To put money on a Pima County inmate’s books, you have three options: deposit online through GTL’s payment portal, mail a money order or government check to the jail, or bring cash or a U.S. bank check to the Inmate Account Window at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex. Every method requires the inmate’s full legal name and booking number, so start there before you pay.
Get the Booking Number First
You cannot complete a deposit without the booking number, sometimes called an inmate identification number. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department runs a free lookup at sheriff.pima.gov/inmate/ where you can search by last name. The results show the booking number and the inmate’s housing location, which you also need if you plan to mail funds.
Depositing Online Through GTL
Electronic deposits go through GTL’s payment portal at gtlfsonlinepay.com, which is linked from the sheriff’s department website.1Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Transfer Money Create an account, search for the inmate by name or booking number, choose an amount, and pay with a credit or debit card.
GTL charges a convenience fee on each transaction. The exact fee is disclosed before you finalize the payment, so you can see the total and cancel if it’s higher than you want to pay. Online deposits are generally the fastest option, though the sheriff’s department does not publish an exact processing window.
Sending Money by Mail
Mail deposits are accepted, but only money orders and government checks. Personal checks and cash sent through the mail will not be processed.2Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Postal Service Make the payment out to the inmate, and write the inmate’s full name and booking number directly on the money order or check itself so nothing gets lost if the envelope and payment are separated.
Address the envelope exactly like this:2Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Postal Service
- Inmate Trust Account
- Inmate’s full name
- Pod location
- Booking number
- P.O. Box 951, Tucson, Arizona 85702
Mail takes longer than the other methods because of postal transit and internal processing. If the inmate needs funds soon, use the online portal or the account window instead.
Paying in Person at the Inmate Account Window
The Inmate Account Window is inside the Pima County Adult Detention Complex at 1270 W. Silverlake Road, Tucson, AZ 85713.3Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Pima County Jail It’s open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.1Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Transfer Money
You can pay with:
- U.S. bank checks and money orders, with no cap on the amount
- U.S. paper currency, in the exact amount of the deposit — the window does not give change
Personal checks and coins are not accepted. You also need a valid government-issued photo ID to make a deposit or receive a disbursement. A driver’s license, Arizona ID card, military ID, passport, or DES ID card all qualify. Check cashing cards are not accepted.1Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Transfer Money
Trust Account vs. Tablet Account
Pima County uses two separate accounts, and they are funded through different systems. The trust account covers commissary purchases like food, drinks, hygiene items, writing supplies, and stamps, and it also pays for phone calls. Tablet services — messaging and video visits — draw from a separate PIM Debit account you fund through ConnectNetwork at web.connectnetwork.com, not through GTL.4Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Tablet Services Confirm which account the inmate actually needs money in before you send anything.
Deposits May Not Be Fully Available for Spending
Not every dollar you put on the books becomes spending money. Jails commonly deduct medical co-pays, court-ordered fees, fines, and restitution from the trust account before the inmate has access to a discretionary balance. If the inmate owes outstanding obligations, part or all of your deposit can go to those debts first. Families sending larger amounts to fund months of commissary sometimes find the balance drops sharply after the deposit posts.
Avoiding Rejected or Delayed Deposits
Most problems come from small errors. Verify the booking number before each transaction, since bookings change if the person is released and rebooked. Write the inmate’s name and booking number on the money order itself, not just on a cover letter. Bring exact cash to the account window, and leave your coins at home.
Deposit only for people you know personally and can verify are at the facility. Trust accounts are monitored for unusual deposit patterns, and sending funds on behalf of someone else can trigger scrutiny that delays or freezes the account.