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Ask The Inmate

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: Inmate phone calls

“Ask the Inmate” is not a direct communication link to a particular inmate, it is a question and answer forum between you and a former inmate who knows how things work on the inside. To communicate, you can write letters or send photos - you will have to go to your My Account area and click on the Inmate Page and then click "Letters". You will be able to communicate to them through there.

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Subject: Send inmate mail

We estimate that it takes 2-3 business days to make it to the jail. Once there, the staff opens and reads each piece of mail and inspects it for contraband. Once they decide the mail is fit to be handed out at mail call, your inmate will receive it. Any delay that occurs at the facility is out of our control. We make no guarantees as to how long it will take as there are thousands of facilities and none

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Subject: Education & vocational training

Educational programs vary by facility type and system, but most prisons and jails offer some level of continuing education. The GED is the most universally available program across federal, state, and county facilities. Inmates who do not have a high school diploma are often encouraged or in some cases required to work toward it. Beyond the GED, many facilities offer vocational training programs that lead to certifiable trade skills in areas like plumbing, electrical work, HVAC, carpentry, welding, culinary arts,

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Yes, you can update your phone number at any time and there is no charge to make the change. Life circumstances change and so do phone numbers. Whether you switched carriers, got a new number, or just need to update what is on file, the process is straightforward and does not cost anything. One thing worth keeping in mind is that the phone number your inmate calls you on may also need to be updated on their approved

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Subject: General prison questions-terminology

Without knowing all of the facts surrounding his administrative segregation, it could be a few days or a few months

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Subject: Visitation

might be true, where is the inmate incarcerated? depending on the level of custody determines the type of visitation

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Subject: Relationship issues

Account balances inside a correctional facility are treated as private financial information, and there is no public database or lookup tool that gives outside parties access to what an inmate has on their books. The facility is not going to hand that information out freely and the phone provider or commissary system certainly will not. That said, there is one avenue worth trying. Some case managers and counselors will share that information if you call and ask nicely. It

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Subject: Inmate phone calls

Yes, the local number we give you forwards to your pre-paid cell phone, the only person dialing this number will be your inmate calling you from the jail. It will not affect your cellphone, your number or interfere with any incoming calls

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Subject: Send inmate mail

Your name appears on the envelope above InmateAid's address. Your home address is never included. If you want the inmate to write you directly, add your address inside the letter. Otherwise they write back to InmateAid's address and the response is scanned into your account.

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Subject: Inmate transfer

it all depends on what stage of the process they are in; they might send the belongings home. there are three kinds of transfers, one - a request by the inmate, two - an administrative transfer as a step-down in custody level and the third - punitive where there is an increase in the custody level. whatever the conditions are in this case, they will NEVER disclose when the transfer is to take place for security precautions.

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