Life as an Offender - Trust Account

Each offender has a non-interest bearing trust account where funds are deposited. Withdrawals may be made for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to:

  • Postage
  • Recreation user fees
  • Education
  • Health care co-payments
  • Store purchases
  • Legal financial obligations as ordered by the county of conviction
  • Child support enforcement
  • Debts

Offenders are not allowed to directly or indirectly transfer funds to another offender’s account or exchange funds or items of value with staff, other offenders, volunteers, or sponsors.

Offenders may not withdraw moneys to establish or make deposits to accounts, investments, certificates of deposit, or credit accounts outside of the Department’s offender trust account.

Offenders are not allowed to bank through the mail or conduct monetary transactions except through their offender trust account.

All non-exempt deposits are subject to legally mandated deductions, as stated in RCW 72.09.480. These deductions are:

  • 20 percent for payment of legal financial obligations for all offenders who have legal financial obligations owing in any Washington state superior court.
  • 5 percent to the public safety and education account for the purpose of crime victims’ compensation.
  • 10 percent to a department personal offender savings account.
  • 20 percent for any child support owed under a support order.
  • 20 percent to the department to contribute to cost of incarceration.

Legal financial obligations (LFO) are forwarded to the county of conviction on a semi-monthly basis. LFO is ordered on an offender’s Judgment and Sentence.

Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC) is sent to the Department of Labor and Industries to assist victims of crime. CVC is not associated with an offender’s Judgment and Sentence.

Savings is held in an offender’s sub-account within the Trust Accounting System and is not accessible until his or her time of release, unless an emergent request is made by the offender and approved by Department management.

Child support is forwarded to Division of Child Services (DCS) on a monthly basis.

Cost of Incarceration (COI) is sent to Correctional Industries, Department of Corrections, to support the work programs designed to assist offenders with job opportunities. COI is not associated with an offender’s Judgment and Sentence.

Additionally, some or all of the following deductions may apply depending on each offender’s individual obligations and the balance remaining after the statutorily mandated deductions are withheld:

  • Twenty percent to the offender’s Department of Corrections’ debt.
  • Twenty percent to the Prison Litigation Reform Act

May I send money to an offender?

Yes, and here's how.

When are deposits credited to an offender’s trust account?

If using the United States Postal Service option, funds are typically posted to the offender’s trust account within three working days of the date on the mailroom receipt. If using the Western Union Quick Collect option, funds are typically posted to the offender’s trust account within 24 hours of receipt at a Western Union point-of-sale location. Deductions are taken at the time of posting. The balance that remains is available for the offender’s use.

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