How to Send Money to Someone at Gaston Correctional Center: All Available Methods and Restrictions

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) partners with ViaPath to handle trust-account deposits at Gaston Correctional Center. This means you can send funds via web, mobile app, phone, or walk-in locations. Deposits made through ViaPath typically post to the offender's account by the next business day. The most popular option? ConnectNetwork. You can send funds online or through the ConnectNetwork mobile app using a credit or debit card. If you need money on the account fast, these card-based options are the easiest place to start.

Before you do anything else, know this: only people listed as approved visitors can deposit money into an offender's trust account. Even close family members need to be officially approved first.

Deposits from non-approved visitors get rejected. Confirm your approved status before sending money - otherwise you'll end up with a failed transaction and delays getting funds where they need to go.

• ✓ Confirm you’re listed as an approved visitor for the offender before you attempt any deposit.
• ✓ If you’re not approved, don’t send funds anyway - the vendor will reject the deposit.

Making a cash deposit through Western Union? You'll need the correct payment code. For trust deposits, use: NCDAC TRUST.

Mailed money orders are still an option - and they're fee-free. The catch? Prison facilities don't accept or process money orders directly. You'll need to mail your money order with the required deposit slip to TouchPay. There are strict limits: the maximum is $300 per money order, and they must be issued in U.S. dollars.

Plan for a longer timeline with mailed money orders. Funds typically become available within ten business days, though TouchPay tries to post them sooner. Always include the deposit slip - without it, you're likely to hit processing delays.

Having trouble with a deposit? Maybe a payment won't go through, or funds aren't posting as expected. Call ViaPath's toll-free help line at 877-650-4249.

Action Checklist Before Sending

• ✓ Verify you’re an approved visitor for the offender before sending funds (non-approved deposits are rejected).
• ✓ If using Western Union for a trust deposit, use payment code: NCDAC TRUST.
• ✓ If mailing a money order, keep it at $300 or less and make sure it’s issued in U.S. dollars.
• ✓ Include the required deposit slip with any mailed money order, since the facility does not process money orders directly.
• ✓ For mailed money orders, plan for funds to be available within ten business days (sometimes sooner).