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
Sharing your brother’s InmateAid profile with family is simple, but each person will need to set up their own account first. This keeps communication secure and ensures everyone can manage their own letters, photos, and services.
Once a family member creates and confirms their account, they can search for your brother by name using the InmateAid inmate search. When they find his profile, they just need to click “Follow Inmate” on his page. That adds them to his circle, giving them...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
If your loved one has arrived at a federal facility but is not appearing in the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator, you are not alone and there are several legitimate explanations for why this happens.
The transit period
Federal inmates are frequently moved through multiple facilities before reaching their permanent designation. During this transit period an inmate may physically be at a facility for days or even weeks while the system has not yet updated to reflect their current location. The BOP...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
You can use a credit or debit card through Western Union. Western Union does international transactions with currency conversions which will become good funds for your inmate within minutes. Click on Send Inmate Money, we have step by step instructions in the event that you have any difficulties.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
When an inmate is transferred from a local jail like Henrico County Jail to a state facility such as Dillwyn Correctional Center, their situation can change significantly. Work release programs are typically managed at the local or county level, and they do not automatically transfer with the inmate to a state prison.
In most cases, once someone is moved to a state correctional center, their previous work release status ends. State facilities have their own classification process, and eligibility for any...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
Photo processing and approval inside a prison can take longer than expected, especially when retakes are involved. It is not unusual for images to sit in a review queue for weeks or even months depending on staffing, volume, and internal procedures. In most facilities, the warden is not personally reviewing individual photos, even if that is how it is being described to inmates. The approval process is usually handled by mailroom staff or a designated department.
Trying to contact the warden...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
LOVE. To know they are loved and that there is someone out there to communicate with. An inmate needs to have hope and the ability to see beyond their immediate situation and that they can get through it. Letters, books, magazines and newspapers will help them deal with the solitude, to stay connected with the outside world. I am hoping your inmate can get back in general population soon.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
That is a very broad question that has many answers, but for me separation from my family was the worst, and mostly because you feel like you've died and are forced to watch the world go on without you. It's an impossible position that only time will change, the time left in your sentence.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
The federal system has "sick call" in the early morning where you see a nurse or PA. They do the absolute minimum for routine illness. If something major happens they take you to a nearby hospital. Depending upon your custody level, you are probably going there shackled. Don't get sick.
Subject: General prison questions-terminology
The telephone is a big profit center for prisons and jails and the services that run them. Local calls run about SIX cents per minute, long distance starts at 23 cent per minute and may exceed $1.00 per minute or more. The only way around these ridiculous rates is to use a Discount Service that specializes in prison phone calls. InmateAid has partnered with some credible ones, any that you choose will be cheaper than NOT using...
Read more