How to Send Money to Facility
Sending money is easier when you know where it's actually held and what it can (and can't) be used for. Here's what to know before you make a deposit.
At Sutter County Jail, money tied to incarcerated person services flows through the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund. This fund holds deposits along with any refunds, rebates, or commissions generated by the incarcerated person commissary and incarcerated person phone services.
The Welfare Fund isn't meant to cover basics the county is already required to provide. Money in the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund is not used to pay required county confinement expenses like meals, clothing, housing, or medical services.
Note: Before sending money, confirm with the jail that your deposit is going to the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund. Ask how the jail describes permitted uses of that fund.
Steps-to-follow
- ✓ Confirm with the facility that deposits are handled through the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund.
- ✓ Ask what your money can be used for, and keep in mind the Welfare Fund is not used to pay required confinement expenses (meals, clothing, housing, medical).
- ✓ Use only the deposit method(s) the facility currently accepts, and follow their instructions for how to address the payment and identify the incarcerated person.
Start by verifying the exact account name the jail uses for incoming funds. Sutter County Jail describes the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund as the account that holds deposits of money, plus refunds, rebates, or commissions received from incarcerated person commissary and incarcerated person phone services.
Next, confirm the use rules in plain language so you know what your money actually supports. The jail's Welfare Fund policy states that money in the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund is not used to pay required county confinement expenses such as meals, clothing, housing, or medical services. If possible, ask for the policy in writing or have staff point you to the official wording they follow.
- ✓ Which deposit methods are currently accepted (online, kiosk, mail, lobby window, etc.)?
- ✓ What identifying information is required so the money is credited correctly?
- ✓ Are there fees, limits, or holding periods before funds are available?
- ✓ If you mail a payment, who should it be made payable to and what must be written on it?
- ✓ What are the hours for any in-person deposit option, and what ID is required?
- ✓ What is the refund process if the incarcerated person is released or transferred?
Note: Keep receipts and any written policy you're given that references the Incarcerated Person Welfare Fund, including how deposits are handled and the stated limits on what the fund can be used for.
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