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

Yes, but it comes down to one specific document: the Judgment and Commitment Order. That order is the official sentencing document signed by the judge at the time of conviction. It spells out the exact terms of the sentence including whether parole is a possibility. If the Judgment and Commitment Order contains a parole provision, then parole eligibility exists regardless of the inmate's current security classification. Maximum security and Class 2 status reflect how the facility is managing the inmate right...

A transfer can go either way, and the reason behind it tells you almost everything about whether it is good news or bad. Inmates get moved for two broad reasons. The first is as a reward for good behavior and program completion. When someone earns a lower custody designation, the system moves them to a facility that matches that lower security level. That kind of transfer means easier daily life, more privileges, more freedom of movement, and generally a calmer environment....

He is probably not done with you. He is just dealing with the fallout of what you told him, and right now that emotion is pointed in your direction because you were the one who delivered the news. That is a common reaction and it is rarely permanent. When someone hears something painful about a person they care about, the initial response is often to push away whoever broke the news rather than sit with what the news actually means. It...

It depends on which type of service you purchased, and the two main options work differently when it comes to refunds. If you purchased phone minutes or deposited money into a calling account and those funds went unused, most carriers will refund some or all of the remaining balance. The specific refund policy varies by carrier, so contacting them directly with your account information is the fastest way to find out what you are entitled to and how to request it. If...

Three-way calls are dangerous for the inmate. Remember, there is a process to be able to receive a call from an inmate. The "no three-way call" rule is actually a rule worthy of enforcement as it allows for an unapproved call recipient to communicate with the inmate. This is considered dangerous for the staff and for the public at large. The prisons and jails spend a lot of money to stop it from happening. Their is software detection on the...

InmateAid was created to help folks like you figure out the prison/jail thing. Most of us have no clue about how it all works until you or someone you love gets locked up. If it's a short time, most people get out without worrying too much. But if it's going to be weeks or months or years, InmateAid will navigate you through the tough times. YES, we have over a million visitors a month people seem to really LOVE InmateAid.  We send...

The good news is that most facilities do not restrict visitation strictly to immediate family. The definition of who can visit is broader than people often assume. As long as you pass the background check and are not a convicted felon or former inmate, there is a strong chance you can get approved as a visitor. Facilities run every applicant through a criminal database check as part of the standard approval process, and a clean record is the primary requirement. The...

It is our understanding that the early release programs are not qualifying most violent offenders.The law is new and there are no cases to point to, but they define the "violent offender" in the language. An inmate will have to petition the court for a resentencing to even get considered for an early release. The sheer risk of having a violent crime happen by someone released on their watch is not going to get much of a chance with this law. You can always...