If Your Loved One Receives Benefits: understanding trust funds at Boyd Co Detention Center
When your loved one receives mandatory benefits or comes into money while in custody, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) tracks and protects those funds through a trust fund account. Here's how it works — from setup to withdrawals to what you should watch for.
DJJ opens a Trust Fund account for any youth receiving mandatory benefits, an inheritance, or an insurance award. For monthly benefits, the "excess" - whatever's left after subtracting the youth's cost of care - goes into the trust fund and accumulates there.
- Match the withdrawal amount to the right approver - Special trust fund withdrawals from $0 to $250 require approval by the Juvenile Services District Supervisor (JSDS) or the Residential Superintendent.
- Route mid-range requests to regional leadership - Special trust fund withdrawals from $250 to $500 require approval by the Juvenile Services Regional Manager or the Facilities Regional Administrator.
- Escalate larger requests for division-level approval - Special trust fund withdrawals over $500 require approval by the appropriate Division Director.
- Include invoices/receipts with the request - Withdrawal requests should be supported by vendor documentation (like invoices or receipts) so the approval can be reviewed and processed without unnecessary delays.
Note: Approval depends on the dollar amount. Missing or unclear invoices and receipts can delay the request until paperwork is corrected.
One rule is absolute: trust fund withdrawals cannot be paid to a DJJ staff member. If you ever see a request that would route money directly to staff, treat it as a red flag. Ask for clarification before anything moves forward.
If your loved one is receiving monthly benefits, the trust fund is where any excess is accumulated after accounting for the youth’s cost of care. The same trust fund structure is also used when a youth receives an inheritance or an insurance award, so there’s a clear, tracked account for those funds while the youth is in DJJ custody.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Keep copies of any trust fund account statements or balance updates you receive.
- ✓ Track each withdrawal request amount and confirm it went to the correct approval level ($0–$250: JSDS/Residential Superintendent; $250–$500: Regional Manager/Facilities Regional Administrator; over $500: Division Director).
- ✓ Save supporting documentation for every request (vendor invoices/receipts) so the approver can verify the expense.
- ✓ Confirm that no withdrawal is being paid to a DJJ staff member.
- ✓ If benefits are involved, understand that “excess benefits” (monthly benefits minus cost of care) are what accumulate in the trust fund account.
If a withdrawal seems stuck, direct your questions to whoever can actually approve it. Smaller requests ($0–$250) go through the JSDS or Residential Superintendent. Mid-tier requests ($250–$500) need the Juvenile Services Regional Manager or Facilities Regional Administrator. Anything over $500 requires the appropriate Division Director. Whatever the amount, keep copies of your request and any invoices or receipts you submitted - that way you can quickly confirm what was sent and what's still needed.
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