How to Contact an Inmate at Facility
Timing matters when you add money for phone calls and other communication costs. Deposits made through automated channels (online, mobile app, phone, and kiosks) to AdvancePay, PinDebit, and DebitLink accounts are available immediately. Automated deposits to Trust Fund accounts work differently: they're transmitted to the facility within one business day. Deposits sent by mail or made at retail locations are generally processed the next business day after they're received. Availability can still depend on facility policies, so confirm what applies before you rely on a deadline.
Quick timing guide: Automated deposits to AdvancePay, PinDebit, and DebitLink are immediate; automated Trust Fund deposits transmit within one business day; mailed or retail deposits generally process the next business day after receipt.
Steps to Follow
- ✓ If you need funds available right away, use an automated deposit method (online, mobile app, phone, or kiosk) for AdvancePay, PinDebit, or DebitLink.
- ✓ If you’re depositing to a Trust Fund account through an automated method, plan for up to one business day for it to transmit to the facility.
- ✓ If you’re mailing a deposit or using a retail location, expect next-business-day processing after it’s received, and build in extra time for delivery and handling.
Different account types and deposit methods follow different processing paths. Automated deposits for AdvancePay, PinDebit, and DebitLink post immediately. Automated Trust Fund deposits are transmitted to the facility within one business day. Mailed and retail deposits add another layer of delay because processing happens after the deposit is received, typically the next business day. Facility policies can affect final availability, so treat these timelines as a planning baseline and verify if you're working against a cutoff.
What to Verify
- ✓ Which account types are used at this facility (AdvancePay, PinDebit, DebitLink, and/or Trust Fund)
- ✓ Whether automated deposits to AdvancePay, PinDebit, and DebitLink are available immediately for use at this facility
- ✓ The expected timing for automated Trust Fund deposits (transmitted within one business day)
- ✓ How mailed deposits and retail deposits are handled here, including what “received” means and how next-business-day processing is applied
- ✓ Any facility-specific posting delays or internal cutoffs that could affect when funds become usable
Plan ahead: Trust Fund deposits can take up to one business day to transmit, and mailed or retail deposits are generally processed the next business day after receipt, so confirm timing before you count on same-day availability.
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