There is NO internet access allowed in prison except at the state level where the Kansas Department of Corrections allows monitored Internet use. It is the only such area that does. At the federal level, there are email pilot programs in use that I used often, but there was no internet access. There are delays in the messaging and the charges were high but it was convenient.

The separation from family is terrible, but it's tougher on them to go on without you. But the worst thing that I had to deal with was the death of my mother. I was not there for others suffering, for her funeral nor was I able to feel closure.

Most prisons DO have kosher meals, especially at the federal level and if they don't you can contact the Aleph Institute in Miami Beach to arrange for them to get them set up. For the commissary food items, there are limitations to what a "kosher registered inmate" may select from.

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 one.

College coursework completed inside a correctional facility operates under a layer of oversight that makes cheating significantly more difficult than it would be in a traditional academic setting. The prison's education department serves as the intermediary between the inmate student and the college or university, and that relationship comes with direct supervision built in. Examinations are proctored by facility staff, meaning the inmate sits for the test in person under direct observation with no access to outside materials or

State prison systems do not offer RDAP, which is a federal Bureau of Prisons program. However, most state systems have their own sentence reduction pathways and in some cases they are more generous than the federal system. Good time credits The most universal sentence reduction tool in state prison is good time credit earned through good behavior. The range varies dramatically by state. Some states offer as much as 67% good time, meaning an inmate only serves one

There are items that span from clothing and shoes, to food and drink, to over-the-counter medical supplies and personal hygiene items. Typically there is one day designated for shopping. Remember that the commissary is a privilege and inmates may be subject to revocation for incident reports. For a more complete list, go to InmateAid's Commissary Information page.

Most prisons and jails have an array of vending machines. Make sure that you bring plenty of change and one dollar bills. Don't let the inmate handle the money, the guards may cancel your visit.

The Second Chance Act was passed by Congress in 2010 but the Bureau of Prisons has been slow to implement the law. The caveat in the law allows the BOP to use the statute "to their best discretion." Typically that means less being done than more. We have the actual statute on the site. CLICK HERE to download the 2nd Chance Act PDF

Access to higher education during incarceration has expanded significantly in recent years, and the range of programs available to inmates is broader than most families expect. Most traditional undergraduate degree tracks can be pursued from inside a correctional facility through universities that have developed dedicated prison education programs. Louisiana State University is one of the more well-known examples, offering coursework specifically structured for the incarcerated population. But LSU is far from the only option. Programs exist across the country