Money Deposit FAQs & Warnings for Crain Unit: Cash rules, interest, and avoiding scams
Sending money to someone at the Crain Unit should be simple, but small mistakes can delay or reject a deposit. Here are answers to the most common trust-fund questions—plus safety warnings TDCJ wants families to know.
Don't send cash, stamps, or personal items - not to the unit, not to the Inmate Trust Fund. Even if you're trying to help with basics, those items aren't accepted through the trust-fund process and can cause problems with your deposit.
Quick tip: TDCJ accepts only money orders or cashier’s checks made payable to “Inmate Trust Fund” (for the offender’s name and number). Always include the offender’s name and TDCJ number so the deposit gets credited to the right account.
Offenders don't earn interest on funds in their Inmate Trust Fund account. If you're budgeting support money, plan on the balance staying the same unless funds are added or spent.
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- ✓ Your name and your address (required)
- ✓ The offender’s name and TDCJ number
- ✓ A money order or cashier’s check payable to “Inmate Trust Fund” (for the offender’s name and number)
Mail your deposit with the completed deposit slip to: Inmate Trust Fund, PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060. Double-check the envelope before sending - using the correct address is one of the easiest ways to avoid delays.
One of the biggest safety rules is also one of the simplest: never send funds to offenders you don't know, and never send money "as a favor" for someone else's offender. These requests can be tied to pressure, manipulation, or extortion - and once money is sent, it's hard to untangle what happened.
- Pause further payments - if you suspect extortion, stop sending money while you sort out what’s happening.
- Report it to the unit warden - share what you were asked to do and any details you have (names, dates, amounts, messages).
- Escalate to the Texas Office of Inspector General (OIG) - report the suspected extortion there as well, especially if threats, coercion, or repeated demands are involved.
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- ✓ Keep your receipt and a copy of what you sent (for your records)
- ✓ Confirm you used a money order or cashier’s check payable to “Inmate Trust Fund” (for the offender’s name and number)
- ✓ Re-check the offender’s name and TDCJ number before you send anything
If your loved one says the money isn't showing up, check the basics first: Was it a money order or cashier's check? Was the payee line written as "Inmate Trust Fund" for the offender's name and number? Were the offender's name and TDCJ number correct? If something looks off - or you need to follow up on a mailed deposit - write to the Inmate Trust Fund at PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060 with the details you have and copies of your receipt or stub.
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