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...

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...

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...

If someone has served their time and is still sitting in custody past their projected release date, the most common explanation is a detainer. A detainer is a formal hold placed on an inmate by a separate jurisdiction that has an outstanding charge, warrant, or case pending against them. It essentially means that even though the current facility is done with them, another county, state, or federal agency has a claim and is waiting to take custody the moment they are...

The most common obstacle people run into when trying to send mail is not knowing the exact facility address or the inmate's full registration number, both of which are required for mail to be delivered correctly. The first step is pinning down which facility your loved one is in. Aaron Hernandez is a common name and without knowing the state it is nearly impossible to narrow down which facility and which person you are looking for. There are inmates by that...

When an inmate breaks the rules, the facility has a range of disciplinary tools at its disposal and the punishment handed down depends on the severity of the infraction and the inmate's prior disciplinary history. The most common privileges that get pulled include phone access, commissary, visitation, and recreation time. These are the four things inmates value most in their daily lives and facilities know that. Losing one or all of them for an extended period is a significant consequence that...

Phase-based programs are structured reentry and rehabilitation curriculums that divide an inmate's program participation into sequential stages. Each phase builds on the last and has to be completed before advancing to the next. Phase 3 is typically the final or near-final stage of the program, which means your loved one is closer to the end than the beginning. East Carroll Riverbend Detention Center in Louisiana operates programs through the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Phase-based programming at facilities like...

Yes, you can order books and newspapers for your inmate, but there are a few important rules to follow. Ordering from Amazon: You can send books from Amazon, but they must be new and shipped directly from Amazon Do not use third party sellers or used books, those are often rejected Paperback books are usually required, hardcovers are often not allowed Newspapers and magazines: These must come directly from the publisher or an approved vendor A subscription is the safest way to send newspapers Do you need commissary? No, you do not...