Subject: Work release
Even in a work release setting, visitation in Alabama is not open to just anyone who shows up. The Alabama Department of Corrections requires every inmate to maintain two separate approved visitor lists, one for immediate family and one for friends. Both lists require pre-approval before anyone is allowed to visit, regardless of their relationship to the inmate.
Work release can give the impression of a more relaxed environment since inmates are leaving the facility for employment during the day, but...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
Yes, losing phone privileges is a very common punishment after a fight.
When an inmate is involved in a physical altercation, the facility will issue a disciplinary report. Depending on how serious the incident was, the penalties can vary.
Common punishments include:
Loss of phone privileges
Loss of commissary access
Loss of visitation
Placement in segregation, also called the SHU or “the hole”
Removal from general population
About phone calls:
Calls are often one of the first privileges taken away
The restriction can last from days to months depending on...
Read moreSubject: Release questions
Finding an accurate release date starts with the Judgment and Commitment document, which is the official court order that lays out exactly what sentence was imposed and under what terms. That document is what the Georgia Department of Corrections uses to calculate how long someone will actually serve, and it is the most reliable starting point for any sentence calculation.
In Georgia, most inmates are required to serve 85 percent of their imposed sentence before becoming eligible for release. On a...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
In most cases, mail is not forwarded when an inmate is transferred to a new facility.
What usually happens:
The mailroom checks the inmate location
If the inmate is no longer there, the letter is typically returned to sender
Some facilities may discard it if there is no valid return address
Why mail is not forwarded:
Facilities do not coordinate mail between institutions
Transfers can happen quickly and without notice
Each facility operates independently
If you are using InmateAid:
You can notify support with the new facility and inmate ID
The letter can be resent...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
You have to get the number to your inmate. No facility will pass on messages to inmates (as a general strict rule). If you would like to use our letter service on the house, email us at aid@inmateaid.com and we will send you a coupon code with instructions on how to write your inmate and inform them of the new number to dial out.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
You are good on all fronts. The money will make it, the mail will make it by InmateAid or by your own hand. There is still going to be delays as the mail staff opens and inspects all of the incoming mail.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
The short answer is nothing. You cannot bring gifts directly to an inmate during a visit. It does not matter how small or harmless the item seems. Anything you try to bring in will be turned away at the door and depending on what it is could create problems for you and your loved one.
Most facilities will allow you to bring a small amount of cash for the vending machines in the visitation area. That is typically the only thing...
Read moreSubject: Survive prison
Mostly, prison is not like what you see on television. It is boring and the best way for an inmate to do their time is to stay busy with some sort of routine. Inmates that have goals and want to come out better than they went in will survive the experience. There are fights but the consequences of having them is that it will make the time ahead more difficult on the inmates involved. There is TV, there is exercise, there is a library, recreation areas and plenty...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
When an inmate first arrives at a facility like High Desert, there is a short adjustment period before normal communication begins.
Phone calls:
He will go through intake and orientation (A&O) first
During this time, calls are usually restricted or not allowed yet
He will need to submit and get his phone list approved
Once approved, he can start calling you
This process typically takes a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the facility.
If you already put money on the phone account:
That is good and necessary
But he still...
Read moreSubject: Sentence reduction
If they have substantial information that can lead to the arrest and conviction of another person, they will get a reduction. If they save the life of a prison worker, they will get a reduction. If they get a sentence commutation from the governor or president; and if they are in federal prison and can take the RDAP program, they will get a year off plus up to another year of guaranteed halfway house.


