Ask The Inmate. Real answers from people who've been there.

At Arizona State Prison Phoenix West, inmates can usually purchase televisions through the commissary system, but the exact options and pricing depend on the facility’s approved vendor list. Typical costs: Small black and white TV: around $100 Small color TV: about $250 to $300 To buy one, your fiancé will need money in his inmate trust or commissary account. You can send funds using approved services like Western Union. Once the funds are available, he places the order through commissary, and it usually takes about a...

If you are receiving calls from an inmate and do not recognize who it is, there is no simple way to identify the caller on your own. Correctional phone systems are set up to protect inmate identity unless they choose to identify themselves during the call. When you get a call, the system usually plays a recorded message stating it is from a correctional facility, but it does not always clearly name the inmate unless they record their name during setup. The...

In most cases, you cannot send clothing to a prison before an inmate arrives, and even after arrival, facilities usually do not allow clothing shipments from family. Prisons issue standard clothing to every inmate, so your son will be provided with what he needs when he gets there. Some facilities also allow inmates to purchase additional items like sweatpants, t-shirts, or shoes through commissary, which are approved for use inside the facility. Sending clothing ahead of time is typically not allowed because: Facilities...

You do not need a coupon code to send a letter through InmateAid. The coupon field is optional and only used when there is a promotion or discount available. You can go ahead and pay with your credit card and send your letter without entering anything in that field. The service will still work normally. If you would like a discount, you can use the Contact Us link on the InmateAid website and request a coupon code. They are often available and...

At Lansing Correctional Facility, it is normal for there to be a delay between when books arrive and when the inmate actually receives them. You do not need special permission before sending books, as long as they are sent directly from an approved vendor like Amazon or a publisher. That part sounds like you did correctly. Once the books arrive at the prison, they go through the mailroom where staff: Open and inspect them for contraband Verify they meet facility rules Process them for delivery Even if they arrived...

At Southern Nevada Detention Center, inmates are typically released in one of a few standard ways when it comes to clothing. If your dad was booked in with his own clothes and the facility kept them in storage, those items are usually returned to him at release so he can wear them home. This is the most common outcome. If his personal clothing is not available, the facility will provide a basic set of release clothes. In some cases, inmates may also have...

A transfer after sentencing usually does not signal anything positive or negative by itself. In most cases, it simply means your husband is being moved from a temporary or intake facility to the prison where he will serve his sentence. After someone is sentenced, the system begins placing them based on factors like custody level, bed space, program availability, and medical or classification needs. Transfers are a normal part of that process and happen to almost everyone at some point. Based on...

When books are shipped from Amazon directly to a prison, they first go through the mailroom for inspection. Staff check all incoming packages for contraband and to make sure they meet the facility’s rules, such as coming from an approved vendor. If the books arrived on a Friday, they may not be processed until the next business day, depending on staffing and workload. Most prison mailrooms operate Monday through Friday, so anything received late in the week often carries over. Once approved, books are...

In a situation like this, where your fiancé was given a straight 6 month sentence after a probation revocation, there are usually very limited options for reducing that time. Most of the time, the judge has already considered the circumstances and imposed a fixed sentence. That means there is typically no additional reduction available beyond standard good time credit, if the facility offers it. Good time is earned by staying out of trouble, following rules, and maintaining good behavior while in custody....

With Tiger Commissary, deposit times can vary because the service does not clearly publish standard processing speeds like some other providers do. In many cases, funds show up within a few hours, but it can also take up to 24 to 48 hours depending on: The jail’s processing schedule Time of day or weekend/holiday delays Internal approval procedures at the facility Unlike Western Union, which often posts funds almost immediately, smaller or facility-specific systems like Tiger Commissary may batch transactions and apply them at set times. If it has...

Eligibility for a sentence reduction depends on the type of case, the jurisdiction, and the inmate’s conduct while in custody. There is no single rule that applies to everyone, but there are a few common ways sentences can be reduced. Good behavior credits: Most inmates earn time off for following rules and staying disciplinary-free. These credits are applied automatically over time and are already built into many projected release dates. You do not usually “apply” for this, it is earned consistently throughout...

In most cases, a preliminary hearing is supposed to happen fairly quickly after an arrest, often within days or a few weeks depending on the state. Six months without a preliminary hearing is not typical, but it does happen under certain circumstances. The Constitution guarantees the right to a speedy trial, but that right can be affected by several factors that slow the process down. Common reasons for delays include: Continuances requested by the defense or prosecution Multiple co-defendants, which can complicate scheduling Ongoing...