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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: Medical treatment

This is one of the most frustrating realities families run into, and the honest answer is that the options are limited but not nonexistent. Prison medical departments operate under tight budget constraints and a philosophy of minimum necessary care. A deteriorating rotator cuff is genuinely painful and debilitating but from the facility's perspective, it is not life-threatening, which means it sits low on the priority list. NSAIDs like ibuprofen are the standard response to musculoskeletal pain inside and surgical

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Subject: Commissary

Inmates may spend anywhere from $50-75 per week or about $310 per month depending on the institution. This is a very generous amount and most inmates would be VERY happy to have that amount available to them to spend.

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Subject: Send inmate mail

You can send "sexy" pictures, in your bikini or lingerie as long as the material is not transparent or that there are no private parts showing.

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Subject: Inmate transfer

A transfer that happens close to a release date is actually more often a positive sign than a concerning one and understanding why facilities move inmates near the end of their bid can turn a confusing situation into a reassuring one. As inmates progress through their sentence, their custody level is reassessed regularly. Someone who came in at a higher security classification may have earned their way down to a lower level through clean conduct, programming completion, and time

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Subject: Commissary

Yes. Any money remaining in an inmate's commissary account at the time of release belongs to them and they get it back when they walk out the door. The facility does not keep it. The money is typically returned in the form of a check issued in the inmate's name or loaded onto a release card depending on the facility and the state system. It is part of the standard discharge process along with the return of any personal

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Subject: Education & vocational training

No, there are no flying certifications available to inmates

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Our service is not a replacement for the prison phone service, we get you a telephone number that makes the charges from the provider at that institution less expensive. As long as you are a long distance call from the jail, there will be a savings of about $4.00 per call.  You can call the office (866-966-7100) and speak to someone about the specifics or email your questions and telephone number to aid@inmateaid.com and we will give you an honest

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Subject: Inmate transfer

Yes, as long as the transfer stays within the same state system the money should follow him. In the Arizona Department of Corrections system, phone accounts are tied to the inmate rather than the specific facility, which means funds deposited through the ADC website travel with the inmate when they move to another ADC prison. The key phrase is within the system. A transfer from one ADC facility to another keeps everything intact. If he were to be transferred

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Subject: Marriage in prison

Usually county jails do not support inmate marriages. You can be certain if you call the jail's chaplain to find out.

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Subject: Prison discipline

There is no legal limitation on the length of time an inmate may remain in the SHU or the "hole". There are no laws that an inmate can rely on to govern how they are incarcerated. They are basically 'property of the department of corrections' - and have to do whatever the department decides, whenever they decide. Stays in the SHU can be months and months for infractions that are considered safety violations, like possession of a cellphone, a weapon,

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