Unfortunately, if Global Tel Link has the contract at your inmate’s facility, there is no way to completely avoid them. These companies operate as exclusive providers, which means all inmate calls must go through their system. That said, there are ways to reduce the cost significantly, even if you cannot eliminate them entirely. What you are already doing with Google Voice is a good start. The most effective additional step is: Use a local number setup (like InmateAid) that matches the facility’s area code This works because: Your inmate dials a local...

The two things that determine whether a letter reaches the right person are the inmate ID number and the facility address. Get both of those right and the letter will find its way to your inmate. Get either one wrong and it will not. Inmate names alone are not enough. Facilities process a high volume of mail and route it by ID number, not by name. A common name with a wrong or missing ID number creates real risk of the...

When a facility goes silent after an inmate is injured, the frustration for families is compounded by the fact that the people who are supposed to be responsible for your loved one's safety are the same ones refusing to communicate. Here is what you can actually do. Contact the chaplain. This is often the most overlooked and most effective channel available to families. Prison and jail chaplains operate somewhat outside the standard chain of command and are generally more willing to...

Stanislaus County Men's Jail in Modesto does have a visitation process, and the best place to find the current application and requirements is the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office website. Visitation forms and procedures are listed there, and in many cases you can download or complete the application online before submitting it. If you have trouble locating the form online, call the facility directly and ask for the visitation department. They can tell you exactly how to submit an application, what information...

RDAP accepts an inmate into the program but will not be enrolled until he is in the final 27 months of his sentence. The program is 9 months, he will live in a separate RDAP housing unit, wear a yellow belt and be expected to abide by every BOP rule. He will have to work on himself in front of the counselors and his peers. He will have to speak in front of people and give details of his dependency/abuse...

The release date listed on the Federal Bureau of Prisons website is generally accurate and reflects the inmate’s projected release date, including good time credit. For federal inmates, most serve about 85 percent of their sentence, and the date you see usually already factors that in. It may also include time expected to be spent in a halfway house or home confinement near the end of the sentence. Is it official? It is considered reliable, but it is still a projected date, not a guarantee. It can change if: The inmate...

Yes, you have it exactly right. With the InmateAid “Letters From Inmates” service, your inmate writes to the InmateAid address instead of your personal address. From there, the process works like this: The inmate mails the letter to the InmateAid address InmateAid receives the letter The letter is scanned and uploaded to your account You get an email notification that your letter is ready to view You then log in and read it online, without needing a permanent mailing address. This setup is especially useful if: You are relocating or do not...

Judicial release is an early release mechanism that is largely unique to Ohio. Most states do not have an equivalent. What Ohio calls judicial release was historically known as shock probation, and it gives the original sentencing judge the authority to release an inmate from prison early under specific circumstances. It is not parole and it is not a commutation. It is a direct action by the judge who sentenced the person in the first place. Not every inmate qualifies. Ohio...