If someone you love is locked up in Delaware, getting money into their account covers commissary - food, hygiene, writing supplies, phone time - and keeps the connection alive. Delaware has a unified corrections system: the state abolished separate county jails decades ago, so all adults - pretrial and sentenced - are held in Delaware Department of Correction (Delaware DOC) facilities. There is one deposit system for everyone, and the platform is ViaPath (also known as GTL).
Three ways to send money to a Delaware DOC inmate
Delaware DOC offers three deposit methods, all through ViaPath/GTL. You can use whichever is most convenient.
By lobby kiosk at the facility
Each Delaware DOC facility has a kiosk located at the gatehouse or main entrance. You can deposit funds directly at the kiosk using cash or a card. This is the in-person option. If you are visiting, you can bring money to deposit at the kiosk at the same time. Photo identification is required for all visitors.
Online through ViaPath/GTL
You can make a deposit online at any time through ViaPath (GTL's consumer platform). Create an account, find the inmate by name and SBI number, and deposit by debit or credit card. This is the most convenient option for families who cannot visit in person.
For questions about online deposits or to set up a prepaid phone account, contact GTL at 1-866-230-7761.
By mailing a money order to ViaPath/GTL
If you prefer to mail a money order, you must mail it directly to ViaPath/GTL using the money order form provided on the Delaware DOC website - not to the facility itself.
This is a critical point: do not mail money orders to the facility address for the three main Delaware state prisons (Baylor Women's Correctional Institution, Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, and James T. Vaughn Correctional Center). These facilities do not accept money orders mailed directly to the prison, and they do not accept money orders in person during visitation either. All money orders go to ViaPath/GTL by mail using the designated form.
Personal checks are not accepted. Do not send cash in the mail.
The SBI number is required for all deposits
The SBI number - State Bureau of Identification number - is Delaware's inmate identification number. Every Delaware DOC inmate has one. You need it for every deposit method: kiosk, online, and mail. Without the correct SBI number, the deposit cannot reach the right account.
Find the SBI number using the Delaware DOC Inmate Locator on the department's website (doc.delaware.gov).
About Delaware's unified system
Delaware operates a unified corrections system - there are no separate county jails for most purposes. All adults under state custody are in Delaware DOC facilities. The main state facilities are:
Howard R. Young Correctional Institution (Wilmington) - the state's primary pretrial and medium-security facility
James T. Vaughn Correctional Center (Smyrna) - the state's primary maximum-security facility
Baylor Women's Correctional Institution (New Castle) - the primary facility for women
Because Delaware is a unified system, you do not need to navigate separate county jail deposit systems. The ViaPath/GTL platform covers all Delaware DOC facilities.
Mail to Delaware inmates: the Pigeonly scanning system
Since April 15, 2024, all non-legal personal mail to Delaware DOC inmates is processed through a centralized scanning facility operated by Pigeonly Corrections. Personal mail - letters, cards, photos - is no longer mailed to the facility address. Instead, it goes to a central Las Vegas processing address (a PO Box specific to each facility, listed on the Delaware DOC mail page), where it is opened, scanned, and delivered electronically or as a printed copy to the prison within 48 hours. Original copies are held for 45 days then destroyed.
This mail change does not affect money deposits - money orders still go to ViaPath/GTL as described above, not to Pigeonly. But it is important context for families who also want to write letters.
Video visitation
Video visitation accounts are set up separately through GettingOut, which is the ViaPath/GTL consumer platform for video visits. This is separate from the trust/commissary account deposit process.
Federal custody in Delaware
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody in Delaware - the primary BOP facility is FCI Wilmington, or they may be housed at a federal facility in a neighboring state - deposits go through the BOP Trust Fund via Western Union, MoneyGram at retail, or online at bop.gov. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use ViaPath/GTL or Delaware DOC deposit methods for federal inmates.
Delaware DOC contact
245 McKee Road, Dover DE 19904
Phone: (302) 739-5601
What to know before you send anything
Get the SBI number first. Every deposit method requires it. Find it through the Delaware DOC Inmate Locator at doc.delaware.gov.
Never mail a money order to the facility for the three main prisons. For Baylor Women's, Howard R. Young, and James T. Vaughn, money orders go to ViaPath/GTL - not the facility address, not via Pigeonly.
No personal checks, no cash by mail. Only money orders are accepted by mail, and only through ViaPath/GTL's form and address.
Photo ID required for in-person kiosk visits. Bring government-issued photo identification.
Mail goes to Pigeonly, not the facility. Since April 15, 2024, personal letters and photos go to a central Las Vegas scanning address - not the prison directly.
Related pages:
/prisons/delaware
How to write a letter to someone in a Delaware facility
Send mail and photos through InmateAid
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
What is the deposit vendor for Delaware state prisons?
ViaPath/GTL. All three deposit methods - kiosk, online, and mail - go through ViaPath/GTL. Delaware does not use JPay or Access Corrections for state prison deposits.
What are the three ways to send money to a Delaware DOC inmate?
By kiosk at the facility gatehouse or main entrance; online through ViaPath/GTL; or by mailing a money order to ViaPath/GTL using the form on the Delaware DOC website.
Can I mail a money order directly to the facility?
No, not for Baylor Women's Correctional Institution, Howard R. Young Correctional Institution, or James T. Vaughn Correctional Center. Money orders for these facilities must be mailed to ViaPath/GTL using their designated form, not to the prison's address. These facilities also do not accept money orders in person during visitation.
What is the SBI number and where do I find it?
The SBI (State Bureau of Identification) number is the unique identification number assigned to every Delaware DOC inmate. Required for all deposit methods. Find it using the Delaware DOC Inmate Locator at doc.delaware.gov.
Does Delaware have county jails?
Delaware operates a unified corrections system - all adults under state custody are in Delaware DOC facilities. There is one deposit platform (ViaPath/GTL) that covers all state facilities.
How do I contact GTL for a prepaid phone account?
Call GTL at 1-866-230-7761 or set up online. Phone accounts are separate from the general trust/commissary account deposit process.
How do I set up video visitation for a Delaware inmate?
Through GettingOut, the ViaPath/GTL video visitation platform. This is separate from the commissary/trust account deposit.
What changed with Delaware inmate mail in 2024?
Effective April 15, 2024, all non-legal personal mail to Delaware DOC inmates is processed through a central Pigeonly Corrections scanning facility. Mail goes to a Las Vegas PO Box (facility-specific), not the prison directly. Originals are held 45 days then destroyed. This change affects letters and photos - not money order deposits, which go to ViaPath/GTL.
Are personal checks accepted for Delaware DOC deposits?
No. Personal checks are not accepted. Use money orders for mail deposits, or deposit by kiosk or online.
How do I send money to someone in federal custody in Delaware?
Use the BOP Trust Fund - Western Union, MoneyGram, or bop.gov online. You need the eight-digit BOP register number. Do not use ViaPath/GTL for federal inmates.
What is the Delaware DOC main phone number?
(302) 739-5601. Delaware DOC headquarters: 245 McKee Road, Dover DE 19904. ====================================================================
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