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.
We do not have a running list of the 2.3 million inmates that are incarcerated in over 10,000 locations. The list changes every day with new people going in and other inmates getting released. The inmate locators are updated in the jurisdiction where they're sentenced. The list of Personal Inmate Pages on our site are "user-generated content". Members like yourself create an Inmate Profile for you to use in assisting them during their sentence. If you would like some help
Read moreInmates make outbound calls. It is the responsibility of the inmate to add your number to his list. Depending on where he is incarcerated, you might have to set up a pre-paid calling account with the prison telephone company. If that is the case, you will have to fund this account for your inmate to call you. If you are long distance, the calls will range from $5-15 each; InmateAid has a Discount Telephone service that you can enroll in,
Read moreOffenders/residents must participate in an orientation upon admission to any department facility. The department holds offenders/residents accountable for the information presented in orientation. The department must provide orientation to newly-committed offenders/residents within the first 28 days of admission. The department provides a supplemental orientation within the first 28 days of admission to adult offenders transferred from another department facility and adult offenders readmitted to a facility as a release violator without a new felony conviction. Adult offenders readmitted to a
Read moreIf your loved one was moved to Oklahoma, especially to a federal transfer hub like Federal Transfer Center, Oklahoma City, it is usually temporary. This facility is used by the United States Marshals Service to move inmates between locations. Many people refer to this process as “Con Air.” What this means for you: Oklahoma is likely not his final destination He is in transit while the Federal Bureau of Prisons decides where he will serve his sentence About getting him
Read moreThe answer is difficult to give because the restrictions placed on an inmate for this sort of crime are not often made public. Domestic terrorism defendants are oftentimes placed in segregation for security reasons making their plight even less known as other inmates have no access to them either. From what we know for sure, the answer is "yes" they can receive and send mail... BUT, the process is highly monitored and censored where deemed appropriate. If the decision makers
Read moreWhen you send a letter through InmateAid, it usually takes about 2–3 business days to reach the facility. After it arrives: Mail is opened and inspected Then delivered at mail call Total time before he actually reads it is عادة 3–7 days He is not “notified” ahead of time. He will simply receive the letter at mail call, and then he can write back as soon as he has stamps and supplies. About visitation approval: Being added to
Read moreWhen you send a letter through InmateAid, it typically takes about 2–3 business days to arrive at the facility. After it arrives: The mailroom opens and inspects all mail for contraband Some facilities also review content Delivery to the inmate can take an additional 1–5 days depending on the facility Because every jail and prison operates differently, exact timing can vary, but most letters are delivered within a few days after arrival. About sending commissary: You usually cannot order commissary items directly for an
Read moreIf your package of books was marked “refused,” it is almost always because of a publisher-only rule. Most jails and prisons will not accept books sent from individuals. Instead, they require: Books to come directly from a publisher or approved retailer No personal packages, even if the books are new How to send books correctly: Order from a major retailer like Amazon Choose new books only Make sure they are shipped directly from Amazon, not a third-party seller Use
Read moreYes, your husband at Lehigh County Jail is allowed to receive mail, and letters sent through InmateAid are designed to meet facility requirements. How it works: Your letter is printed and mailed via USPS It arrives at the facility just like regular mail Mailroom staff inspect it for contraband before delivery How you will know: You will see confirmation in your account when the letter is mailed out Delivery inside the facility depends on their mailroom process, which can
Read moreTo visit your brother at Cheshire County Jail, you usually need to be approved on his visitation list first. What you should do right now: Call the facility directly and ask about their visitation approval process In most cases, you will need to complete a visitor application The jail will run your information through a background check (NCIC) before approving you Important things to know: Approval is not always immediate. It can take a few days If you
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