How New York City Plans to Return $3.5 Million to [Formerly Incarcerated Individuals]

New York City lawmakers are looking to return $3.5 million in commissary funds to formerly incarcerated [individuals] —money that remains in their accounts in the city’s jail facilities. JoAnne Page, president and CEO of the Fortune Society, comments on the proposed process.

“This is important,” Page said. “This is about fairness. It’s about making sure that people get their own money back when they get released.”

She said that if the DOC gives former [incarcerated individuals] back their commissary funds, there is one caveat: she wants to ensure [individuals] do not get charged fees in order to get their money back, including if the city chooses to go with a third party provider to handle the process of returning the money.