Subject: Sentencing questions
A third felony conviction is serious and the system is designed to treat it that way, but it does not mean all options are off the table. What is available depends heavily on the state, the nature of the offenses, and the sentence imposed.
Several states have habitual offender laws, sometimes called three strikes laws, that impose mandatory minimum sentences or significantly enhanced penalties on third time felony convictions. California is the most well known example, though many states have their...
Read moreSubject: Visitation
Yes - sometimes, there are some instances where inmates are allowed visits even if they are relegated to the SHU. You might call the facility and ask to speak with their case manager before taking the trip to visit so that you are certain they are able to receive you.
Subject: Commissary
You cannot find an inmate's commissary balance online - the inmate's person information (commissary balance, visitation list and phone call list and log) is kept private.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
No, that is largely a myth. In police custody, maybe but if he is processed in a county jail, there are no free calls. There will be a payphone that they will have to use and make a collect call. This is a super-expensive way to communicate and it will be $15 per call.
We have a program that will allow the calls to be at the cheapest possible rate for that facility. The biggest issue is that there is...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
The InmateaID Letter and Photo Service is a fantastic way for international loved ones to reach an inmate quickly and reliably. You should set up a member/user account and then add your inmate's profile to your account. Once that is set up, your letter will be synced to the prison where they are being held. If you need specific questions answered on the set-up or the payment please email us at Aid@inmateAID.com
Subject: Prison violence
What facility are you inquiring about, they are all different? Custody levels and sentence lengths have a lot to do with the conditions. Inmates with more time and less freedoms tend to be a harder time for the inmates.
Subject: Release questions
Yes - you are entitled to whatever balance you had in your account, barring you owing any fees or restitution upon your release.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
InmateAid is NOT a replacement for the phone service at the prison or jail, we make their service cheaper with local phone numbers (or in the case of Securus, NCIC or City TeleCoin we get out of state numbers to save you money). Sometimes our service can save you as much as $12.00 per phone call, other times it will not save anything. If you would like to get an honest assessment, let us know the name of the facility...
Read moreSubject: Survive prison
You might try mailing a letter or postcard. The guards are normally not permitted to pass notes to inmates from the outside. All correspondence is supposed to be monitored and cataloged.
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 6pm 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 your...
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