Not sure if this is SQ question or a Parole question but does anyone know if the guys get their gate money even if they have money on their books at the time of release? And do they get their own money back right away or do they get it later? My man has always got his gate money (even if he finishes the sentence in county for whatever reason, his PO gives it to him when he's out) but he's never had money on his books when he is released..... Thanks!

I am also interested in knowing about what happens to their money when they are released. My guy has money on his books from county that he will definitely receive, the question is, how and when? He will probably also still have JPay money on his books by then.

Do they send a check to an address he gives them? Or to his Parole Agent? Or do they give him a check (or whatever) when he is released?

Thanks for any info!

(edited because I repeated myself, yep, time for bed LOL)

As far as I know they get their money that they have on their books up to a certain amount and their gate money when they are released. The amount of money they get when they are released depends on how long they were there. If they are in on a parole violation most likely they will not get the full $200 cause you have to be there a year or more to get the full amount. They pro-rate it some how on how much you get if you are there less than a year.

My son left state prison at Soledad over a year ago. He has some money on his books there but never got it. His parole agent was llooking into it but got no response from Soledad. My son never got that money and now it back on parole violations. I feel he will never get that money after all this time. At the very least I feel they should have responded to the parole agent and informed him if there was money and if they were not going to send it to my son, WHY not!!! He also did NOT get any gate money from Soledad even though he was officially "released". He was taken into custody by another county short of his release and spent a short time there. Again, his parole agent told my son he was looking into that too but nothing every came of it.

My man has always gotten his full $200 gate money???? He has not done a full year in custody since we've been together but has been sentenced to 16mos twice, but did not serve a full year on it. Maybe it has to do with the sentence? This is the first time his sentence is less than a year so I guess we will find out.... Thanks for your help!

Also, Nancbee4, for us to get the PO to help with the gate money (he never had much money on his books to worry about until this time), we had to stay on him and bug him often. If you just tell them and they say they'll look into it, it never seems to happen, that's with anything, not just money. I don't know if they get lazy or if they have a hard time getting info too and the people don't get back to them but either way, stay on him.

I know when my late fiance was released last year after doing a 9 month parole viotation at half time (actually was only there for 4 and a half months) he only got like $160. And no he did not owe them any money or need any thing to wear when he left cause I sent him his dress outs.

Hey, if you believe your guy has money from his books that he hasn't received and the parole officer isn't helping, check here:

http://scoweb.sco.ca.gov/UCP/

I tried this for myself and then checked for my guy and he has money sitting there from when he was released from Susanville over three years ago. He said he knew he had money on his books there when he was released, he just didn't know how to get it. They gave him his pay from firecamp, but didn't give him the money on his books. I suspect that the prison forwards the money to the PO and then if he doesn't pass it along, he sends it to the State.

What is gate money? Is that money that the prison just gives every inmate on release? Or is it taken from their own money on their books?

It is the money every inmate is given upon their release. It is a maxium of $200 so it does not go very far.

It is the money every inmate is given upon their release. It is a maxium of $200 so it does not go very far.

Yea, my boyfriend was only able to use his measley $200.00 for a bus ride home and a hotel room for one evening until his friend took him in. I helped him out until he found a job. I would gladly approve my tax dollars going to $1,000 in gate money! How do they expect these guys to get back on their feet? :blah:

Yes, gypsyacidqueen, and especially if they drive them to a bus station way off in the wrong direction and then make them take a bus to Sacramento...even farther away....by the time they get home how much of the gate money is gone??? It just isn't right. My son DID bug his parole agent many times for his gate money. The parole agent did stay on top of his dress outs though and he finally got those sent back to him. (They released him from DVI in black sweats and never gave him his dress out's at release) In fact, the parole agent asked him at one point if the money had come and my son told him no. Also, my son thought he had a small amount left on his books as well. Maybe when he gets out this time he can continue to pursue it all. Thanks for that site Trying2BPatient I am looking into that!!!!! :)

My son left state prison at Soledad over a year ago. He has some money on his books there but never got it. His parole agent was llooking into it but got no response from Soledad. My son never got that money and now it back on parole violations. I feel he will never get that money after all this time. At the very least I feel they should have responded to the parole agent and informed him if there was money and if they were not going to send it to my son, WHY not!!! He also did NOT get any gate money from Soledad even though he was officially "released". He was taken into custody by another county short of his release and spent a short time there. Again, his parole agent told my son he was looking into that too but nothing every came of it.


At each prison there's a trustees office whose job it is to maintain the monetary accounts of inmates. The parole offices do not have the time to look into stuff like this nor is it their responsibility. Your son must contact Soledad to correct this situation....If you have power of attorney, you could act on his behalf...of not...it's up to him. Good Luck!

Inmates that are picked up by other law enforcement agencies and retained by that agency passed their CDCR release date are not entitled to gate money. Any money the inmate had on the books is sent to that agency if the detainer from that agency has a release date that is after the CDCR release date.

Parolees are entitled to $1.10 a day for each day served , up to a total of $200.

The inmates are given the money on that is shown on their trust account one week prior to their parole, plus their gate money when they are released. Any money that shows up after that is sent to their Parole Agent. Often the inmates have a small amount of money out to canteen when they get released and that money is sent to the parole agent to be given to the parolee.