General Prison Questions-Terminology — Ask the Inmate
The criminal justice system has its own language and navigating it without a guide is disorienting for families encountering it for the first time. This section covers the terminology that appears in court documents, facility communications, and case records, from the difference between jail and prison to what terms like disposition, detainer, adjudication, and supervised release actually mean in plain language. It also covers general questions about how prisons and jails operate, what a typical day looks like inside, how different security levels function, and what the practical differences are between federal, state, county, and private facilities. The answers here are written for people who have no prior experience with the system and need clear accurate explanations without legal jargon. If you encountered a term you did not understand this is the right place to start. See also our sections on Law Questions and Legal Terms, and Sentencing Questions.
The daily routine of an inmate varies by the type of correctional facility, its security level (minimum, medium, or maximum), and the specific rules and regulations in place. However, most prisons and jails follow a structured schedule that includes meal times, work assignments, recreation, and other activities. Here’s a comprehensive overview of a typical day for an inmate, covering the main aspects of prison life: 1. Wake-Up and Morning Routine Wake-Up Call: Most inmates are woken up
Read morenothing, anything they bring with them will be returned home except for the clothes on their back. everything that they'll need to subside with will be provided by the facility.
Read moreyes, but you would have to do this with prior-permission and make the exchange of the ring in the visiting room.
Read moreone to three months usually
Read moreThey teach incoming inmates the rules for making outbound calls during orientation (which occurs in the first week of arrival at the prison). If someone puts money on their books, the unit secretary gives them a notification of the deposit.
Read moreYes, but understand that there will be other eyes on your message so don't say anything incriminating
Read moreNEVER! cellphones are prohibited in ANY penal facility. In fact, if you try to carry one into the intake, they will immediately throw you in the SHU (the hole, solitary confinement) if just for being less than self-aware. Stay away from other inmates that might have smuggled a cell phone in, you will be able to use the public phone with money on your account.
Read moreGeneral inmates can access air-conditioning in buildings designated for chapel, programs, classification, medical and administration. There is also a gym. As an aside, the new institutions are designed with air-conditioning, but many current FDOC facilities were constructed prior to air-conditioning being commonplace and were instead designed to facilitate airflow to provide natural cooling within them. Housing units with air-conditioning make up approximately 24 percent of FDC’s housing units (dorms).
Read moremen and women are NEVER housed together, in any prison or jail
Read moreThe terms "prison" and "jail" are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two distinct types of correctional facilities with different purposes, management, and inmate populations. Here’s a comprehensive explanation of the differences between the two: 1. Purpose and Length of Stay: Jail: Short-Term Detention: Jails are designed for short-term detention and typically house individuals who are awaiting trial, sentencing, or serving short sentences (usually less than a year). Pretrial Detainees: Many jail inmates
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