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

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...

Correctional facilities require a return address on incoming mail. A letter without one is likely to get rejected at the mailroom before it ever reaches your loved one. Facilities want to know where mail is coming from, and an envelope with no return address raises flags that can result in the letter being discarded entirely. Addressing the envelope correctly is straightforward, but the details matter. You need the inmate's full legal name, their inmate ID or register number, the full facility...

That depends on several factors that vary from case to case, and without knowing the full details, it is impossible to predict which direction a prosecutor will go. The two biggest factors that influence how hard a prosecutor pushes are whether anyone was hurt and how much property damage was involved. A case where someone was physically harmed or significant property was destroyed is going to be treated very differently from one where the impact was minimal. Prosecutors weigh the severity...

Being on probation does not automatically disqualify you from visiting an inmate, but it does make the approval process more strict. At a facility like PCC, you will need to go through a formal approval process again, even if you were approved at a different facility years ago. Prior approval at FCC from 2004–2007 will not carry over. What you need to do: Submit a new visitation application to PCC Disclose your probation status honestly Be prepared for additional review or a required waiver Key factor: You...

All you have to do is register the InmateAid number as a land line. Be prepared for having to jump through hoops as the prison phone carrier Securus is a little more difficult to deal with than others, but your rights are protected and there is nothing that prohibits you from using our number and receiving lower priced calls. The FCC website endorses ["Low Cost Inmate Call Routing Services"](https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-323495A1.pdf) as a viable way for families to connect with their loved...

Yes, it is possible, but you will need special approval first. When you are on felony probation, you are not automatically allowed to visit someone in prison. You must get permission from both sides: 1. The prison must approve you You will need to submit a visitor application They will see that you are on probation This usually triggers a review and requires a waiver 2. Your probation officer must approve it This is very important You should contact your probation officer before applying Visiting a prison without their...

Inmates are not just turned out with nothing, but what they leave with depends on their situation. Money: Any money left in their inmate trust account is returned to them at release This includes money earned from prison jobs and money sent in by family that was not spent If they have no funds, some facilities provide a small release allowance, but it is usually minimal Clothing: They are typically released in either their personal clothing (if they had some stored) Or basic state issued clothing if...