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Ask the Inmate

Subject: General Prison Questions-Terminology
What is the difference between jail and prison?

Jail and prison are two distinct types of correctional facilities that serve different purposes, house different populations, and operate under different authorities. Jails are locally operated, typically run by a county sheriff or a city government. They are designed for short-term detention and house two main groups: people who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or sentencing, and people serving shorter sentences, usually less than a year, for misdemeanor convictions. Jails are the first stop in the correctional system and are where most people land immediately after an arrest. Prisons are operated by state governments or the federal Bureau of Prisons and are designed for longer-term incarceration. People end up in prison after they have been convicted of a felony and sentenced to a term typically exceeding one year. State prisons house people convicted of state crimes. Federal prisons house people convicted of federal offenses. Both systems classify inmates by security level and assign them to facilities that match their risk profile. The practical differences extend beyond just the length of stay. Jails tend to have fewer programs, more limited educational opportunities, and higher turnover in the population since people come and go quickly. Prisons are more structured environments with established programming, work assignments, and longer-term community dynamics among the inmate population. For families, understanding which type of facility a loved one is in matters for knowing who to contact, what services are available, and what the communication options look like. InmateAid works with both jails and prisons across all 50 states.

Subject: Inmate Phone Calls
How do I get a phone call from my husband who has just been transported there

When an inmate arrives at a new facility, phone access does not begin immediately. There is an intake and orientation process that typically takes one to two weeks before your husband will have the ability to place calls. During that window he is being processed, assigned to housing, and meeting with his unit team. Phone and visitation lists cannot be submitted until that process is underway. Here is what you can do right now to be ready when he is. Find out which phone carrier the new facility uses. Most federal facilities use the Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System through the BOP, while state facilities use contracted providers like GTL, Securus, or ICSolutions depending on the state. A quick call to the facility's main number can confirm this. Set up an account with that carrier. You do not need to wait for your husband to call first. Creating a prepaid account in advance means that as soon as his phone access is established and your number is on his approved list, he can call without any additional delays on your end. If the calls will be long distance, InmateAid's discount telephone service can provide a local number that routes to your existing phone. That brings the per-minute cost down significantly from what long distance rates would otherwise be. Once your husband has phone access and submits the local number for approval, calls come through at local rates. Send a letter in the meantime. Letters do not require the same approval process as phone access and can reach him during the orientation period. Include your phone number clearly in the letter so he has it when he is ready to call.

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