$1.5 Million Texas Prisoners’ Lost Money: Families May Still Claim Unclaimed Assets

The State of Texas has quietly collected more than $1.5 million in unclaimed money from inmate trust accounts over the last three fiscal years, funds left behind when prisoners are released or die without claims from their families.

According to records obtained by The Dallas Express, the state transferred 21,276 accounts worth $1,550,086.69 to its unclaimed-property division between FY 2023 and FY 2025.

These small amounts, often commissary balances or family deposits, are held for two years before being forfeited as unclaimed assets if no one steps forward to claim them.

Breakdown of Transfers:

• FY 2023: 6,375 accounts — $326,434.51

• FY 2024: 7,274 accounts — $746,314.39

• FY 2025: 7,627 accounts — $477,337.79

Read: The State By State Guide to Unclaimed Assets

When Savings Go Unclaimed

Under TDCJ policy AD-03.29, any lost savings in inmate trust accounts that remain unclaimed after two years “shall escheat to the State of Texas.”

While the funds are technically moved into the state’s unclaimed property system, where relatives can still file a claim, advocates say many families are never properly notified.

That means these lost funds often quietly disappear into state coffers.

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Unclaimed Money from Deceased Prisoners

Since 2024, 333 prisoners have been buried at Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery in Huntsville. When no family comes forward, their remaining balances, sometimes small but meaningful, flow into the state budget.

• Accounts under $2,500 can be claimed with a form.

• Balances between $2,500 and $75,000 require a small estate affidavit.

• Above $75,000 triggers review by the Office of General Counsel.

The average escheated account was just $72.86, modest amounts, but together they add up to millions in lost money.

A Costly System vs. Lost Funds

Running Texas’s prison system costs taxpayers around $50.79 per inmate per day, or $18,538 annually. Building a single prison bed costs more than $60,000.

In comparison, the $300,000 to $700,000 in unclaimed inmate funds collected each year is a small fraction, but still represents real lost money that could belong to families.

How Families Can Recover Lost Savings

If you believe your family member had unclaimed money in an inmate trust account, you may be able to claim it through the state’s unclaimed property system.

1. Check for unclaimed assets at https://claimittexas.org

2. Have the inmate’s full name, TDCJ number, and supporting documents ready.

3. Claims may require a notarized form or small estate affidavit depending on the amount.

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