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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: Inmate phone calls

This depends on the facility and the carrier they have a contract with. Some calls are a low as six cents a minute versus fifteen dollars for the same call. Our Service can reduce this cost in most cases. If you tell us the name of the institution and your phone number we will give you an honest estimate whether our Service can help or not, BEFORE you sign up.

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Subject: Inmate search

Not all of the arresting jurisdictions make mugshots available online.

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Subject: Law & court questions - legal terms

You have to go to the Clerk of the Court for that information.

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Subject: Education & vocational training

This is a great question. We have been working on devoting an entire section to the website specifically for this subject. For you, we would advise you to get into a real communication about the types of things in life he likes to be around. There are jobs everywhere, but first find a field that is exciting and motivating. If it's a love or passion for something, he will pursue it until he gets there. If there is no concretely

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Subject: Release questions

Unless there is massive overcrowding, the release date normally facotrs in the good time credits - so that date is when they'll most probably get out

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Subject: Bail & bond questions

You will have to research your options. Most bailbondsmen are local. You should talk to 2-3 to make sure you are comfortable with the arrangement. Most of them charge a non-refundable 10% of the set amount of the bail. The bonding company then submits the paperwork to the court who will release the offender from custody. The bond is in place to ensure that the offender appears at all scheduled hearings. If they miss a court date, the bond is

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Subject: Sentencing questions

In most cases, the 45 days starts from the time he was taken into custody, not when he physically arrives at the ISF. So if he is already sitting in county jail waiting to be transferred: That time is usually counting toward the 45 days The clock does not reset when he gets to the ISF About “good time” or credits: Short sanctions like a 45 day ISF stay typically do not earn additional time off

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Subject: Release questions

This is serious, and it can affect his release date, but it depends on how the escape is handled. Walking away or escaping from a halfway house is still considered an escape from custody, even though it is a lower security setting. What could happen: If treated as a minor violation: He could lose privileges or good time He might still be released close to the original date If treated seriously (which is common):

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Subject: Send inmate money

No. An inmate's account balance is treated as private financial information, the same way any person's bank account would be. Facilities do not make that information available to outside parties, including family members and significant others, without the inmate's explicit authorization. The only person who can check the balance is the inmate themselves, and they can do so through whatever account access system the facility provides, typically at a kiosk, through their housing unit officer, or during commissary processing.

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Subject: General prison questions-terminology

that is not available for public release

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