MDOC Inmate Commissary Deposit Guide (2026)

2026 MDOC deposit instructions Exact official fee tiers Family payment safeguards

Send Money to a Michigan State Prisoner Without Choosing the Wrong Account or Payment Service

Michigan state-prison deposits no longer follow the old JPay or MoneyGram instructions shown on many outdated pages. MDOC currently routes prisoner-account deposits through GTL Financial Services and ConnectNetwork.

This guide helps you verify the MDOC number, select the correct Trust Fund account, calculate the published fee, complete a money order correctly, track a missing deposit and understand why the full amount may not become immediately spendable.

Check before paying Calculate the fee
Verified deposit route 2026 system
01 Verify MDOC identity Name, number and current custody CHECK
02 Select Trust Fund Not phone or tablet credit SELECT
03 GTL processes payment Online, phone, kiosk or mail ROUTE
04 Prisoner account posts Receipt does not equal store availability POST
05 Funds become available Subject to obligations and prison rules USE
$300 maximum deposit
4 approved channels
1 correct MDOC number
!
Important correction

Do not mail money to MDOC headquarters or use an old MoneyGram receive code

The current Michigan process uses GTL Financial Services/ConnectNetwork. The official mail lockbox is in Dallas, Texas. MDOC’s Lansing office is not the prisoner-deposit mailing address.

Do not send a deposit through Cash App, Apple Pay, Zelle, PayPal, Venmo or a person claiming to collect money for the prisoner. MDOC warns that these payments may be scams and will not credit the prisoner’s account.

GTL Current MDOC financial processor
$300 Maximum in one deposit
$0 GTL processing fee for mailed money order
877-650-4249 GTL processing and support number
Site ID 121 Michigan DOC phone-deposit identifier

Avoid an irreversible error

Complete These Checks Before Sending Any Money

1

Confirm this is an MDOC state prisoner

County-jail inmates use county-specific deposit systems. ConnectNetwork instructions on this page apply to Michigan Department of Corrections prisoners.

First check
2

Find the correct MDOC number

Search OTIS and compare the legal name, age, status and current location. The MDOC number is safer than relying on a name alone.

Identity
3

Confirm the prisoner is still in MDOC custody

A transfer between Michigan prisons normally does not change the MDOC number, but release, parole or discharge can change what payment options remain available.

Custody
4

Select “Trust Fund” for commissary money

AdvancePay, PIN Debit and Debit Link are different products. A payment into a phone or tablet account does not become ordinary commissary money.

Account
5

Keep the deposit at $300 or less

MDOC states that no individual deposit may exceed $300. Splitting payments does not guarantee that every transaction will be accepted.

Limit
6

Understand possible deductions

Deposited money can be collected for court-ordered or MDOC obligations. The amount sent may therefore differ from the amount the prisoner can spend.

Balance
Find the MDOC number

OTIS verification steps

Open Official MDOC OTIS
  1. Search by MDOC number when you already know it.
  2. Otherwise enter the prisoner’s legal first and last name.
  3. Open the individual record.
  4. Compare age, status and current location.
  5. Copy the MDOC number exactly.
Stop before payment

Do not deposit when

  • You only have a social-media profile or nickname.
  • The person is in a Michigan county jail rather than MDOC.
  • A stranger supplied the account or payment link.
  • The sender is being pressured to pay immediately.
  • The service selected says AdvancePay, PIN Debit or Debit Link.
  • The prisoner’s MDOC number does not match OTIS.

Calculate before checkout

MDOC Deposit Fee Calculator

Enter an amount up to $300 and choose a payment channel. The calculator uses the fee tiers published by MDOC on its February 5, 2026 page. Always confirm the final fee before submitting.

Unusual published fee structure: MDOC currently lists a $3.95 online fee for $20.01–$100, but $2.95 for $100.01–$300. These figures are reproduced from the official MDOC page. Confirm the fee shown on the final payment screen before authorizing the card.

Usually the simplest electronic option

Deposit Online Through ConnectNetwork

Credit or debit Official online route

ConnectNetwork Trust Fund deposit

Open ConnectNetwork
  1. Create an account or sign in through the official ConnectNetwork page.
  2. Add or select the Michigan Department of Corrections.
  3. Choose the service labeled Trust Fund.
  4. Add the prisoner using the legal name and MDOC number.
  5. Compare the displayed identity before continuing.
  6. Enter an amount between $0.01 and $300.
  7. Review the processing fee and total card charge.
  8. Submit once and save the confirmation number.
Account-selection warning

These are not the commissary Trust Fund

AdvancePay Prepaid account used by family or friends to receive calls.
PIN Debit Prisoner telephone account used for calls.
Debit Link Account used for eligible tablet-related content or services.

When your purpose is food, hygiene items or ordinary prison-store purchases, look for Trust Fund.

After submitting: save the date, amount, prisoner name, MDOC number, last four card digits, service selected and confirmation number. A bank charge alone does not prove that the correct prisoner account was credited.

For users who prefer telephone payment

Deposit by Phone With a Credit or Debit Card

Phone payment

Call GTL Financial Services

Deposit line: 888-988-4768
Michigan DOC Site ID: 121

Prepare before calling

  • Prisoner’s full legal name
  • Correct MDOC number
  • Michigan Department of Corrections
  • Deposit amount of $300 or less
  • Credit or debit card
  • Billing ZIP code
  • Email or paper for the confirmation number
Read this before authorizing
Phone verification script “I am making a Michigan Department of Corrections Trust Fund deposit. Please confirm the prisoner’s full name and MDOC number before charging my card. What is the deposit amount, processing fee and total charge? Please give me the transaction confirmation number.”
Do not give card information to someone who called you unexpectedly. End the call and independently dial the official deposit number.

No GTL processing fee

Send a Money Order Through the GTL Lockbox

Mail only Current 2026 process

Download a fresh deposit form first

Open Official MDOC Money Page
  1. Scroll to “Deposit money by money order through the mail.”
  2. Open the current English or Spanish deposit form.
  3. Read the payee printed on that version of the form.
  4. Complete every field in blue or black ink.
  5. Detach the deposit slip at the marked line.
  6. Mail only the deposit slip and money order.
Payee discrepancy explained

Copy the current official form exactly

MDOC’s webpage says to make the money order payable to GTL Financial Services.

The official English form dated February 5, 2026 instructs users to make it payable to TouchPay Holdings, LLC, with payment forwarded to MDOC.

Because the form is required, use the exact payee printed on the current form. When uncertain, call GTL at 877-650-4249 before purchasing the money order.

Money-order form checklist

  • All fields are complete and legible.
  • Blue or black ink is used.
  • Prisoner’s full legal name is correct.
  • MDOC number is checked twice.
  • Sender’s name, phone, address and email are included.
  • Amount is no more than $300.
  • Money order is issued in U.S. dollars.
  • Deposit form is detached and enclosed.

Do not place these in the envelope

  • Cash
  • Personal check
  • Letters to the prisoner
  • Photographs
  • Stamps
  • Paper clips
  • Staples
  • Extra documents or property
GTL Financial Services
10005 Technology Blvd. West, Suite 130
Dallas, TX 75220
Do not mail the money order to: MDOC headquarters, the prisoner’s housing facility, a parole office or the OTIS address. Use the current GTL lockbox address printed on the official deposit form.
GTL does not charge a processing fee for a mailed money order. The sender may still pay the store’s money-order purchase fee and postage. Mail requires delivery and manual processing; MDOC does not publish a guaranteed arrival time.

Available only at select facilities

Facility Kiosk Deposits

Confirm before travel

Cash or card may be accepted

GTL may offer cash, credit-card or debit-card deposits at select prison kiosks. Kiosk availability, public access and hours are not identical at every facility.

Check ConnectNetwork Options
  1. Confirm the prisoner’s current facility through OTIS.
  2. Check whether that facility has a publicly accessible deposit kiosk.
  3. Call the facility before driving.
  4. Ask which entrance and hours apply.
  5. Bring the prisoner’s legal name and MDOC number.
  6. Keep the printed kiosk receipt.
Published kiosk fees
Cash deposit: $4.00 per transaction
Credit/debit $0.01–$20: $2.95
Credit/debit $20.01–$100: $3.95
Credit/debit $100.01–$300: $2.95

Confirm the amount shown by the kiosk before authorizing.

Official MDOC fee comparison

Current Deposit Fees and Maximums

Deposit amount Online card Phone card Kiosk card Kiosk cash Mail money order
$0.01–$20.00 $2.95 $3.95 $2.95 $4.00 $0 GTL processing fee
$20.01–$100.00 $3.95 $4.95 $3.95 $4.00 $0 GTL processing fee
$100.01–$200.00 $2.95 $3.95 $2.95 $4.00 $0 GTL processing fee
$200.01–$300.00 $2.95 $3.95 $2.95 $4.00 $0 GTL processing fee
More than $300 Not allowed as one deposit Not allowed as one deposit Not allowed as one deposit Not allowed as one deposit Not allowed as one money order
Fees are separate from the deposit. For example, a $50 online deposit with a published $3.95 fee produces a total card charge of $53.95 while the intended Trust Fund deposit remains $50, subject to acceptance and any lawful prisoner-account deductions.

What happens to the money

A Successful Payment Does Not Always Equal an Immediately Spendable Balance

Deposit receipt

What it proves

  • A transaction was submitted.
  • An amount and fee were authorized.
  • A confirmation number was issued.
It does not prove

What may still be pending

  • Correct prisoner identity
  • Final account posting
  • Full amount available to spend
  • Immediate commissary-order access
Prison store

Availability depends on

  • Facility ordering schedule
  • Account restrictions
  • Housing status
  • Product availability
  • Applicable spending limits
The sender generally cannot earmark ordinary Trust Fund money only for food, toiletries or a particular purchase. Once accepted, account use and deductions follow MDOC policy.

Do not confuse separate products

Trust Fund, Phone Money and SecurePak Are Different

Before ordering SecurePak, communicate with the prisoner. The prisoner may already have placed an order, or another family member may have submitted one.
Review Current MDOC Package Rules

Transaction troubleshooting

Deposit Missing, Rejected or Sent to the Wrong Place

1
Card charged, but no Trust Fund credit Check whether the payment was sent to Trust Fund rather than AdvancePay, PIN Debit or Debit Link. Find the confirmation and call GTL.
2
Wrong MDOC number entered Contact GTL immediately. Do not submit a second payment until the first transaction has been located. Reversal is not guaranteed.
3
Online card rejected Confirm billing ZIP code, available funds, card restrictions and transaction limit. Do not repeatedly submit because multiple authorizations can appear.
4
Money order has not posted Confirm delivery, form completeness, payee, prisoner number and return address. Call GTL at 877-650-4249 with the money-order receipt.
5
Deposit amount appears smaller Deposited funds may be collected for court-ordered or MDOC obligations. The sender cannot determine the available balance from the receipt alone.
6
Prisoner transferred after payment Verify the current OTIS location. The MDOC number usually remains the key identifier, but facility store access and timing may change.
7
Duplicate payment suspected Save both transaction numbers, bank authorizations and timestamps. Contact GTL before disputing the charge with the card issuer.
8
Money sent through Cash App or another person Contact the payment service and bank immediately. Report impersonation to the facility and appropriate law-enforcement agency.
Support call worksheet

Have these details ready

  • Sender’s full name
  • Prisoner’s full legal name
  • MDOC number
  • Transaction date and time
  • Deposit amount
  • Processing fee
  • Payment channel
  • Confirmation number
  • Last four card digits or money-order number
  • Screenshot or receipt
GTL support script “I need help locating a Michigan Department of Corrections Trust Fund deposit. The prisoner is [NAME], MDOC number [NUMBER]. The payment was submitted on [DATE] for [AMOUNT] through [METHOD]. My confirmation or money-order number is [NUMBER]. Please confirm the account type, prisoner identity and current transaction status.”

Protect the sender and prisoner

MDOC Deposit Scam Checklist

Likely scam indicators
  • Payment requested through Cash App, Zelle, Venmo or PayPal
  • Gift-card numbers requested by phone
  • Cryptocurrency demanded
  • Payment sent to a staff member’s personal name
  • A caller claims money will guarantee release or parole
  • The sender is told not to contact MDOC
  • No MDOC number or transaction receipt is provided
Safe verification sequence
  1. End the unsolicited call or message.
  2. Search the person independently in OTIS.
  3. Open ConnectNetwork from MDOC’s official page.
  4. Use Trust Fund only.
  5. Call the published GTL number independently.
  6. Keep every receipt and screenshot.

Use the right contact

MDOC Deposit Phone Numbers and Official Resources

Card deposit

GTL phone payment

Phone: 888-988-4768
Site ID: 121
Use for: credit or debit Trust Fund deposits

Call Deposit Line
Transaction support

GTL processing help

Phone: 877-650-4249
Use for: money-order processing, transaction status, account questions and payment support

Call GTL Support
General agency

MDOC Central Office

Phone: 517-335-1426
Use for: general MDOC information—not routine payment processing

MDOC Family Information
Prisoner identity

MDOC OTIS

Verify the legal name, MDOC number, supervision status and current facility before sending money.

Search OTIS
Official instructions

MDOC money page

Use this page to check current fee tiers, forms, mail instructions, package limits and policy changes.

Open MDOC Instructions
Current facility

Michigan prison directory

Contact the housing facility for store schedules, housing restrictions, property or prisoner-specific questions.

Find a Prison
No public walk-in deposit address: do not travel to MDOC Central Office or the Dallas lockbox expecting to make an in-person payment. Use ConnectNetwork, the phone line, an available facility kiosk or the official mail process.

10 practical answers

MDOC Inmate Commissary Deposit FAQs

1. What is the official way to send commissary money to a Michigan state prisoner?
Michigan currently processes prisoner-account deposits through GTL Financial Services. Approved methods include ConnectNetwork online, the GTL telephone deposit line, select facility kiosks and a money order mailed with the current official deposit form.
2. Does Michigan MDOC still use JPay for commissary deposits?
The current MDOC money page directs prisoner-account deposits through GTL Financial Services and ConnectNetwork. Do not follow an older JPay or MoneyGram deposit guide unless MDOC’s current official page is changed to say otherwise.
3. What is the maximum amount I can deposit?
MDOC states that no individual deposit may exceed $300. This limit applies to online, phone, kiosk and mailed money-order deposits.
4. Which ConnectNetwork account should I select for commissary money?
Select Trust Fund. AdvancePay is generally used for prepaid incoming calls, PIN Debit is associated with prisoner calling and Debit Link is associated with eligible tablet or device services. These are separate from the ordinary Trust Fund.
5. How much is the online MDOC deposit fee?
MDOC currently publishes an online fee of $2.95 for deposits of $0.01–$20, $3.95 for $20.01–$100, and $2.95 for $100.01–$300. Confirm the fee shown during checkout before authorizing the payment.
6. Where do I mail an MDOC money order?
Mail the current completed deposit form and money order to GTL Financial Services, 10005 Technology Blvd. West, Suite 130, Dallas, TX 75220. Recheck the current official MDOC form before mailing because addresses and instructions can change.
7. Who should the money order be payable to?
Use the exact payee printed on the current official deposit form. The English form dated February 5, 2026 says TouchPay Holdings, LLC, while MDOC’s accompanying webpage uses the GTL Financial Services name. Call GTL at 877-650-4249 when uncertain.
8. Why did the prisoner receive less spendable money than I deposited?
MDOC states that deposited funds may be collected for obligations imposed by a sentencing court or MDOC policy. A successful receipt therefore does not guarantee that the entire deposit becomes available for commissary purchases.
9. What should I do when a deposit is missing?
Confirm that Trust Fund was selected, verify the MDOC number and gather the confirmation, date, amount, fee and payment method. Call GTL at 877-650-4249. For a mailed order, also keep the money-order receipt and delivery record.
10. Is a SecurePak package the same as a commissary deposit?
No. A Trust Fund deposit adds money to the prisoner’s account. SecurePak sends approved goods directly. MDOC currently allows only one processed Friends and Family Package order per quarter with a $125 merchandise limit before tax and shipping, and prisoners in segregation are not eligible.
Independent information notice: Arrests-Org-Michigan.us is not operated by the Michigan Department of Corrections, GTL Financial Services, TouchPay, ViaPath Technologies or ConnectNetwork. Deposit providers, forms, fees, account rules and mailing addresses can change. Verify the prisoner’s MDOC number and review the current MDOC instructions before every payment. Never send money through an unapproved person-to-person payment service.