Getting Your Money Back After Release or Transfer from Western Tidewater
When your loved one is released or transferred to another facility, one question comes up fast: what happens to the money in their inmate account? Here's how Western Tidewater handles payouts and transfers—and how to avoid delays.
Released inmates can pick up any money owed to them at the Administration Office in the Main Lobby. The pickup window is Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 3:45 pm, excluding holidays and special events.
Need to arrange pickup of inmate funds at release time? Call the jail at 757-942-0530.
Western Tidewater uses a straightforward cutoff for release payouts. Under $25? Cash. $25 or more? Debit card.
Note: When picking up a debit card, staff will explain how it works and any fees that apply.
Transfers work differently. When an inmate moves to another facility, Western Tidewater mails a check to the receiving facility. The one exception: federal inmates transferred to a welcome center first.
The amount returned at release might not match what family remembers depositing. Inmates can be charged for medical co-pays, damaged jail property, and other fees while incarcerated. Any balance owed to the jail is due at release, which reduces the final payout.
Note: Unless special arrangements are made at release, any balance owed must be paid within 30 days. Unpaid balances may be sent to collections.
Step By Step Checklist
- ✓ Plan pickup at the Administration Office in the Main Lobby, Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–3:45 pm (excluding holidays and special events)
- ✓ Call 757-942-0530 to request release-time pickup of inmate funds
- ✓ Expect cash only if the amount is under $25; $25 or more is issued on a debit card
- ✓ When picking up a debit card, have the released inmate ask staff to explain the debit-card process and any applicable fees
- ✓ If the inmate is transferring, confirm a check will be mailed to the receiving facility when the inmate leaves (with the federal welcome-center exception)
- ✓ If the release balance seems lower than expected, ask the inmate to review whether medical co-pays, damaged property charges, or other items were assessed, since balances due are payable upon release
- ✓ Don’t ignore money owed to the jail: unless special arrangements are made upon release, the inmate has 30 days to pay, and unpaid balances may be referred to collections and other remedies
- ✓ For kiosk or canteen deposit issues, contact Viapath at 1-800-306-2957
- ✓ For iCare issues, contact Aramark at 1-888-439-5020
- ✓ For Oasis issues, contact Oasis at 1-800-956-2747
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