explicitly instructs otherwise.
Information You Need Before Depositing
A mismatch in any of these details can delay or misdirect funds. Verify from an official source before depositing.
- 1Inmate’s Full Legal Name
Use the exact name on official records — not a nickname. The name must match what the facility has on file. Find it through the inmate search tool for the relevant state or county facility.
- 2Inmate ID Number
The most critical field. A wrong ID sends funds to the wrong account. For county jails this is typically the booking number. For state prisons it is the DOC offender number — TDCJ number in Texas, ODRC number in Ohio, AIS number in Alabama, MDOC number in Michigan, and so on. Find it through the facility’s inmate search, court documents, or by calling the facility.
Wrong ID = wrong account — always verify - 3Specific Facility Name and State
Not just the state or city — the specific facility. Many providers route funds by facility. If someone has been transferred, confirm the current location before depositing.
- 4Save Your Confirmation Number
After depositing, write down or screenshot your confirmation number. If funds do not arrive within the expected timeframe, contact the provider with this number to trace the deposit.
Inmate Money Scams — What to Watch For
Multiple sheriff’s offices and corrections agencies issued warnings in 2025 and 2026 about scammers targeting families of incarcerated people. These calls typically involve someone impersonating a jail official or even the inmate, claiming payment is needed immediately for a release, bond, rehabilitation program, GPS monitor, or other service.
Signs a call is a scam: The caller asks for payment via Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or prepaid debit cards. There is urgency or pressure to pay immediately. You are asked to keep the call secret. The call comes from an unknown or blocked number. The caller uses the name and rank of a real officer.
How legitimate deposit systems work: You initiate the deposit — no legitimate corrections service calls you to demand payment. Deposits go through the provider’s official website, phone line, or kiosk. Fees are disclosed upfront before you complete the transaction.
If you receive a suspicious call: Hang up. Do not send money or share financial information. Call the facility directly using the number on the official county sheriff or DOC website — not a number given by the caller. Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Find the Inmate First — Search by State and Facility
Confirm where the inmate is currently held before depositing. Check the facility’s own website for the accepted deposit provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
We research publicly available inmate and jail records and link readers to official government sources. Information on this page is drawn from official facility websites, JPay, GTL ConnectNetwork, and Access Corrections documentation, scam warnings from multiple law enforcement agencies (2025-2026), and corrections resource guides reviewed August 2026. Provider contracts change frequently — confirm the current accepted service with the specific facility before depositing. USA Jail Lookup is not affiliated with JPay, GTL, Access Corrections, or any corrections provider or government agency. About our research process