5 Ways to Send Money to an Inmate at Hutchins Unit (and What to Watch For)

Before picking a deposit method, confirm you're eligible to send funds. Since September 1, 2020, only people on the inmate's approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List can make deposits. This means your payment can fail even with the correct name and ID number - if you're not on one of those lists, the system won't accept your money.

Online and phone deposits through third-party vendors are often the fastest option. For Hutchins Unit deposits via the Inmate Trust Fund system, common vendors include Access Corrections, ACE (America's Cash Express), eCommDirect, JPay, and TouchPay. Each has its own checkout process, but they all work the same basic way: select the service, enter the inmate's information, pay, and save your confirmation receipt.

• ✓ Confirm the deposit vendor you’re about to use is an accepted option (Access Corrections, ACE, eCommDirect, JPay, or TouchPay)
• ✓ Have the inmate’s identifying information ready (especially the inmate ID/number)
• ✓ Use the vendor’s online option or phone option - whichever you can complete correctly the first time
• ✓ Save your receipt/confirmation so you can track the deposit if there’s a delay

Prefer mail? Money orders and cashier's checks work, but you'll need a deposit slip. To get slips, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Inmate Trust Fund at PO Box 60, Huntsville, TX 77342-0060. Fill out the slip carefully so the funds credit to the right person, then mail it with your money order or cashier's check.

For regular support - like the same amount every month - ACH monthly debits work well as a "set it and forget it" option. You authorize a fixed amount to be automatically pulled from your checking account once a month and deposited to the inmate. Note the timing: the debit happens around the 5th, and funds hit the inmate's account around the 10th. If your loved one needs money right away, this delay matters.

1. Confirm you’re eligible to send funds - You must be on the inmate’s approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List.
2. Choose your monthly amount - ACH is designed to debit a set amount from your personal checking account each month for deposit to a specific offender.
3. Plan around the timing - The debit occurs on or around the 5th, and the account is credited on or around the 10th.
4. Watch the first cycle closely - Verify the debit and the later credit so you know the setup is working as expected.

Two rules catch people off guard: returns and holds. Cash and personal checks aren't accepted for Inmate Trust Fund deposits - they'll be sent back. On top of that, some deposits are delayed before the inmate can access them. Single deposits of $500 or more are held for 14 days. The same 14-day hold applies to insurance checks, company checks, payroll checks, estate checks, and similar disbursements. If your loved one is counting on commissary funds right away, these holds can make it seem like the money vanished when it's just waiting out the required period.

• ✓ Don’t send cash or personal checks - those are not accepted and will be returned
• ✓ Keep single deposits under $500 when you can to avoid a 14-day hold
• ✓ Expect a 14-day hold on $500+ deposits and on certain checks (including insurance, company, payroll, and estate checks)
• ✓ Use an accepted deposit route (vendor deposits, money order, or cashier’s check) and keep your receipt or mailing documentation