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.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
Inmates
do not have Internet access. InmateAid is a service that will help you, help your inmate by placing all of the services that you could use, all in one place. Also, information is difficult to come by and sometimes you want to help but just do not know how. InmateAid is set up to link your inmate to you, making it more convenient and organized to get the help to them that you want.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
It is completely understandable to be worried, especially since this is his first time and communication suddenly stopped.
The most important thing to know is that gaps like this are very common in prison, especially early on. It does not automatically mean something is wrong.
Common reasons you have not heard from him:
Loss of phone privileges due to a minor rule violation
Facility lockdown or unit restrictions
Transfers within the prison or housing changes
Limited phone access or broken phones
Processing delays, especially if he is new
What...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
You did not mess up. Drinking that ends up with violence is why there are jails. People who do not know better and need to be caged to protect those that beat their "loved ones". This is not something that will play well in front of a judge.You are not going to get the opportunity to say this in open court, and probably not smart to say it at all. The national pulse on domestic violence is not offering high tolerance, either. If...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
To find out your family member’s current status and whether parole is possible, you will need to go through official sources, not just the jail.
Start with the court records:
Parole eligibility is determined by the judge and written into the sentencing documents. This is usually called the Judgment and Commitment order. It outlines:
The sentence
Whether parole is allowed
Any special conditions
You can:
Call the Clerk of Court in Maverick County
Ask for case details and sentencing information
This information is public and they can guide you
Check with the...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
You are doing all of the right things to stay connected. If you start writing letters, there is lag time in the beginning but after the first one gets there, then there'll be a stream of consistent letters for him just about every day - if you keep writing everyday. InmateAid's letter service is as fast as there is and VERY reliable. The photo feature is the most popular. Setting up a phone account can get expensive if you are...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
Inmates who are serving less than a year will usually have their application
for marriage denied with the presumption being that such a short wait will not
harm the prisoner or prospective spouse. Each partner must be legally eligible
and mentally competent to marry. Marriages may be blocked for security or
disciplinary reasons; solitary confinement can block access to marriage. Most
states do not allow marriage for inmates on death row; California is at least
one exception to that rule. Some jurisdictions, such as the state...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
When you set up a Discount Telephone Plan with InmateAid, we will give you a coupon code to write your inmate and let them know that there is a new number to call, and you'll explain to them how it works. We will even make the coupon good for a picture too.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
We do not have that information on this website. You will have to contact the clerk of the court where your inmate's case was heard or where he was sentenced. Contact the clerk, ask to speak with the presiding judge's secretary. They will have everything you would need to know about the case, the scheduling and the outcome if there was one.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
That situation is frustrating, but it does happen more than it should. Running out of forms or having phones down is usually a staffing or administrative issue, not a policy.
Visitation is considered important in every facility, so being “out of forms” for an extended time is not normal.
Here is what you can do to move this forward:
1. Contact the facility directly
Call and ask for:
The visitation department
The warden’s office or secretary
The chaplain’s office (they often help with family communication issues)
Explain clearly that your husband has been...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
No, the email programs that exist in federal prison and some state systems is text only. The best and most reliable way to send the right size and quality photos into all the prisons, jails and detention centers that allow them is through InmateAid. Our photos are printed on the highest quality glossy paper and look great in your inmate's hands. Let us know if you need help getting started.
