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

In most cases no. Each state department of corrections runs its own offender management system with its own numbering format. When an inmate is transferred from Hawaii to Arizona, or any state-to-state transfer for that matter, the receiving state typically assigns a new identification number within its own system. The Hawaii-issued number and the Arizona-issued number are separate identifiers that exist in separate databases. This can create real confusion for families trying to track a loved one, add funds to a...

Visitation at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, like most juvenile facilities across the country, is more restricted than what you would find at an adult jail or prison. Access is limited to immediate family members only. Friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and extended family who do not fall under the immediate family definition are generally not permitted to visit regardless of how close the relationship is. Visit times are limited as well. Juvenile facilities operate on tight schedules built around programming, schooling, and...

It is usually not because something serious like violence has happened. There are many common reasons why an inmate might not write for a few weeks: Most likely reasons: Loss of privileges due to a minor disciplinary issue Being placed in segregation where communication is limited No access to stamps, envelopes, or writing materials Delays in mail processing at the facility Transfer to another unit or prison Busy with intake, orientation, or work assignment changes About violence: It is possible, but not the most likely explanation If something serious happened, the...

The assumption that life means 25 to 30 years is a common one, and it is understandable why families hold onto it. In some cases and some states, parole eligibility does kick in after a defined minimum. But life without the possibility of parole is an entirely different sentence, and the two are not interchangeable. In Michigan, a life sentence can go either way. The critical document is the Judgment and Commitment Order issued by the sentencing judge. That order specifies...

These are two of the most important questions anyone connected to this situation can ask and they deserve honest answers rather than comfortable ones. On whether abusers can truly change, the research says yes, but with significant caveats that matter enormously in practice. Change is possible but it is not common, it is not automatic, and it is not produced by incarceration alone. Time behind a wall does not rehabilitate anyone. What produces genuine change in people with patterns of domestic...

All visits in the HCADC and work center are non‐contact; however, inmates may be allowed contact visits with the approval of the Warden. Each inmate is allowed five (5) visitors and a reasonable number of children under the age of 18 on their visitation list. A parent must accompany persons under the age of 18. All adult visitors must have a government issued picture ID in order to visit. All visits are limited to three (3) people per visit (including...

InmateAid's service is not email; it is with the US Postal Service. Inmates do not have Internet access. We estimate that it takes 2-3 business days to make it to the jail. Once there, the staff opens and reads each piece of mail and inspects it for contraband. Once they decide the mail is fit to be handed out at mail call, your inmate will receive it. Any delay that occurs at the facility is out of our control. We make no guarantees as to how...

Normally, there will be no restrictions placed on the length of visits during the facility's established visitation periods. However, certain situations that may affect the length of time for a visit. Here are a general list of situations:  • To have the offender in the visitation area during the mid-day count, visitors must arrive at the facility one (1) hour before the time that is designated by the Warden as the mid-day count. The mid-day count time shall be posted in...