How Does InmateAid Work and What Does It Offer?

InmateAid was built by a former federal inmate who also spent time in county and private prison facilities. The site exists to help families and loved ones support someone who is incarcerated, from the day they are arrested through their release and reentry. That is what the tagline Before, During and After means.

Here is what the site offers and how it works.

Personal Inmate Page. You create a profile for your inmate that serves as a central hub for everything related to their incarceration. Think of it like a registry where family and friends can see what your inmate needs and contribute accordingly.

Letters and photos. You write a letter through the site, upload photos if you want to include them, and InmateAid prints and mails everything directly to the facility. Your inmate receives it at mail call like any other piece of mail.

Discount telephone service. InmateAid provides a local phone number that reduces the per-minute cost of calls from prison or jail significantly. Instead of paying long distance rates, your inmate dials a local number that routes to your existing phone.

Money transfers. InmateAid can facilitate sending money to your inmate's commissary account, including for international senders who cannot use standard US transfer services.

Books and magazines. InmateAid has publisher partnerships that allow you to send reading material directly to your inmate through approved channels.

Research and Q&A content. The site has an extensive library of information about the correctional system and an Ask the Inmate section where questions get answered by people with firsthand experience.

Start with the Personal Inmate Page and go from there. It is all built to be straightforward once you know what you are looking for.