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Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA.

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Subject: Pending criminal charges

Any honest answer here is a rough estimate because the outcome depends on factors that vary case by case, and we are not lawyers. That said, experience with these situations over many years points in a consistent direction. The four things that drive the outcome most heavily are her criminal history, whether anyone was hurt, whether any property was damaged or lost, and the specific circumstances of the arrest. A small quantity of a Schedule 2 substance and a

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Subject: Pending criminal charges

The range you are looking at is six years on the low end and twenty on the high end, but where she lands within that range is almost entirely within her own control. The six-year minimum is real and reachable. Parole eligibility in most states kicks in after the minimum is served, and a first appearance before the parole board is not automatic approval, but it is a genuine opportunity. What the board is looking for is straightforward: has

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Subject: Post conviction appeals

When a court appoints an appellate attorney, that appointment comes through the Public Defender's office. The inmate does not get to choose who is assigned, the court makes that determination and the Public Defender's office handles the assignment from there. Finding out who was appointed is usually straightforward. The inmate can ask their case manager or counselor at the facility, who can help them contact the court clerk's office for the jurisdiction where the appeal is being filed. The

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Subject: Sentencing questions

Please explain "two years at 100%". Judges do not normally use that terminology. They might say, "24 months, no parole", but the length of time that the offender ultimately serves is up to the Department of Corrections and the inmate themselves. If you follow the rules and are a model prisoner, most sentences come with 15% good time granted at the time of incarceration.

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Subject: Sentence reduction

When a release date is posted in the system, that date already reflects everything working in his favor. Good time credits, program completions, and any other reductions the facility has applied are all factored in before that date gets set. The February 16 date is not a starting point for further negotiation. It is the finish line as it currently stands. That said, the date is not completely fixed. It can move in either direction. If he picks up

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Subject: Send inmate mail

Yes, but there are some restictions. The majority of mail rooms have a size limit. The size InmateAid uses in it's Photo Service is a 4" x 6" glossy with the picture printed to the edge, there are no large white borders to shrink the image. 

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Subject: Prison violence

Very silly question. I did 66 months and never even came within a hundred miles of someone raping me. In fact i dont think i heard of more than one in my whole bid, this was a cho-mo being held for all kinds of child porn charges. He got his teeth broken out and his mouth was violated.

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Subject: Parole, probation & supervised release

Probation violation is stupid. Inmates that are granted an early release need to be smart enough to follow the guidleines so this doesnt happen again. And the judges penalize the stupidity, or more brazenly the disregard for the judge's previous leiniency. Your boyfriend could be sentenced to finishing his original sentence. He got his break last time, this time he will not be given that good fortune. Hopefully, this time he learns his lesson... i learned my lesson and didn't

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Subject: Sentencing questions

This depends on the previous criminal history of the offender. If this is not their first time, they will be looking at 2-5 in state prison.

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Subject: Parole, probation & supervised release

Most likely yes, and here is why. A violation sentence is fundamentally different from a standard sentence in how the system views it. When someone is released on parole or probation, the court is extending a form of trust, an acknowledgment that the person can reintegrate before their full sentence is complete. That early release is a gift, even if it does not always feel that way. When that trust gets violated and the person ends up back in

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