When you need to send money to an inmate at David L. Moss, you have three approved methods and one costly mistake to avoid. Families rush to help a loved one right after a booking, and a returned money order can set you back a week or more. This guide walks you through every method, the exact info you need, and how to avoid the errors that get funds sent back.
The David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center is the main Tulsa County Jail at 300 N. Denver Avenue in downtown Tulsa. Inmates use money in their trust fund account to buy things from the commissary, like snacks, hygiene products, writing supplies, and phone cards. Court fees and medical co-pays also come out of that same account.
Which Online Services Can I Use to Deposit Money for an Inmate at David L. Moss?
David L. Moss uses two approved online deposit services: JailATM.com and CSGpay.com. Both accept credit and debit cards, and both credit the inmate’s trust fund account within 24 to 48 hours in most cases.
To make an online deposit, follow these steps:
- Go to JailATM.com or CSGpay.com.
- Select “David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center” or “Tulsa County Jail” as the facility. Double-check that you picked the right one, because Oklahoma has multiple facilities with similar names.
- Enter the inmate’s full legal name and DLMCJC number exactly as it appears on their booking record.
- Enter the deposit amount and payment info.
- Save the confirmation number in case you need to trace the deposit later.
Online is usually the fastest way, especially outside business hours. Vendor fees do apply, and they scale with the deposit amount, so smaller frequent deposits cost more per dollar sent than a single larger deposit.
How Do the Lobby Kiosks Work at David L. Moss?
The deposit kiosks sit in the front lobby of the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center at 300 N. Denver Avenue. They accept cash and credit or debit cards. Kiosk deposits typically credit the inmate’s account faster than any other method, sometimes within the hour.
Kiosk instructions:
- Enter the lobby during operating hours. The lobby is open 24/7, but confirm the kiosk itself is running before you drive down.
- Select “Deposit to Inmate Account” on the kiosk screen.
- Enter the inmate’s name and DLMCJC number.
- Insert cash or swipe a card for the deposit amount.
- Take the printed receipt as proof of deposit.
Kiosk fees also apply, and they are typically a flat rate plus a percentage. Bring exact bills or small bills if paying cash, since kiosks sometimes reject worn or torn currency.
Can I Mail Cash or a Personal Check to an Inmate at DLMCJC?
No, and this is the number one reason mailed deposits get returned. David L. Moss does not accept cash or personal checks of any kind for inmate accounts. Any cash sent in gets returned to the sender, and any personal check gets rejected.
The only mail-in method that works is a money order or a cashier’s check. Get the money order from the US Post Office if you can, since post office money orders rarely get rejected. To mail funds correctly:
- Purchase a money order or cashier’s check for the deposit amount.
- Make it payable to: Tulsa County Inmate Trust Account.
- Write the inmate’s full name and DLMCJC number directly on the money order itself. Do NOT put this information in the “Pay to the Order” field. That is the single most common mistake that gets money orders returned.
- Address the envelope to: David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center, Inmate’s Name / Inmate’s ID #, 300 N. Denver Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74103.
- Include your return address on the envelope. Mail without a return address gets returned or destroyed.
Mailed deposits take 5 to 7 business days to process once they arrive. If you are in a hurry, use the kiosk or one of the online options instead.
What Information Do You Need to Send Money?
Every deposit method requires the same two pieces of information: the inmate’s full legal name and their DLMCJC number. Nicknames, initials, or partial names cause the deposit to bounce.
You can pull both from the free Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office jail information search tool. Enter the inmate’s name, and the search returns their booking ID, current charges, and hold status. If they do not show up in the search, they may still be in booking. It can take several hours after arrest for someone to appear in the system. Our guide on how to find an inmate at Tulsa County Jail walks through every workaround if the search comes up empty.
If you still cannot pull the information after a few hours, call the jail directly at (918) 596-8900. Staff can confirm custody status even before the online record catches up.
How Long Does It Take for a Deposit to Show Up in an Inmate’s Account?
Deposit processing times depend on the method you use. Kiosk deposits credit the account almost immediately, usually within an hour. Online deposits through JailATM.com or CSGpay.com credit within 24 to 48 hours. Mailed money orders take the longest, roughly 5 to 7 business days after they arrive at the jail.
Weekends and holidays add delay to every method except the kiosk. If you are trying to make sure your loved one has money before a court date or a weekend, the kiosk is the only method that guarantees same-day funds.
What Can Inmates Buy with Their Trust Fund Money?
Trust fund money at David L. Moss covers the essentials of daily jail life. Inmates use it for:
- Commissary items (snacks, coffee, ramen, hygiene products, over-the-counter medicine)
- Writing supplies (paper, envelopes, stamps, pens)
- Phone card credits for outgoing calls
- Video messaging fees through the jail’s approved video system
- Court-ordered fees, restitution, or medical co-pays deducted directly from the account
Commissary items at DLMCJC are priced comparably to a Walmart, so a $50 or $100 deposit stretches for a couple of weeks of essentials.
What Happens if the Inmate Gets Out on Bond Before You Send Money?
If your loved one gets released on bond, any money left in their trust fund account goes back to them on release. If you paid a bondsman to post bail before you mailed a money order, the cheaper move is often to skip the deposit entirely and let them come home first. Every dollar you send to the trust account is a dollar not going toward their release.
The Signature Bail Bonds Tulsa team has been posting bonds at David L. Moss since 2006. Twenty years of experience means we know exactly how long the release process takes and how to move fast on a booking. A 10 percent premium on a bail bond usually gets someone home the same day, which changes the entire math on whether to send commissary money in the first place.
Get Help From a Tulsa Bail Bondsman Right Now
Signature Bail Bonds Tulsa is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Call us the moment you know your loved one is at David L. Moss, and we can walk you through both the trust fund deposit and the bail bond options. In many cases, the bail bond is the faster and cheaper path.
Contact Signature Bail Bonds Tulsa now and we will get your family member home fast.
