An inmate committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections (DOC) is considered indigent when he or she has less than a $25 balance of disposable income in his or her institutional account on the day a request is made to utilize funds and during the 30 days prior to the request.  This monetary threshold for defining inmate indigency is sometimes referred to as the "indigency level" or "indigency cap."

Inmates are expected to contribute financially toward costs of incarceration and medical copays.  When an inmate is unable to pay for certain supplies or services, the costs are recorded as a debt to the DOC and may be recouped from the inmate's institutional account when the account exceeds the indigency cap.  The Secretary of the DOC is also directed to make certain deductions from an inmate's wages, gratuities, and worker's compensation benefits, for taxes, legal financial obligations, and child support obligations.  However, the formula for distribution of funds cannot reduce an inmate's account below the indigency cap.

The monetary threshold for defining inmate indigency is increased to $100 and, beginning July 1, 2029, and every four years thereafter, the Department of Corrections (DOC) must further increase the threshold using the most current seasonally adjusted Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers.  The DOC may not adjust the threshold if an adjustment using the CPI would result in a reduction.

Beginning July 1, 2027, the DOC must publish the indigent rate on its public website and at each correctional facility in an area accessible to inmates within five business days of July 1 of each year.