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Ask The Inmate

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: General prison questions-terminology

We are not certain that this is a real question - but prison rape is real and is ongoing and not a funny subject. Predators flourish in prison as they are experts at finding weaknesses in inmates who are not physically strong enough to defend themselves. 

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Subject: Visitation

Visitation at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, like most juvenile facilities across the country, is more restricted than what you would find at an adult jail or prison. Access is limited to immediate family members only. Friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and extended family who do not fall under the immediate family definition are generally not permitted to visit regardless of how close the relationship is. Visit times are limited as well. Juvenile facilities operate on tight schedules built around programming,

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Keep in contact with the chaplain, that is the best advise we could give. Most of the movement restrictions inside the prison change to keep the inmates on their toes.

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Subject: Visitation

Mail is considered sacred in a prison, detention center or jail and he will be able to purchase the materials necessary to write and mail a letter. He will be allowed to receive visitation after his release from the SHU.

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Subject: General prison questions-terminology

Inmates do not have Internet access. The Personal Inmate Pages are for the benefit of the inmate's family and friends. The website will keep you organized and to bring all of the services that are available for the benefit of the member/user's loved one.

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Subject: Prison violence

It is usually not because something serious like violence has happened. There are many common reasons why an inmate might not write for a few weeks: Most likely reasons: Loss of privileges due to a minor disciplinary issue Being placed in segregation where communication is limited No access to stamps, envelopes, or writing materials Delays in mail processing at the facility Transfer to another unit or prison Busy with intake, orientation, or work assignment changes

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Subject: Visitation

“Ask the Inmate” is not a direct communication link to a particular inmate, it is a question and answer forum between you and a former inmate who knows how things work on the inside. To communicate, you can write letters or send photos - you will have to go to your My Account area and click on the Inmate Page and then click "Letters". You will be able to communicate to them through there.

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

We have a large selection of local lines for USP Canaan in Waymart, PA. Click here to get started. The real question is, why didn't you come here first??  :))

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Subject: Sentencing questions

The assumption that life means 25 to 30 years is a common one, and it is understandable why families hold onto it. In some cases and some states, parole eligibility does kick in after a defined minimum. But life without the possibility of parole is an entirely different sentence, and the two are not interchangeable. In Michigan, a life sentence can go either way. The critical document is the Judgment and Commitment Order issued by the sentencing judge. That

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Subject: Relationship issues

These are two of the most important questions anyone connected to this situation can ask and they deserve honest answers rather than comfortable ones. On whether abusers can truly change, the research says yes, but with significant caveats that matter enormously in practice. Change is possible but it is not common, it is not automatic, and it is not produced by incarceration alone. Time behind a wall does not rehabilitate anyone. What produces genuine change in people with patterns

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