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

This situation has several serious legal issues layered on top of each other, and you have more options than it may feel like right now. Here is where to focus. The recanting accuser is significant. If the person who accused your husband has admitted to lying, that is potentially powerful grounds for post-conviction relief. This needs to be in front of an attorney or an innocence organization as soon as possible. The Innocence Project and state-level innocence organizations take cases involving...

A two-year sentence is 730 days. The 138 days already served in county jail comes off that total from day one, leaving 592 days remaining at the point of sentencing. How much of that gets served depends on whether this is a state or federal case and what the applicable good time rules are. If it is a state sentence with a half time provision, meaning the inmate serves 50% before becoming eligible for release or parole consideration, the calculation looks like...

Yes, a denied visitation application can be disputed, and there is a clear path to doing that. The first step is finding out exactly why the application was denied. Facilities are not always forthcoming with this information automatically, but you are entitled to ask. Call the facility and ask to speak with a supervisor, typically the captain or the visitation supervisor, and ask specifically what the reason for the denial was and what information in your application triggered it. Common reasons for...

If you are able to pick your family member up directly from the facility on their release date, that is the best option. You get the maximum time together from the moment they walk out, and it removes the impersonal experience of a transport bus. Call the facility in advance to confirm the exact release time and any procedures for pickup. If a direct pickup is not possible, you are typically permitted to pick them up from the bus station and...

Cambria County Prison in Pennsylvania does not publish detailed visitation rules or phone setup information online beyond basic contact details. That is frustrating but common for smaller county facilities that do not maintain robust public-facing websites. The most reliable way to get current visitation hours, rules, and procedures is to call the facility directly at 814-472-7330. Ask specifically for the visitation department or an officer who can walk you through the current schedule, what identification you need to bring, and whether...

Even if an inmate has no money in their account, most jails still make sure they can write home. Facilities typically provide: Basic paper and pencils for writing Access to what is called indigent mail What is indigent mail: If an inmate has little or no funds for a certain period of time, the jail will usually: Provide a limited number of stamps and envelopes Allow them to send basic letters, often to immediate family There are usually limits, such as: A set number of letters per week Restrictions on who they can write The...

When an inmate is transferred from a county jail to a state prison after sentencing, the destination is not disclosed in advance. Facilities do not notify families of where an inmate is being moved for security reasons, and there is no way to find out ahead of time where he will end up. The most practical approach is to check the Arizona Department of Corrections inmate locator regularly. Once your fiance arrives at his designated facility and is processed into the...

InmateAid was built specifically to support families and loved ones of incarcerated people across every stage of the process. Here is a rundown of what is available. Letters and photos. Write a letter through InmateAid and we print it, add any photos you want to include, and mail it directly to the facility. Your inmate receives it at mail call like any other piece of mail. If your inmate writes back to our return address, we scan it and post it...

No. InmateAid does not charge activation fees or add costs on top of what the prison's phone carrier already charges. The only fee InmateAid charges is the monthly cost for the local phone number itself. Here is the distinction that matters. Every jail and prison has an exclusive contract with a phone carrier, such as GTL, Securus, or CityTeleCoin. That carrier records all calls, manages the approved contact list, and bills for every call placed. You cannot opt out of their...

Yes, you should receive an email notification when your inmate sends you a letter through the InmateAid Response Service. Here is how it works: Your inmate mails the letter to the InmateAid address It is received, scanned, and uploaded to your account You are sent an email alert letting you know there is a letter waiting You can then log into your Account Dashboard to view, download, or manage the letter. If you are not seeing notifications: Check your spam or junk folder Make sure your email address is entered correctly in your account Log into...

The most direct way to reach the chaplain at California Institution for Men is to call the facility at 909-597-1821 and ask to be connected to the chaplain's office. When you get through, explain your situation clearly and ask for their guidance. Chaplains at correctional facilities are generally among the most accessible and helpful staff members for families on the outside. They operate somewhat independently from the administrative chain of command and can often facilitate welfare checks, pass along urgent information...

Inmates do not have internet access and cannot set up or manage their own profiles on InmateAid. Everything on the profile is either pulled from public inmate search databases, which may include a booking photo or mugshot, or uploaded by a family member or friend who created the profile. If you want to add a photo to your family member's profile, you do not have to use a mugshot or a jail photo. Use a picture from before their incarceration, something...