Glossary
What is Gate Money?
A small payment some prison systems give people at release to help cover travel, food or housing in the first days home.
Gate money is a small amount some prison systems give people when they are released, to help with transportation, food or housing. The federal Bureau of Prisons calls it a release gratuity and says some people may be eligible for it, along with clothing or travel money.
Amounts are often low. The Marshall Project found California gives $200, a figure unchanged since 1973, while some states give $10 or $20, or nothing at all.
The CFPB found that in some states, people had to open an account with a specific card company to receive their gate money, a practice it said broke federal law.
Read more
- What Happens to Commissary Money When Someone Is Released?
- The Cost of Supporting a Loved One in Prison, and How to Stretch Your Budget