Subject: Residential drug abuse program (rdap)
Getting into RDAP is the first battle. Staying in it is the second and in some ways harder one.
Here is what most people do not know going in.
RDAP participants are housed together in a dedicated unit and identified by a yellow belt. Everyone knows who you are and what program you are in. That visibility is a double-edged sword.
The jealousy problem is real. Not everyone can get into RDAP. Inmates with violence in their history or a weapon used in...
Read moreSubject: Residential drug abuse program (rdap)
The Residential Drug Abuse Program, known as RDAP, is one of the most valuable tools available to federal inmates. Successful completion can reduce your sentence by up to 12 months. But the window to qualify for it closes earlier than most people realize, often before they ever report to a facility.
Here is what most attorneys do not tell you and what most defendants figure out too late.
RDAP eligibility requires a documented history of substance abuse. The Bureau of Prisons needs...
Read moreSubject: Send inmate mail
First, go to your My Account and make sure you've added an inmate profile. If not there yet, you’ll need to create one using their full name, inmate ID, and facility.
Once added, click on Letter or Postcard, write your message, and upload any photos if you’d like. When you’re done, just click Send.
We print your letter and photos and mail them from our office in Florida directly to their facility through USPS, they receive it as regular mail at mail call.
Subject: Send inmate mail
Your inmate can send her letter to the InmateAid mailing address instead of your home address. This is part of our Letters from Inmates service.
Once her letter arrives, we receive it, scan it, and upload it to your Account Dashboard, where you can read it anytime.
This means you don’t have to share your personal address, which gives you an extra layer of privacy and peace of mind.
The service is optional and costs $1.89 per letter received.
Subject: Relationship issues
I understand why you’d want that information, but call logs, message history, and visitation lists are considered private and are not shared with the public.
Facilities restrict access to this information for security and privacy reasons, so only authorized individuals, such as the inmate, their approved contacts, or legal representatives, may have limited access depending on the facility’s policies.
Subject: Send inmate mail
All letters sent through InmateAid are printed and mailed via USPS, just like standard mail. Once the letter arrives at the facility, it goes through the jail or prison’s mailroom, where it’s inspected and then delivered to the inmate.
In most cases, your friend will receive the letter without any issues. The only delays that can happen are due to mail processing times or the facility’s internal mail procedures.
It’s very rare for mail to be restricted unless the inmate is under...
Read moreSubject: General prison questions-terminology
At Southern Desert Correctional Center and similar facilities, call and message logs are treated as restricted records.
For the inmate:
They may be able to request limited information about their own calls or messages
This usually has to go through their case manager or unit staff
Approval depends on facility policy and the reason for the request
For family or friends:
You cannot access an inmate’s call or message logs
These records are considered private and security-sensitive
Why the restriction exists:
Calls are monitored and recorded for security
Logs may be used for investigations or internal review
Sharing them publicly...
Read moreSubject: Commissary
Commissary deposits are handled differently depending on the facility, so the first step is knowing exactly where the inmate is housed.
Each jail or prison has its own approved system for sending money, which may include online services, phone deposits, kiosks at the facility, or money orders.
If you send me the facility name and state, I can point you to the correct way to deposit funds so they can access commissary for food and other items.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Once you complete the setup, your new phone number is automatically sent to you.
You’ll receive it by text message and also by email to the address you used when creating your account.
That number is then linked to your account and set up to forward calls, so your inmate can use it to contact you.
Subject: Money transfer
Money cannot be loaded onto a prepaid card directly by the inmate from inside. Funds must be added from the outside — by a family member or friend — using an approved money transfer service such as JPay, Access Corrections, or MoneyGram, depending on the facility.
Inmates can also earn money through prison work assignments, however the wages are extremely low — typically between $0.12 and $0.40 per hour at the federal level, and even less in some state systems. It...
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