Glossary
What is Release Card (Prepaid Debit Card at Release)?
A prepaid debit card some facilities give people at release, loaded with the money left in their account. Fees may apply.
A release card is a prepaid debit card that some prisons and jails give people when they leave. It holds the money left in their trust or commissary account. These cards replaced the cash or checks that many facilities used to hand out.
In 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered JPay, a release card company, to pay $6 million, including $4 million in relief to consumers. The CFPB found people had no practical way to get their own money without paying fees. Under the order, JPay may charge only an inactivity fee after 90 days without card use.
Ask the facility how your loved one's balance will be returned and what fees apply.
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