Sending Money to Someone at East Texas Treatment Facility: Deposit Options and How to Become an Approved Sender

East Texas Treatment Facility uses the TDCJ Inmate Trust Fund system, and deposits only go through approved channels. Your main options are traditional deposits (money orders or cashier's checks), monthly checking account debit (ACH) using the ACH Authorization form, and several approved vendor systems for online or retail-style payments. Small formatting mistakes can get a deposit rejected. Review the TDCJ trust fund deposit instructions before sending anything. Choose the method that fits how quickly the funds are needed and what you have access to: a bank account, money order, or a vendor payment option.

• ✓ Money order
• ✓ Cashier’s check
• ✓ eCommDirect (Texas.gov)
• ✓ JPay
• ✓ Access Corrections (Secure Deposits)
• ✓ ACE (America’s Cash Express)
• ✓ TouchPay Payment System

1. Get the ACH Authorization form. This is the form used for the monthly checking account debit (ACH) deposit option.
2. Fill it out with your checking account information. The form is what authorizes the recurring debit from your account.
3. Use ACH for scheduled, monthly deposits. This method is set up as a monthly checking account debit rather than a one-time payment.

Since September 1, 2020, TDCJ only accepts money deposits from approved senders. You must be on the person's approved visitor list or their approved telephone (Inmate Telephone) list before your deposit will go through, even if you're using an otherwise approved method. This rule trips up a lot of first-time senders. Deposits get refused or delayed because the sender wasn't approved yet. If you're not sure whether you're on the list, handle that first. Then send funds.

Two ways to become an approved sender: have the inmate add you to their Approved Visitation List, or register your phone with Securus so you appear on the Approved Phone List. You don't need to be on both. Either one satisfies the approved-sender requirement.

1. Ask the inmate to add you to the Approved Visitation List. This step has to be initiated on their side.
2. Or register your phone with Securus. Once your phone is registered, you can be placed on the Approved Phone List.
3. Confirm you’re on one list before you deposit. You only need to be approved through one of the two pathways to send money.

Some deposits aren't available right away. A 14-day hold applies to any single deposit of $500.00 or more. The same hold applies to insurance, company, payroll, or estate checks (and similar disbursements). If the person you're helping needs funds quickly for commissary, keep that timing in mind before sending a larger amount in one payment.

Need to check whether a deposit arrived? Inmate Trust Fund staff can confirm receipt. They can't share account activity or the current balance with anyone other than the inmate, so don't expect detailed account information over the phone or by email.