Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Sending Money

Sending Money to Someone at Skyline: Vendors, Timing, and Why 20% May Be Withheld

Sending money to someone at Skyline is straightforward once you pick an approved vendor and plan for processing time. Here's what you need to know about CDOC-approved options, how long deposits take, and why the full amount may not show up in their available balance.

• 2 min read • cdoc.colorado.gov
Sending Money to Someone at Skyline: Vendors, Timing, and Why 20% May Be Withheld

At Skyline (CDOC), all deposits go through approved electronic partners - you can't mail cash. Three ways to send funds: online with a credit or debit card, over the phone with a card, or in person with cash at participating locations. CDOC's approved vendors are JPay, Western Union (Send2Corrections), and GTL/ConnectNetwork. Check CDOC's

Note: Skyline (CDOC) does not accept money orders or cash sent by mail to inmates.

Timing matters - especially if your loved one needs to catch a commissary order window. CDOC's general rule: money sent before 4:00 p.m. Mountain Time usually posts the next day. That said, CDOC recommends allowing 2–3 days for funds to fully process. If you're sending money for a specific deadline, send it earlier than you think you need to.

ConnectNetwork (run by TouchPay/GTL Financial Services) handles trust and commissary deposits for CDOC inmate accounts. Service fees vary depending on how much you send and how you pay - card versus cash, for example.

If you send $50 but your loved one doesn't see the full $50 available, don't panic. CDOC is required by law to withhold at least 20% of any deposit toward court-ordered obligations - fines, fees, restitution, or child support. This withholding happens automatically, so the spendable balance will be lower than what you paid the vendor to send.

Something look off? Questions about account activity, inmate banking, or confiscated funds should go to the Inmate Bank directly at (719) 269-4271.

Sending Money to Someone at Skyline: Vendors, Timing, and Why 20% May Be Withheld

Practical Tips Before Sending

  • ✓ Don’t mail cash or money orders - Skyline (CDOC) won’t accept them.
  • ✓ Use an approved vendor (JPay, Western Union Send2Corrections, or GTL/ConnectNetwork) and the approved options: online card, phone card, or in-person cash where available.
  • ✓ If the money needs to be there for canteen/commissary, build in time - CDOC advises allowing 2–3 days for funds to process and be available.
  • ✓ Check the vendor’s posted fees before you submit the deposit, since charges can vary by method and amount (especially for trust/commissary deposits through ConnectNetwork/TouchPay/GTL).

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