How to Send Money to Someone at Cooper Street: Use GTL Financial Services and Avoid Scams

At Cooper Street - and MDOC facilities generally - all money deposits into a prisoner's account run through GTL Financial Services. You might see what look like "different ways" to fund an account, but GTL handles the back end. If the instructions don't route through GTL, you're not actually putting money in the prisoner's account.

Keep the deposit cap in mind: no single deposit can exceed $300. If you're providing ongoing support, this matters. Break larger amounts into separate deposits rather than trying to send one big payment that won't process.

Deposits also follow MDOC's rules for prisoner funds. The specifics are in Policy Directive PD 04.02.105 ("Prisoner Funds") and its associated Director's Office Memorandum - these outline how funds are handled once received.

1. Start with MDOC’s official “For Families” information - use the state’s published guidance as your source of truth for how deposits are supposed to work.
2. Confirm prisoner-specific questions with the housing facility - for questions tied to a specific person (or issues like prisoner property or visiting grievances), contact the facility where the prisoner is housed, such as Cooper Street.
3. Use MDOC Central Office if you need a state-level point of contact - the MDOC Central Office public number is 517-335-1426.
4. Don’t rely on instructions you got through a message or social media - if the directions don’t match MDOC/GTL guidance, pause and verify before you send anything.

Red Flags

• ✓ You’re told to send money through Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, or another service that isn’t GTL Financial Services
• ✓ The person messaging you claims the payment method is “new,” “temporary,” or “the only way it will go through”
• ✓ You’re pressured to send money immediately or warned you’ll “lose the spot” if you don’t pay right now
• ✓ The account name you’re paying doesn’t clearly match official GTL deposit instructions
• ✓ The directions you received don’t match what MDOC publishes for sending money

Quick Checklist

• ✓ Confirm you’re following MDOC’s instructions and that your deposit is processed through GTL Financial Services
• ✓ Keep each deposit at $300 or less
• ✓ Remember deposits must comply with MDOC PD 04.02.105 (“Prisoner Funds”) and the associated Director’s Office Memorandum
• ✓ Save your receipt or confirmation details after you deposit

If you're stuck, go to the right source. Questions about a specific prisoner - property issues, visiting grievances - should go to the facility where they're housed (Cooper Street, in this case). For general MDOC help, call the MDOC Central Office at 517-335-1426. The state's "For Families" resources also list additional facility contact numbers.