There are no cell phones allowed in any penal facility in the United States, regardless of what the phone can or cannot do. This is not a facility-by-facility policy decision. Federal law makes it a criminal offense for an incarcerated person to possess a cell phone, and if one is found, the inmate faces the possibility of up to five additional years added to their sentence. No program, no custody level, and no facility type is exempt from this. Whatever your...

No federal program provides airfare or travel assistance for families visiting federal inmates. The Bureau of Prisons does not offer transportation subsidies, and there is no government program specifically designed to cover the cost of visiting an incarcerated family member. A few nonprofit organizations have worked on this issue over the years, and it is worth doing some research for your specific state and situation. Organizations focused on prisoner reentry and family support sometimes have small funds available for family connection...

Yes. Inmates that have money on their inmate trust accounts can purchase stamps and envelopes at the weekly commissary. If they do not have money on their books, the prison will provide indigent inmates with all the materials necessary to send out mail to their loved ones. If your inmate writes to you directly, using your address, the cost of the mailing is a 49 cent stamp. Many of our members use the Inmate Response Mail service through InmateAid. Your inmate...

Aggravated riot is a serious felony charge and the potential sentence varies significantly depending on which state the charge is filed in, the specific circumstances of the incident, the individual's criminal history, and whether the case resolves through a plea or goes to trial. Federal vs State Aggravated riot charges are most commonly filed at the state level. Federal riot charges exist under 18 U.S.C. 2102 but are less common. The distinction matters because federal and state sentencing structures are completely different. State...