SOP_NUMBER: 406.19
TITLE: Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities
DIVISION: Administrative & Finance (Division Financial Services)
TOPIC_AREA: 406 Policy-Administration and Finance
EFFECTIVE_DATE: 2020-07-01
WORD_COUNT: 4608
POWERDMS_URL: https://public.powerdms.com/GADOC/documents/105150
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19/
SUMMARY:
This policy establishes GDC procedures for managing offender funds and financial transactions, including deposits to inmate trust accounts, authorized payment methods, and restrictions on offender financial activities. It applies to all GDC staff and offenders and prohibits unauthorized currency possession, transfers between offenders, and business activities designed to circumvent financial controls. The policy aims to prevent criminal activity and ensure accountability of offender funds.
KEY_TOPICS: offender funds, inmate trust account, financial transactions, authorized deposits, currency restrictions, third-party vendors, money orders, cashier's checks, prepaid cards, digital currency, crypto currency, business activities, financial devices, fund transfers, indigent offenders, cash reload, deposit procedures, transaction monitoring, offender property
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Offender Miscellaneous Withdrawal Form
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19-att-1/
2. Request for Indigent Postage
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19-att-2/
3. Indigent Legal Supplies Request Form
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19-att-3/
4. Indigent Non-Legal Supplies Request Form
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19-att-4/
5. JPAY Release Card Request Form
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19-att-5/
6. JPAY Release Card Receipt Confirmation Form
URL: https://gps.press/sop-data/406.19-att-6/
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FULL TEXT:
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|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 1 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
**I.** **Introduction and Summary:** To establish policy regarding the receipt, expenditure,
withdrawal, documentation, and accountability of offender funds for the purpose of
preventing criminal activity.
**II.** **Authority:**
A. O.C.G.A. §§42-5-55, 44-12-190, _et seq_ ., and 44-12-204;
B. Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) Board Rules: 125-2-4.05, 125-2-4-.06,
and 125-3-3.05;
C. GDC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): 201.02 Transfer of Offender Trust
Funds, 201.03 Discharge Gratuities, 201.04 Charges to Offender Accounts, 206.01
Offender Personal Property Standards, 206.02 Management of Offender Property
or Contraband, 227.03 Access to Courts, 227.06 Offender Receipt of Mail, and
507.04.05 Charges to Offender Accounts for Healthcare Provided; and
D. ACA Standards: 2-CO-1B-05, 2-CO-1B-14, 1-CTA-1B-05, 5-ACI-5A-06 (ref. 4
4292), 5-ACI-1B-07 (ref. 4-4031), 5-ACI-1B-20 (ref. 4-4044), 5-ACI-1B-21 (ref.
4-4045), 5-ACI-1B-22 (ref. 4-4046), 5-ACI-1B-23 (ref. 4-4047), 5-ACI-3D-03
(Ref. 4-4276), 5-ACI-7D-03 (ref. 4-4489), 4-ALDF-5B-06, 4-ALDF-7D-11, 4ALDF-7D-16, 4-ACRS-6A-06, 4-ACRS-7D-17, 4-ACRS-7D-22, and 4-ACRS7D-30.
**III.** **Definitions:**
A. **Approved Third Party Vendor(s)** - GDC approved contractors currently doing
business with GDC for the purpose of sending and receiving funds for offender
accounts.
B. **Account Number** - Any set of numbers which by direct or indirect method attach
to a financial/monetary account.
C. **Business Activity** - Any venture, enterprise or other activity by which an offender
or others acting on the behalf of an offender engage in the sale, barter or exchange
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 2 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
of goods and/or services or the solicitation of funds and/or services, including, but
not limited to, any activity done in the name of an entity or organization rather than
in the name of the offender. This venture, enterprise or activity may be either for
profit, not-for-profit, private or charitable.
D. **Cash Reload Device** - A sequence of numbers which are directly associated with
cash funds which are deposited to a Financial Transaction Device.
E. **Crypto Currency** - Internet based virtual currency that is electronically
transmitted between parties without an intermediary.
F. **Currency** - Cash, money orders, checks, debit cards, credit cards, pre-paid or
stored value cards, any type of Account Numbers, and any type of
Digital/Electronic or Crypto Currency.
G. **Digital/Electronic Currency** - Currency that is electronically created and stored.
H. **Financial Transaction** - An event that involves money or payment for purchases
of goods or services. This includes, but is not limited to, reloading a prepaid card,
making a payment, depositing or withdrawing funds to an account, transferring
funds between accounts, or making an electronic funds transfer (i.e., utilizing Cash
Reload Device(s) or movement of funds by wire or other means).
I. **Financial Transaction Device** - An electronic funds transfer card, credit card,
prepaid card, banking card or store valued (gift) card.
J. **Indigent** - An offender may be classified as indigent for purposes of this SOP, if
account records indicate that their Inmate Trust Account has less than ten dollars
($10.00) on the date of the offender’s request to use funds. Frozen funds will not
be counted for these purposes.
K. **Inmate Trust Account** - An offender’s funds in the GDC Trust Account as
managed in Scribe.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 3 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
L. **GDC Trust Account** - The GDC managed checking account that holds all funds
received for incarcerated offenders.
**IV.** **Statement of Policy and Applicable Procedures:**
Approved individuals may deposit funds into an Inmate Trust Account for the purpose
of allowing the offender to make purchases for their day to day needs. Offenders shall
not use Inmate Trust Accounts to conduct personal financial affairs.
A. Currency in Possession of Offender:
1. An offender shall not possess, send, receive, use or carry currency except as
allowed per this policy.
2. Confiscated currency shall be handled pursuant to SOP 206.02, Management
of Offender Property or Contraband.
B. Transactions Between Offenders:
1. An offender shall not receive, or attempt to receive by solicitation, extortion,
etc., currency, including funds deposited into an Inmate Trust Account, from
another offender, another offender’s family members or any other person not
authorized under this policy.
2. An offender shall not send currency, including funds maintained in the Inmate
Trust Account, to another offender, another offender’s family members or any
other person acting on behalf of another offender.
3. Neither offenders nor other individuals shall use a third party to conceal a
restricted transfer of currency between offenders.
C. Authorized Deposits:
1. Funds submitted for deposit in Inmate Trust Accounts must be of an approved
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 4 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
payment type. Non-approved payment types submitted for deposit will be
returned to the sender.
a. Approved payment types:
i. U.S. Funds Money Order;
ii. U.S. Funds Cashier’s Check; and
iii. Electronic funds transfer from an Approved Third Party Vendor.
b. Non-Approved payment types include, but are not limited to:
i. Cash;
ii. Personal checks;
iii. Online personal checks (Checks sent from an additional checking
account); and
iv. ACH direct transfers into a GDC account.
2. Offenders may receive deposits to their Inmate Trust Account from no more
than five (5) approved individuals. Approved individuals must be included on
the Financials List in Scribe, which each facility is responsible to maintain.
Exceptions include:
a. Government issued checks;
b. Transfer checks from other institutions;
c. Refund checks;
d. Insurance checks;
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 5 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
e. Pension checks;
f. Settlement checks; and
g. Inheritance checks.
3. Funds submitted for deposit from non-approved individuals will be returned to
the sender.
4. All deposits may be subject to a 14-day hold to ensure fund availability.
5. Verification of Identity of Depositors:
a. Approved Third Party Vendor(s) will verify that each sender is on the
approved Financials List before sending funds to GDC for deposit in an
Inmate Trust Account.
b. No pre-paid credit cards will be utilized through a third party vendor to
deposit funds on an Inmate Trust Account.
D. Receipt of funds into the Inmate Trust Account:
1. Minimum required reserved funds: The first ten dollars ($10.00) received and
held in an Inmate Trust Account must go into reserved funds and remain there
until the offender is released from custody. If an Inmate Trust Account balance
is less than ten dollars ($10.00), then all funds received are applied to the
reserved funds until the balance reaches ten dollars ($10.00).
2. Debiting an Inmate Trust Account:
a. If GDC deposits funds into the Inmate’s Trust Account and the bank returns
the receipt of funds as Insufficient, Refer to Maker, Fraudulent, or other
reason and debits the GDC Trust Account for the receipt, then the amount
debited will be debited from the Inmate’s Trust Account.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 6 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
i. If the debit causes the reserved funds in the Inmate’s Trust Account to
fall below ten dollars ($10.00), the balance will remain under ten
dollars ($10.00) until additional funds are received.
ii. If the Inmate Trust Account does not have spendable funds to cover the
full amount of the fraudulent receipt, then the account will be frozen
until the amount is recouped.
b. If GDC determines that funds deposited in an Inmate Trust Account
through the Approved Third Party Vendor(s) were sent fraudulently, then
the Inmate Trust Account will be debited for the amount of the fraudulent
receipt.
i. If the debit causes the reserved funds in the Inmate’s Trust Account to
fall below ten dollars ($10.00), the balance will remain under ten
dollars ($10.00) until additional funds are received.
ii. If the Inmate Trust Account does not have spendable funds to cover the
amount of the fraudulent receipt, then the account will be frozen until
there are enough funds to pay the outstanding amount and the funds are
returned to the Approved Third Party Vendor.
1) The offender is only responsible for the amount of the actual receipt
and will not be required to repay any monies for processing or
service charges by the Approved Third Party Vendor.
2) The Approved Third Party Vendor in question may block an Inmate
Trust Account if there remains an unpaid amount.
3. Outstanding obligations: If the offender has unpaid obligations, the receipt of
funds will apply to those obligations until they are paid or funds are exhausted
in accordance with SOP 201.04, Charges to Offender Accounts for Health
Care, Willful Acts, and Court Costs.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 7 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
4. Remaining Funds: If the receipt has funds remaining after the minimum
reserves funds are met and all outstanding obligations are paid, then remaining
funds are placed in the spendable category and are available to the offender for
spending.
5. A monthly processing fee, not to exceed one dollar ($1.00), will be charged for
establishing and managing an Inmate Trust Account. The fee will be deducted
from each offender who has a balance of more than ten dollars ($10.00) on the
first calendar day of each month. If insufficient funds exist to deduct the full
one-dollar ($1.00) fee on the first of the month, partial payments for any
portion up to the one-dollar ($1.00) should be deducted from the allowable
balance when available during the month. Any uncollectable portion of the
monthly maintenance fee is to be written off at month’s end. If an offender’s
trust account never exceeds ten dollars ($10.00) during the month, the fee for
that month is waived and a new fee of one-dollar ($1.00) will be established
for the following month. This fee does not accumulate from month to month.
E. Miscellaneous Withdrawals from Inmate Trust Accounts:
1. Withdrawals from an Inmate Trust Account are only allowed for authorized
purchases pursuant to SOP 206.01, Offender Personal Property Standards and
206.02, Management of Offender Property or Contraband or to send funds to
individuals on the offender’s approved financial list. The offender will be
charged fifty-five cents ($0.55) for each withdrawal for an envelope and stamp.
This fee will be entered as an Indigent Loan obligation.
2. An offender shall complete the Offender Miscellaneous Withdrawal Form,
Attachment 1 to this SOP, to withdraw funds. The facility will send the
completed form, including all required signatures, to the Offender Payment
email address.
3. Withdrawals from an Inmate Trust Account are limited to one (1) transaction
per quarter for purchases and one (1) transaction per quarter for disbursement
to an individual or on behalf of an individual, provided, however, that
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 8 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
payments to Child Support Recovery, Interstate Compact Application Fee,
Law offices/Attorney fees or approved religious purposes will be reviewed and
approved on a case by case basis. Withdrawals to a verifiable religious
organization will only be allowed once per quarter unless approved by the
Warden, and an effort shall be made to verify that the offender is not attempting
to send funds to a religious organization in an effort to send funds to another
offender, another offender’s family members or any other person not
authorized under this policy. Requests for withdrawals for payment of legal
fees shall be processed as soon as possible in order to avoid offenders missing
filing deadlines due to the GDC’s inaction or other delays related to this
process.
4. A withdrawal made from an Inmate Trust Account may not exceed one
hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), provided, however, that in the event of an
emergency, the Warden may approve a disbursement of between one hundred
fifty dollars and one cent ($150.01) and five hundred dollars ($500.00). A
disbursement in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00) may be made with
the approval of the Warden, Regional Director, Director of Field Operations
and the Administration Division Director.
5. The Warden or Warden’s designee will be responsible for ensuring an offender
does not exceed the number or amount of permitted withdrawals per quarter.
6. All withdrawal requests shall be verified by a facility business staff member or
counselor prior to the request being processed. An offender whose store
privileges have been suspended or revoked will not be allowed to request a
withdrawal unless approved by the Warden.
7. Withdrawals from an Inmate Trust Account will be reviewed by the
Consolidated Banking Unit (CBU) for SOP compliance before processing.
Withdrawal forms submitted to the CBU without all required information, on
an incorrect form, or without approvals will not be processed and a case note
will be entered.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 9 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
8. If a withdrawal check is returned to CBU by the postal service as undeliverable,
the funds will be placed back in the Inmate Trust Account and a case note
made. The offender will not be entitled to a refund of the fifty- five cent ($0.55)
fee that was incurred to process the original request. A stop payment will not
be issued on a check until it has been outstanding for 30 days.
F. Outside Banking:
1. Offenders who had checking and/or savings accounts prior to incarceration
may keep those accounts and have contact with the individual who has been
given power of attorney to handle the account. The person who has been given
power of attorney must be included on the offender’s approved financial list in
order to send money to or receive money from the offender. The offender must
report the checking and savings account(s) to the Office of Professional
Standards through his or her counselor.
2. An offender must receive approval from the Commissioner or designee to open
new outside banking accounts once incarcerated.
G. Protection of Offender Business Activity and Property Rights: GDC recognizes
that some offenders may have business and property interests prior to their
commitment to GCD. GDC supports the maintenance of Business Activity and
property interests and encourages offenders to protect these interests. However,
GDC must balance these interests with the safety of the facilities and persons in
the community from unscrupulous activities. The operation of businesses by
offenders increases the potential for inappropriate behavior including fraud and
trafficking.
1. Offenders are prohibited from using the facility address as a business address.
2. Offenders shall not be authorized to have access to the internet, either directly
or indirectly, to conduct Business Activity.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 10 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
3. Offenders may contact persons through the mail or telephone to protect
business, property or funds owned by the offender prior to their incarceration.
In such cases, the offender must provide the Office of Professional Standards
with information that will allow GDC to verify the offender’s interest or
ownership in the business, property or funds. The offender shall provide this
information through his/her counselor.
H. Indigent Offenders: Funds for non-privileged and privileged mail and
correspondence material shall be provided to offenders classified as indigent
pursuant to this SOP in order to maintain community ties. Requests for indigent
postage/materials shall be submitted to the facility business office. The facility
counseling staff shall **not** be part of this process.
1. Non-privileged Correspondence:
a. Indigent offenders may request stationary, pens and envelopes sufficient to
mail UP TO three (3) non-privileged first class letters per week by
submitting Attachment 4, Indigent Non-Legal Supplies Request Form.
b. Indigent offenders can request up to three (3) first class stamps per week
for non-privileged material by submitting Attachment 2, Request for
Indigent Postage. If more than one (1) first class stamp is required on a
mailing, the offender may elect to use his or her remaining weekly
allotment (up to the total three stamps) to satisfy postage requirements.
Offenders not utilizing three (3) first class stamps in any one week, may
not accumulate the postage for any subsequent mailings.
2. Privileged Correspondence:
a. Indigent offenders are allowed to mail privileged correspondence UNTIL
FIVE (5) FIRST CLASS STAMPS PER WEEK ARE EXPENDED. If the
offender fails to utilize all of his or her weekly allotment, the remainder is
forfeited. Indigent offenders must request postage by using Attachment 2,
Request for Indigent Postage.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 11 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
b. One exceptional mailing per month is allowed at a reasonable postage cost.
The exceptional mailing may include documents mailed to more than one
party (requiring separate envelopes), but must be copies of the same
pleading in the same lawsuit (i.e., an offender cannot prepare various
pleadings in various lawsuits and send them all out at once in the
exceptional mailing). The purpose of the exceptional mailing is to permit,
for example, a lawsuit with multiple defendants. Since the courts require
an original plus a copy of the lawsuit for each defendant, the exceptional
mailing would permit this. Materials submitted for the exceptional mailing
may be inspected only for compliance with this paragraph. The amount of
postage used will be included on a Request for Indigent Postage,
Attachment 2 and returned to the offender within a reasonable time period.
c. Indigent offenders can request correspondence material for privileged mail
by submitting Attachment 3, Indigent Legal Supplies Request Form, to the
Business Office. Indigent offenders may receive the following
correspondence material for privileged mail:
i. UP TO one (1) pen monthly (to be exchanged on a one for one basis);
ii. UP TO twenty (20) sheets of typing paper per week; and
iii. UP TO five (5) sheets of carbon paper per week.
**NOTE: Legal pads may be purchased in the offender’s store and are**
**not provided as indigent supplies.**
3. First Class Only: Outgoing correspondence from indigent offenders, will be
sent as first class postage, with the following exceptions:
a. Indigent offenders may send privileged mail as certified mail/return receipt
requested to comply with the requirements for a notice of tort claim against
the State as set forth in O.C.G.A. §50-21-26(a)(2), which states: “Notice of
claim shall be given and shall be mailed by certified mail or statutory
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 12 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
overnight delivery, return receipt requested, or delivered personally to and
a receipt obtained from the Risk Management Division of the Department
of Administrative Services.”
b. Indigent offenders may send up to one exceptional mailing per month via
certified mail.
4. Accounting for Loans: Funds for indigent postage and correspondence material
will be considered a loan from the Inmate Benefit Fund and an accounting
record will be kept of all postage provided to the indigent offender.
5. Reimbursement: If an indigent offender receives funds in an Inmate Trust
Account in excess of ten dollars ($10.00), excluding frozen funds, at any time
after receiving postage or correspondence material, the loan amount or any part
thereof will be deducted from the Inmate Trust Account and credited to the
Inmate Benefit Fund.
6. Reimbursement after Transfer: If an offender receives funds after his or her
transfer, collection will be made as described above and credited to the Inmate
Benefit Fund of the facility holding the offender at that time.
I. Transfer of Offender Trust Funds:
1. When an offender is permanently transferred to a non-state operated facility
such as a county camp or transitional center, the offender funds shall be
forwarded by CBU to the business office of the receiving facility within five
(5) business days of the transfer.
2. When an offender is admitted for treatment to Augusta State Medical Prison
or moved on temporary assignment to another facility, he/she shall have access
to their store funds.
3. The facility is responsible for notifying CBU by email when an offender is
released from a county jail or is deceased.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 13 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
J. JPAY Release Cards:
1. Offenders released from custody will receive a pre-loaded JPAY release card
for the balance remaining on his or her Inmate Trust Account after all
obligations are satisfied. JPAY release cards can only be loaded up to five
hundred dollars ($500.00). If the amount is over five hundred dollars
($500.00), the offender will receive a check for the remainder. A stop payment
will not be issued on a check until it has been outstanding for 30 days. This
paragraph is subject to the following exceptions:
a. Because JPAY release cards are not issued to offenders in county facilities,
CBU will issue a check for offenders transferred to county facilities.
b. 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.
c. 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.
2. Procedure to Request and Issue JPAY Release Cards:
a. At least 48 (forty-eight) hours prior to release, the facility shall send CBU
an accurate and complete JPAY Release Card Request Form, Attachment
5 by email or fax. CBU then pays remaining obligations, adds gratuity
pursuant to SOP 201.03, Discharge Gratuities, closes the offender’s
account and loads the remaining funds on the JPAY release card by the
RPID# listed on the Release Card Request Form.
After CBU loads the funds, the facility will issue the JPAY release cards
and prepare JPAY Release Card Receipt Confirmation Forms, Attachment
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 14 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
6 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 a JPAY release card and have the offender sign the Receipt
Confirmation Form, Attachment 6 to this SOP, 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 obtaining 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.
i. If an offender has a balance over five hundred dollars ($500.00), the
facility must include the offender’s address on the JPAY Release Card
Request Form.
ii. If an offender is being transferred to a county facility, the facility must
provide CBU the county facility’s address and a backup address for the
offender to be used if the check is returned to CBU because the offender
released from the county facility before the check arrived.
b. The facility shall not issue a JPAY release card when the offender does not
have an active open account or available funds at the time of release.
c. If wrong information was provided on the JPAY Release Card Request
Form, then the facility shall note corrections on a separate Release Card
Request Form.
K. Funds in Inmate Trust Accounts that remain unclaimed for more than five (5) years
are presumed abandoned in accordance with Board Rule 125-2-4-.06.
L. Interest earned in the GDC Offender Trust bank account will be used to offset bank
fees incurred in this same account.
|GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
Standard Operating Procedures|Col2|Col3|
|---|---|---|
|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|**Policy Name:**Offender Financial Transactions and Business Activities|
|**Policy Number:** 406.19|**Effective Date:** 7/1/2020|**Page Number:** 15 of 15|
|**Authority:**
Commissioner|**Originating Division:**
Administration and Finance
Division (Financial Services)|**Access Listing:**
Level I: All Access|
**V.** **Attachments:**
Attachment 1: Offender Miscellaneous Withdrawal Form
Attachment 2: Request for Indigent Postage
Attachment 3: Indigent Legal Supplies Request Form
Attachment 4: Indigent Non-Legal Supplies Request Form
Attachment 5: JPAY Release Card Request Form
Attachment 6: JPAY Release Card Receipt Confirmation Form
**VI.** **Record Retention of Forms Relevant to this Policy:**
Attachments 1 and 5 shall be scanned and maintained electronically for five (5) years
on the CBU server. Attachments 2, 3, 4 and 6 shall be retained locally for three (3)
years and then destroyed.