Quick Answers
In most cases, inmates do not know exactly when they will receive money deposits into their prison accounts. However, there are some general guidelines about when deposits may occur:
- Deposits from friends/family on the outside may show up within a few business days of being sent.
- Payroll for prison jobs is usually deposited on a set schedule, such as monthly or biweekly.
- Tax refunds and government benefits may be deposited around the same time as they would on the outside.
- Settlement checks from legal cases can take weeks or months to be processed and deposited.
So while inmates don’t know the exact date and time money will hit their accounts, they can estimate based on when it was sent by family or expect routine deposits on a regular schedule. The processing time for money to reach an inmate account can vary by facility.
How Inmate Accounts Work
Inmates in the U.S. prison system do not have direct access to cash. Instead, they have prison trust fund accounts where money can be deposited by friends/family on the outside or earned within the prison. This money is used to pay for things like:
- Commissary purchases
- Phone calls
- Medical co-pays
- Restitution and court fees
Inmates use their prison ID number to access their accounts and make purchases or transfers. Funds cannot be transferred between inmate accounts directly. All deposits into an inmate’s account must come from an outside source.
Some key things to know about inmate accounts:
- Accounts are managed by the prison or jail, not an external bank.
- Interest is not earned on account balances.
- Spending limits or caps may be in place for certain transactions.
- Rules for minimum account balances may exist.
When an inmate is released, the institution will issue them the remaining balance on their account, usually in the form of a check.
Making Deposits into Inmate Accounts
Friends and family can deposit money into an inmate’s account by:
- Online deposits/transfers through approved prison vendor websites like JPay, AccessCorrections, Touchpay, etc.
- Money orders sent by mail
- Onsite kiosks at the facility where cash can be deposited
Those on the outside should follow the institution’s rules for money deposits, such as:
- Any required deposit slips/forms
- Minimum/maximum amount limits
- Approved mailing addresses
It’s important to include the inmate’s full name and ID number so the funds can be added to the right account. The prison may reject or delay deposits that don’t follow proper procedures.
Timing of Family Deposits
One of the frustrations for inmates is not knowing exactly when money from friends/family will hit their accounts. Unlike paychecks which come on a fixed schedule, deposits from the outside can arrive unpredictably.
Here are some general guidelines on timing of deposits from friends/family:
- Online transfers or debit payments may show up in 1-3 business days.
- Money orders by mail can take 5-10 business days to be received and processed.
- Institution lockdowns or mail delays can slow things down.
- Larger amounts may be held for longer reviews.
Banks and vendor websites may also have their own processing times for payments before the funds are disbursed to the facility.
So while the inmate won’t have an exact date, telling them when the money was sent can set expectations that it should arrive within a certain window if all goes smoothly.
Payroll for Prison Jobs
For inmates who have paid jobs within a correctional facility, payday comes on a regular schedule. Common pay cycles for prison jobs include:
- Monthly – Last day of the month
- Biweekly – Every other Friday
- Weekly – Fridays
Knowing the set payroll schedule allows inmates to budget and plan commissary purchases in advance. Jobs may pay very modest hourly wages but provide a reliable stream of income.
Deductions are often taken out of prison job pay for things like:
- Taxes
- Victim restitution
- Child support
- Court fees or fines
So the net deposit an inmate receives on payday will vary based on individual deductions. Pay for a month’s work may only show up as a $20 deposit after all deductions by the facility.
Government Benefits and Tax Refunds
Inmates may also receive money from government programs or tax refunds while incarcerated:
- Social Security Retirement – Paid on Wednesdays based on birthdate
- Social Security Disability (SSDI) – Paid on Wednesdays based on birthdate
- Federal Tax Refunds – Deposited usually February to April
These payments follow the same monthly schedule as they would outside of prison. An inmate who had direct deposit set up with the IRS and SSA prior to incarceration may see these government funds added to their account automatically.
Others may need to arrange deposit into their inmate account if benefits started after incarceration. Having the money direct deposited removes the hassle of coordinating paper checks.
Legal Settlements and Victim Restitution
At times, inmates may receive money from legal settlements, inheritance, or victim restitution payments ordered by a court. The timing on these types of deposits can vary:
- Settlement checks can take weeks or months to disburse after final approval.
- Restitution payments may be broken into smaller increments if the total amount is large.
- Inheritance distributions depend on length of probate process.
These types of payments can be more sporadic and the inmate likely won’t know the timeline. The best they can do is communicate with their lawyer or the payer to get updates on disbursement status.
For restitution, the state agency collecting and processing payments will determine the schedule. The inmate has little control or visibility unless notified by the court.
Ways Inmates Check Their Balance
While inmates won’t necessarily know when new money is coming, they do have ways to check their current account balance. Methods to check a prison trust fund account balance include:
- Account statements – printed monthly or quarterly
- Kiosks – balance checking at the kiosk any time
- Tablets/apps – some facilities provide real-time balance viewing
- Asking staff – request account balance from staff
- Phone calls – automated balance reporting at certain facilities
Kiosks, tablets, and apps allow inmates to view their up-to-the-minute available balance 24/7. This allows them to track new deposits and debits as they happen.
Printed statements give a snapshot of balance and transaction history but may only be issued once a month. Tablets and kiosks give the real-time information inmates need to know if new funds are available or purchases can be made.
Asking staff is an option but may provide limited or delayed information if they have to look up the inmate’s account in the system. Overall, on-demand options through technology have vastly improved inmates’ ability to monitor their funds.
Commissary Purchases
One way inmates find out about new deposits is when the money becomes available for commissary or transfers. If a purchase or transfer they attempt gets rejected for insufficient funds, they know no new funds have hit since they last checked.
Being able to make commissary purchases is a signal to the inmate that their account balance is funded. Unless they are keeping meticulous track of expenditures, the fact that the purchase succeeded tells them usable money exists in the account.
They also receive printed receipts confirming each commissary purchase, which serves as record that their account had enough funds at that time to cover the cost. Successful transactions are the best way for an inmate to indirectly learn their account balance is currently positive.
Account Transaction History
Inmates who regularly track their transaction history can forecast deposits based on dates and patterns. By studying printouts of past account activity, they may notice trends like:
- Money from family arrives every Friday
- Paychecks on the 5th and 20th of each month
- SSDI payments on the 15th
- Tax refund every April 15th
Noticing these patterns over months and years in their account records allows inmates to better estimate dates that deposits will hit in the future. They gain insight on when to expect certain deposits based on predictable timing.
For example, recording the details each time a tax refund arrives will inform the inmate that they likely will see that annual deposit at around the same time next year. Reviewing past account activity helps remove some uncertainty around deposit timing.
Getting Account Alerts in Some Facilities
While traditional methods like transaction printouts require manually tracking balances, some modern facilities now offer account alerts and notifications through inmate tablets or messaging systems:
- Low balance alerts
- Deposits received alerts
- Withdrawals/purchases confirmations
- Account frozen warnings
These notifications allow inmates to receive real-time updates when key account events occur without having to repeatedly check their balance. Alerts create greater visibility into account status and eliminate the uncertainty of waiting for printouts.
Tablets make it easy for facilities to push instant information to inmates when:
- A deposit hits their account from an outside source
- A payroll or benefits payment posts
- Debits occur for purchases, fees, etc.
Inmates can set their own account balance thresholds for alerts. For example, dropping below $50 triggers a low balance notice. Surpassing $200 could trigger an alert that funds are available for commissary.
Real-time text and on-screen notifications empower inmates to know account statuses immediately instead of waiting on others to provide information.
Roadblocks to Getting Alerts
While account alerts are gaining popularity, some barriers prevent universal adoption:
- Cost – Implementing tablet programs and wireless infrastructure
- Technology learning curve – Platforms inmates can use easily
- Security concerns – Making sure alerts can’t be exploited
- Compliance procedures – Ensuring alerts meet facility regulations
Tablets enable modern “banking” style notifications but also introduce potential security risks that concern conservative corrections staff. There are still many facilities where printed statements are the only form of account information.
Overcoming legacy processes takes time. But inmate advocates point to studies showing notifications through tablets can dramatically improve accountability, self-confidence, and reduce recidivism for account holders.
Key Takeaways on Inmate Funds Notification
In summary, while most inmates don’t have an exact deposit date for outside money transfers, some key takeaways provide guidance:
- Friends/family deposits may hit accounts within 1-2 weeks if sent electronically or by mail money order.
- Payroll for prison jobs comes on a fixed, recurring schedule.
- Tax refunds and government benefits tend to follow outside schedules.
- Legal settlements are processed on unique timetables.
- Checking kiosks or tablets gives real-time balance visibility.
- Account alerts provide instant notifications but availability is limited.
Even without precise deposit dates, understanding general timeframes, checking balances often, and reviewing account histories allows inmates some insight on their account status and when funds may become available in the future. The variability and lack of control is frustrating but tracking patterns helps narrow timing expectations.
