SOP_NUMBER: 201.03
TITLE: Discharge Gratuities
REFERENCE_CODE: IIA01-0008
DIVISION: Facilities Division
TOPIC_AREA: 201-202 Policy-Facilities Accounts/Funds/Subsidies
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2023-05-31
WORD_COUNT: 1075
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105990
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/201.03/

SUMMARY:
This policy establishes the procedures for providing discharge gratuities to eligible offenders upon release from GDC facilities, county jails, and transitional centers. Gratuities include monetary payments, transportation, and clothing provided to offenders at release as required by Georgia law. The policy specifies eligibility requirements, payment methods (JPay release cards or checks), and the responsibilities of releasing facilities for administering gratuity payments.

KEY_TOPICS: discharge gratuities, release payments, offender release, trust accounts, JPay release cards, gratuity checks, work release program, release procedures, financial assistance at release, eligibility for gratuity

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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|
|**Policy Number:** 201.03|**Effective Date:** 5/31/2023|**Page Number:** 1 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|


**I.** **Introduction and Summary:**







A. Under the laws of Georgia, the Department of Corrections (GDC) is required to

provide certain gratuities to eligible offenders at release.

B. The department will provide gratuities to eligible offenders at release as required

by statute. This policy is applicable to all private, state, county prisons, and
transitional centers.

**II.** **Authority:**

A. O.C.G.A. §42-5-61.

B. Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R.: 125-2-4-.19.

C. GDC Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 406.19, Offender Financial

Transactions and Business Activities; and

D. ACA Standards: 5-ACI-1B-07.

**III.** **Definitions:** None.

**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**

A. Gratuity payments are made to State offenders who are lawfully released from any

facility under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Department of Corrections. Offenders
released from county jails may also receive gratuity payments, if, through normal
procedures, they would have become State offenders in GDC custody. Payments
are set by statute and may be periodically amended. These payments are made
upon discharge or completion of sentence or by clemency action by the State Board
of Pardons and Paroles.

B. Gratuity is not paid:


1. To an offender who has participated in a work release program unless it is

determined that he/she has extraordinary financial needs as established to the


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|
|**Policy Number:** 201.03|**Effective Date:** 5/31/2023|**Page Number:** 2 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



satisfaction of the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Corrections.

2. To a felony offender who is released to a Sheriff or a United States Marshall

on a detainer to serve a sentence already imposed or to stand trial on pending
charges or who is released to county authorities on a detainer to serve a county
sentence unless the offender qualifies for such payment under Georgia law.

C. Offenders released from custody may request gratuity in the form of a JPay release

card or check. Offenders will receive the funds in their trust accounts along with
the discharge gratuity as a single payment, JPay release cards are limited to a five
hundred dollar ($500.00) maximum amount. If the amount of the discharge
gratuity plus the trust account balance is over five hundred dollars ($500.00), the
offender will receive a check for the balance.


1. Gratuity and trust account checks are produced by the Consolidated Banking

Unit (CBU) per SOP 406.19. These checks, produced on an as needed basis,
are mailed directly to the offender using the address provided by the facility at
the time of release. (Per Attachment 6 of SOP 406.19.) Should a release be
cancelled after gratuity is issued, the check will be voided, and the funds
returned to the offender’s Inmate Trust Account.

2. JPay Release Card: Offenders released from custody may request a pre-loaded

JPay release card for the balance remaining on his or her Inmate Trust Account,
after all obligations are satisfied, subject to the following procedures:


a. At least 48 (forty-eight) hours prior to release, the facility shall send CBU

an accurate and complete Attachment 5, JPay release card Request Form
(SOP 406.19), by email or fax. If an offender has a balance over five
hundred dollars ($500.00), the facility must include the offender’s address
on the JPay release cards Request Form. CBU will then pay any remaining
obligations, add gratuity pursuant to this SOP, close the offender’s account,
and load the remaining funds on the JPay release card by the RPID# listed
on the Release Card Request Form.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|
|**Policy Number:** 201.03|**Effective Date:** 5/31/2023|**Page Number:** 3 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



b. After CBU loads the funds, the facility will issue the JPay release cards and

prepare JPay release cards Receipt Confirmation Forms, Attachment 6
(SOP 406.19), for pick-up by the ID Officer. The ID Officer will pick up
JPay release cards and Receipt Confirmation Forms for offenders who are
releasing each day. As part of the release procedure, the ID Officer will
give each offender their JPay release card and have the offender sign the
Receipt Confirmation Form, Attachment 6, which must be returned to the
facility’s business office. A copy of Attachment 6 will be forwarded to
CBU by email or fax for the purpose of providing the correct release
address information for any funds over the maximum amount loaded on a
JPay release card and/or any funds that are deposited after the offender is
released.

c. Because JPay release cards are not issued to offenders in county facilities,

CBU will issue a check for offenders transferred to county facilities.

d. If funds are added to an offender’s account after the offender is released

from a GDC facility, CBU will send the funds by check to the offender’s
address on file or load the funds on a JPay release card that is still in the
offender’s possession.

e. Offenders released to the Department of Homeland Security on ICE

detainers will not have access to use a JPay release card. Therefore,
facilities must notify CBU seven (7) days prior to an ICE release to ensure
a check is mailed to the releasing facility before the release date.


**Note:** A stop payment will not be issued on a check until it has been

outstanding for 30 days.

E. The releasing facility is responsible for providing the remainder of release

gratuities, i.e., transportation and clothing.


|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS<br>Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|**Policy Name:** Discharge Gratuities|
|**Policy Number:** 201.03|**Effective Date:** 5/31/2023|**Page Number:** 4 of 4|
|**Authority:** <br>Commissioner|**Originating Division:** <br>Facilities Division|**Access Listing:**<br>Level I: All Access|



1. These costs are documented in a Field Purchase Order and are submitted to the

Facilities Division Business office along with copies of invoices and receiving
reports.

2. The Business Office manager approves and signs the Field Purchase Order,

maintains a file copy, posts data in ledgers (BOLTS) and forwards package to
the Accounting Section for payment.

**V.** **Attachments:** None.

**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:** None.