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Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA.

Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.

Subject: Send inmate mail

The letter and photo service from InmateAid is straightforward. You type up a letter and upload photos where applicable - proceed to the Pay Now page and complete the transaction. The letter order flows through our Admin area to the Processing Department. Letters are processed immediately upon entry unless it is after 4pm on Saturday, then the letters do not go through the process until Monday morning. You may check in your My Account area to see the status of

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Subject: Sentencing questions

The "work release program" is designated for inmates who are doing time and have worked their way down custody status levels. Work release is at the very end of the spectrum - right before release giving the inmate some incentive for good behavior and following the programming recommendations of their counselor. As far as family services go, since this is pre-trial, there is little to offer the program directors if there is no disposition. The programs available to the indigient

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Subject: Release questions

It takes a few weeks before they calculate and post the date

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Subject: Inmate search

If you have not seen or spoken to the inmate in years, it is smart to verify their identity before getting too involved. Best ways to confirm: 1. Use an inmate locator: Search by full name and date of birth if possible This helps confirm: Facility location Age and identifying details 2. Ask for identifying details in your letter: Reference something only the real person would know Ask them to confirm:

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Subject: Bail & bond questions

No, it is at the bond hearing that a magistrate (a special judge that handles arraignments and setting release bonds) will decide the merits of a bond. What is the prosecution suggesting? They have a lot of influence over the amount that is ultimately set. The bond is specific to the charges, criminal history and whether the magistrate (and prosecution) feels the offender is a treat to the community and will they reappear for the court dates.

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Subject: Sentencing questions

A suspended sentence means the judge gave you time, but allowed you to stay out of custody as long as you follow certain conditions. If you complete everything successfully, you never serve that time. If you violate those conditions, the judge can impose some or all of the suspended 360 days. At that point, it becomes real jail or prison time. Whether you can serve less than the full 360 days depends on the facility and how your

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Subject: Prison discipline

Short answer, no. There is no outside person or service that can get an inmate released from the SHU, also known as the hole. That decision is entirely controlled by the facility and its internal disciplinary process. When an inmate is placed in the SHU, it is usually for one of three reasons: Pending investigation Disciplinary action after a rule violation Administrative reasons, such as safety or separation Even if the inmate says they did

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Either sign up online, email us questions or call 866-966-7100

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

This is a common point of confusion, but it is easy once you know how it works. In your confirmation email, you were given two numbers: Your regular phone number, called the “forward-to” number The new local number we assigned to help reduce call costs The number you give to your inmate is the new local number we provided. That is the number they must add to their approved phone list and dial when they

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

If your boyfriend was arrested in Maricopa County, Arizona, the best place to start is the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office inmate search. That will show you his current custody status, charges, and in many cases an expected release date or court information. If you are not finding him, double check the spelling of his name and try variations. You can also use a background search service like TruthFinder to help locate him if you are unsure which facility he

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