How do I Wire Money to a Prisoner's Account in Texas?

Texas has established procedures for wiring money to inmates.

Financial accounts for inmates in Texas are called Inmate Trust Funds. While prisoners may not directly access funds while they are incarcerated, money deposited into inmate accounts allows them to buy needed commissary items. Grocery items, personal-hygiene products and permissible extras, such as paper and envelopes, must be purchased using funds in the Inmate Trust Fund. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice manages the state prison system and permits money to be deposited into inmate accounts by several methods.

Instructions

1. Visit the website for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The website offers a downloadable prison procedure guide for families of inmates. This guide lists the acceptable forms of deposit for Inmate Trust Accounts. Deposits may be made by money order, cashier's check, ACH debit, Western Union and other electronic transfer options. Personal checks are not accepted and the agency highly discourages sending cash through the mail as a safety precaution.

2. Review the requirements for utilizing your preferred method of funds transfer. Each type of monetary transaction must be completed within the procedural steps set forth by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. For instance, if you choose to send money orders, you have to request TDCJ send you acceptable deposit slips. A TDCJ issued deposit slip must accompany each money order you mail for it to be accepted and deposited into an inmate account. Every type of payment method has specific agency-imposed procedural requirements that must be fulfilled for deposits to be accepted.

3. Mail written requests for deposit slips and paper deposits directly to the main offices of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Do not mail money, in any form, to the unit in which an inmate is housed. Deposits for inmates' accounts must go through TDJC headquarters in Huntsville, Texas. Be sure that all correspondence regarding monetary transactions and any deposits include the inmate's name, inmate's identification number, your name and your address. The mailing address for Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Inmate Trust Fund management division is:

   Inmate Trust Funds

   P.O. Box 60

   Huntville, Texas 77342-0060

References

• Texas Department of Criminal Justice: Guide for Families of Offenders