Money & Commissary Basics

CDCR current public guidance: families can send money through Electronic Funds Transfer vendors, including GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, and Access Corrections. CDCR says EFT is a paid service with a fee and funds usually post within 1–3 days.

Use this when

You are sending money for commissary, release planning, restitution-only deposits, or basic inside expenses.

Highest-risk mistake

Using a random search-result vendor, mailing cash, or sending money without confirming the CDCR number and current name spelling.

Keep proof

Save the receipt, confirmation number, vendor name, date, amount, and the exact CDCR number used.

Do not guess fees

Vendor fees and posting rules can change. Verify the fee on the current vendor/CDCR page before payment.

Before sending money

Confirm the person’s full name and CDCR number.
Confirm the current facility if the vendor requires it.
Use only official CDCR-linked money instructions or approved vendor links.
Never mail cash.
Save the receipt, confirmation number, date, and amount.

Trust account vs. restitution-only

CDCR’s send-money page says friends and family can deposit funds to a trust account or restitution only. If the person owes restitution, court fines, or other deductions, some deposited money may not be fully available for commissary.

Commissary expectations

Commissary access and spending are controlled inside the facility. Privilege group, discipline, modified program, housing status, and facility operations can affect what the person can buy and when.

Do not publish vendor fees from memory. Vendor fees and posting rules can change. Link to CDCR’s current send-money page and tell families to verify the fee before payment.

Before-payment checklist

Before I send money, I need to confirm: full name, CDCR number, current facility if required, official CDCR-linked payment method, fee, posting timeline, receipt/confirmation number, and whether this is trust-account or restitution-only.