Sending Money to Someone at Denver Women's Correctional Facility: JPay, GTL, Western Union, Timing, and the 20% Withholding
Sending money to someone at Denver Women's Correctional Facility (CDOC) means using one of the state's approved electronic vendors. But between timing delays and a required 20% withholding, the amount that actually lands in your loved one's account (and when they can spend it) may not match what you expect.
The Colorado Department of Corrections partners with three companies for electronic deposits to inmate accounts: JPay, Western Union, and GTL (ConnectNetwork). These are your only options for getting funds into someone's account while they're in custody.
JPay lets you send money online, through their mobile app, or by phone at 1-800-574-5729. When setting it up, you'll enter the inmate's DOC# as the account number along with their last name. Western Union and GTL (ConnectNetwork) are also approved, so you can compare all three and pick whichever works best for you.
Timing matters. Money sent before 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time will generally be available to the inmate the next day.
If the deposit is tied to a canteen order, build in extra time. CDOC advises allowing 2 to 3 days after you deposit for the money to fully process. Send it too late and your loved one could miss their order window.
Even when your deposit goes through quickly, the full amount may not be spendable. CDOC is required by statute to withhold a minimum of 20% of any deposit toward court-ordered fines, fees, restitution, and/or child support owed by the incarcerated individual. So if you send $100, at least $20 gets taken for those obligations before the rest hits your loved one's spending balance.
On top of that 20% withholding, each deposit company charges its own service fees, and those costs vary by provider and payment method. So when you're comparing JPay, Western Union, and GTL (ConnectNetwork), you're really weighing both convenience and vendor fees. The CDOC withholding applies no matter which vendor you choose.
Other Restrictions
- ✓ Do not mail cash or money orders for deposits. CDOC does not accept money orders or cash sent by mail.
- ✓ If you are on active parole, in community corrections, or have an active Colorado DOC sentence, you generally cannot send funds to someone in CDOC custody unless the administrative head approves an exception.
Want to support your loved one beyond account funds? CDOC's approved care package provider is Union Supply. Families and friends can order monthly gift packs, up to the spend limits set for the inmate's assigned facility and living unit.
Canteen purchases are separate from care packages. The DOC Canteen program is self-sustaining: it receives no taxpayer support and provides inmate employment.
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