Inmate Services & Supplies — Ask the Inmate
Daily life inside a correctional facility depends on access to basic supplies that most people on the outside take for granted. Soap, toothpaste, writing materials, postage, and food beyond the institutional menu all come from commissary or from outside sources approved by the facility. This section covers what services and supplies inmates can receive from outside, how to send approved items through the right channels, what InmateAid's suite of services covers including letters, photos, postcards, magazines, and books, and how to make sure everything you send actually reaches your loved one rather than being rejected at the mailroom. The practical guidance here is written for families who want to support their loved one's daily wellbeing and for inmates who want to understand what is available to them. Small comforts matter enormously during a long sentence and knowing how to get them to the right person efficiently makes a real difference. See also our sections on Commissary, Send Inmate Mail, and Inmate Care Packages.
Related InmateAid Services
Yes, the Florence AZ prison offers a music program that includes access to a music room equipped with a variety of instruments for inmates to use. This program serves as a valuable source of creativity, emotional expression, and camaraderie among inmates. Those with a passion for music can not only play individually but also jam with fellow prisoners, fostering a sense of community and providing a positive outlet during their incarceration.
Read moreThe Bureau of Prisons has been rolling out tablet access across federal facilities through a contract with GTL, and FCI Bennettsville is part of the federal system that has received tablets as part of that initiative. At most BOP facilities where tablets have been deployed, inmates can use them to access CorrLinks email, which is the federal system's electronic messaging platform. This is one of the primary functions of the tablets and allows inmates to send and receive messages
Read moreReception is a temporary processing phase that every incoming state inmate goes through before being assigned to a permanent facility and the privileges available during that period are more limited than what inmates experience in general population. North Kern State Prison is one of California's primary reception centers and the experience there reflects how the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages the intake process system wide. Phone access during reception is generally available but limited. Inmates in
Read moreThey sell shower shoes in the commissary. If JPay puts money in his commissary account, he should be all set.
Read moreYou cannot pre-order commissary items before you are booked because you will not have an inmate account or ID number yet. Everything runs through the account that gets created when you are processed in. However, you can absolutely set things up quickly after you arrive, and there are steps to take before you go in that make the first few days easier. The most useful thing you can do before your court date is designate someone on the outside
Read moreFlorida inmates can have tablets, and the program is run through JPay, which currently holds the contract with the Florida Department of Corrections. The tablet and the phone are separate things. Calls happen through the facility's phone system, while the tablet is a dedicated device for education, messaging, and entertainment. The tablet used in Florida is the JPay JP6S. It gives inmates access to educational content including Khan Academy Lite videos and GED prep through JPay's Lantern learning management
Read moreNo, but inmates can get their pictures taken inside and mail it to you
Read moreonly the price of a stamp... (even inmates with no money on their books can get stamps from the institution as they offer for indigent inmates.)
Read moreIn federal and state there are no limits, but county jails sometimes have limits of 10 or so as the inmate storage space is limited
Read moreCall the jail before you bring anything. That is the only advice that matters here, and it matters every single time, not just the first time. Trustee status gives an inmate more freedom of movement and sometimes more flexibility around approved items, but what is actually permitted varies significantly from facility to facility. Some jails allow outside food and drinks for trustees under specific conditions. Others prohibit it entirely regardless of status. The rules can also change without notice
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