How to Send Money to an Inmate at Memorial Unit: Your Complete Guide
Sending money to someone at Memorial Unit is straightforward—use the right deposit channel and make sure you're an approved sender. Here are the accepted options and the rules that trip people up most often.
Memorial Unit uses the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Inmate Trust Fund system. Deposits go through approved vendors: Access Corrections, ACE (America's Cash Express), eCommDirect (Texas.gov), JPay, and TouchPay. Fees and payment options vary by vendor, so pick the one that works best for you and follow their specific instructions.
Note: Each deposit vendor has its own step-by-step process and fee structure. Use the vendor’s instructions for the most accurate, current deposit steps.
Before sending money, confirm you're eligible. Since September 1, 2020, only people on the inmate's approved visitor list or Inmate Telephone List can deposit funds through the Inmate Trust Fund.
- ✓ Confirm you’re on the inmate’s approved visitor list before you try to send money.
- ✓ If you’re not on the visitor list, confirm whether you’re on the inmate’s Inmate Telephone List.
- ✓ If you aren’t on either list, expect the deposit to be rejected - get added first, then send funds.
Two mistakes cause most delays. First, cash and personal checks aren't accepted - send either one and it gets returned. Second, don't mail deposits to Memorial Unit directly. All trust fund deposits must go through the approved Inmate Trust Fund process, not to the unit itself.
Heads up: If you send cash or a personal check - or you mail a trust deposit to the unit - expect it to be returned and your loved one’s funds to be delayed.
Large deposits come with a waiting period. Any single-transaction deposit of $500.00 or more triggers a 14-day hold before the inmate can access the funds. The same hold applies to insurance checks, company checks, payroll checks, estate checks, and similar disbursements.
Planning tip: If your loved one needs funds by a specific date, avoid last-minute large deposits - anything $500+ (or certain check types) may be unavailable for 14 days.
Sending a money order or cashier's check? You'll need an inmate deposit slip. Ask your loved one to provide one before you mail anything.
Worried a deposit didn't go through? Inmate Trust Fund staff can confirm whether they received it. They won't share the inmate's account balance or transaction history with you - only the inmate can access those details.
- Ask the inmate to add you - Inmates are responsible for adding people to their visitation list, and that list (or the Inmate Telephone List) determines who can deposit.
- Contact the unit to verify - If you’re unsure whether you’re approved, call the unit and ask for verification before you send money.
Note: A quick verification call can save you from a rejected deposit and days of waiting for a return.
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