The State of Texas has collected more than $1.5 million in unclaimed money from the trust fund accounts of prisoners who died or were released over the last three fiscal years.
According to records obtained by The Dallas Express, these unclaimed assets came from 21,276 accounts, small balances that were never claimed by families.
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FY 2023: 6,375 accounts — $326,434.51
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FY 2024: 7,274 accounts — $746,314.39
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FY 2025: 7,627 accounts — $477,337.79
Under state rules, the funds sit for two years in the system before being forfeited to the state if no one files a claim. This means thousands of families may have unclaimed money or lost savings without realizing it.
Read: The State By State Guide to Unclaimed Assets
How Unclaimed Prisoner Funds Work
Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) policy AD-03.29 explains that when an inmate dies, their trust account remains available for two years. After that, it’s transferred to the state’s unclaimed-property division, where relatives can still submit claims.
However, if no claim is made, the lost money goes to the state. On average, each unclaimed account held just $72.86.
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Families can file a claim through the state’s unclaimed property program if they believe a loved one had funds left behind. But many may not even know the money exists, which is why it often ends up as unclaimed assets.
Cost vs. Unclaimed Dollars
The Texas prison system costs around $50.79 per inmate per day or $18,538 per year.
Building a new prison bed costs over $60,000. While the unclaimed money collected doesn’t generate profit on its own, it shows how much can be lost when no one claims these funds.
How to Recover Unclaimed Money
If you believe you or a relative might have unclaimed funds from a deceased or released inmate:
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Visit https://claimittexas.org
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Search by name to see if funds are available
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File a claim with proof of relationship and identification
Families have up to two years to claim, but after that, the funds belong to the state.
Acting early can help recover lost savings that may otherwise disappear.
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Let us help you discover if you have unclaimed assets waiting for you.
Start your free search today and claim what's rightfully yours!
