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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.

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Subject: Education & vocational training

Inmates can and do get their college education during their incarceration. For inmates in a county jail, your inmate would have to speak with a counselor and ask what they will approve first. Depending on the length of the sentence, the staff will likely assist in proxying the exams and certifying the test results. If they get the blessing of the facility (usually they LOVE the fact that an inmate would take the initiative to improve themselves) there would have to

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Subject: General prison questions-terminology

not sure, but it sounds right... but what sounds off is "a text from an inmate"... if he has a cellphone, it's a mistake because it could add time to his sentence if discovered.

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Subject: Inmateaid website questions

Yes absolutely!

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Absolutely! The companies that have the local contracts have varying rates. We find the best number for each unique facility. Sometimes the best rate is a local number, other times it's a number from outside of your state that lowers the call price. Send us the name of the facility and your telephone number, we will give you an honest estimate of the savings, if any.

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Subject: Relationship issues

Yes, it is worth paying attention to, but it is also worth understanding what is likely driving it before drawing conclusions. Distance in letters from someone who is incarcerated is extremely common, particularly in the early months of a sentence. He is sitting with a lot. Depression, shame, anxiety about what is happening on the outside, and an imagination that tends toward the worst possible scenarios are all standard features of the early incarceration experience. The distance you are

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Subject: Inmate search

The site or location number you need to add funds to an inmate's phone account is specific to the phone carrier the facility uses, and it is not something that stays constant across providers or facilities. The fastest way to get it is to call Hoffman Hall directly and ask. The front desk or a counselor can tell you which phone service provider the facility uses and point you toward the right place to add funds. Most facilities use

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Subject: Inmateaid website questions

If you had an account and the inmate was released, you know there are no refunds. But, if you call in and speak with a rep, we will reinstate the number for you and give you a free month.

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Subject: Money transfer

Western Union Quick Collect. Deposit will post to offender’s account within 24 hours. For each Quick Collect transaction the following information must be provided:  Pay to: TDCJ – Inmate Trust Fund  Code City and State: TDCJ/TX  Account number with facility: Offender’s TDCJ number and offender’s last name  Attention: Offender’s last name and offender’s first name

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