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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: Inmateaid website questions

When letters or photos show a pending status for longer than usual, it is understandably concerning, particularly when you are relying on that communication to reach someone who is counting on hearing from you. In most cases, however, a prolonged pending status is a display issue on the account side rather than an indication that the letters have not been sent. InmateAid processes letters and photos through an automated API connection with its fulfillment partner. Once an order is

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Yes, InmateAid works at FCI Florence and at federal facilities across the country. The service was actually created with federal inmates in mind, which is where it started before expanding to cover state and county facilities as well. For federal inmates specifically, the savings tend to be meaningful. The Bureau of Prisons phone system charges rates that add up quickly over the course of a month, particularly for families who talk regularly. InmateAid's discount phone service typically saves families

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

The most likely issue is that your husband is dialing your original number instead of the new InmateAid number. That is the most common reason the service appears not to work after setup. InmateAid does not replace Securus, which is the carrier Starr County Jail uses. What InmateAid does is provide a different number for your husband to dial, one that routes calls through Securus at a lower rate than your regular in-state number generates. The call still goes

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Subject: Work release

Not likely. The work release phase is the last step before release. We would advise the inmate to remain patient and not do anything that would jeopardize the current release date.

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Subject: Commissary

Commissary is once a week in most places. We post the commissary lists for the facility on their InmateAid page, especially federal prison.

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Subject: Send inmate mail

It is not an email or electronic letter, it is a letter that is printed and mailed through the USPS. Email is a limited service to a small number of facilities. US Mail is reliable and convenient through InmateAid. We estimate 2-3 business days for delivery unless there are delays in the mail room of the facility.

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Subject: Prison discipline

Nevada Southern Detention Center is a CCA facility which means it is privately run. I've been in a CCA prison in Tennessee which could not have been more strict. The CCA staff follows the rules to the letter. In my opinion, when the guards stick to the rules (on the strict side) there are a lot less problems. The inmates take the position that it's not worth going to the SHU because there are no second chances to avoid punishment.

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Subject: Send inmate mail

Yes, normally if they like writing, they will communicate with more than one person. Inmates have a lot of time to write.

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Subject: Inmate search

Your inmate should know their zone and bed number. You might try calling the facility and asking to speak to the unit team secretary, they will have this information for sure 

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