Ask The Inmate. Real answers from people who've been there.

No, your husband cannot see your InmateAid account. Inmates do not have access to the internet, so anything you create or do on the website is private and only visible to you. What InmateAid does is act as a bridge for communication and services. For example: When you send a letter or photos, they are printed and delivered by mail When you set up phone services, it helps lower the cost of calls he makes to you You can send books, magazines, and funds through approved...

Photos are printed as 4x6 prints. If the image you uploaded has different proportions than 4x6, the system automatically applies a fit adjustment to make sure the entire image appears on the print without any part of it being cut off. What that means in practice is that the actual image may print slightly smaller than the full 4x6 surface, appearing more like a 4x4 or 4x5 centered on the photo paper with a small border around it. The full image...

Not necessarily, but it is a reasonable question and the answer depends on how dramatic the difference was between the expected sentence and what was actually handed down. A modestly lighter sentence than expected can have several explanations that have nothing to do with cooperation. A skilled defense attorney, a sympathetic judge, mitigating factors presented at sentencing, program eligibility, or a negotiated plea agreement can all produce a sentence that comes in below what the guidelines might have suggested. None of...

At most correctional facilities including Trumbull Correctional Institution in Ohio, photos taken during visitation are purchased by the inmate through commissary rather than paid for directly by the visitor at the time of the visit. The typical process works like this: the inmate purchases a photo voucher or receipt through commissary in advance, presents it to the photographer during the visit, and the finished photo is processed and delivered to the inmate afterward. Visitors generally do not handle the payment themselves. The...

If the facility you need is not listed on Western Union, it usually means they do not service that jail or prison. Western Union only works with certain systems, not all facilities. When that happens, you still have a few options: 1. Use the facility’s approved method Most jails and prisons have their own required way to send money, such as: Money orders by mail Other services like JPay or Access Corrections Kiosk deposits at the facility 2. Send a money order This is the most widely accepted fallback. You...

Tuberculosis testing is standard at intake in most county jails. STD testing is not. There is no routine screening protocol for sexually transmitted diseases in county jail settings. If a specific incident occurs or an inmate presents with symptoms that warrant medical attention, a provider can order testing and treatment on a case-by-case basis. HIV testing may be conducted under those circumstances. Other STDs such as herpes, which can remain latent without obvious symptoms, are generally not part of the standard...

Three denials is a clear pattern, and the honest answer is that there is no reliable workaround. When someone is on probation, most facilities treat visitation applications with significant caution, and a non-family relationship like a boyfriend does not carry the same weight as a spouse or immediate family member when decision-makers are evaluating borderline cases. That is not a judgment, it is simply how the system weighs these things. A few options still worth trying: If your probation officer has not...

The best source for current program information at Fountain Correctional Facility is the facility itself. Programs, eligibility requirements, and availability change over time and vary by housing unit, so calling directly will get you the most accurate and current answer. You can reach Fountain Correctional Facility at 251-368-8122. When you call, ask to speak with the programs department or a case manager and ask specifically about the SRP program your son mentioned. Have his full name and inmate ID number ready...

If your husband is reporting to a halfway house in Ludlow, Massachusetts, he is entering what the Federal Bureau of Prisons calls a Residential Reentry Center (RRC). These programs are designed to help inmates transition back into everyday life before full release. Here is what you can expect: What the environment is like: It is not prison, but it is still structured and supervised He will have rules, curfews, and required check-ins Staff monitor his progress and compliance Daily life and expectations: He will be expected to work or actively look for...

Every situation is unique. We have a large number of members using 1000 minutes a month or more. State and county inmates can usually call as much as they want. Federal inmates get 300 minutes per month and 400 minutes for the months of November & December. The problem is the high cost of the calls. If your inmate is calling you long distance, look into getting a local number from InmateAid Discount Telephone Service and reduce the price by...

No. The InmateAid discount phone number is not a collect call system and should not be used as one. Accepting collect calls defeats the purpose of the service and will not produce the savings you signed up for. Here is how it actually works. InmateAid provides you with a local phone number that forwards to your existing phone. Your fiancee dials that number through the facility's phone system the same way he would dial any other approved number on his list....

Delivery timelines for online commissary orders vary depending on the service you used and the facility's commissary schedule. InmateAid is not affiliated with e-comm or most third-party commissary platforms, so we cannot speak to their specific processing times. For the most accurate answer about your order, contact the commissary service you purchased through directly. They will be able to tell you when the order was processed and when it is expected to be available to your inmate. A few general things worth...

Yes, federal inmates are reviewed regularly through what is called a Unit Team meeting (often just called “team”). At facilities run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, these reviews typically happen about every 6 months. During this meeting, the inmate sits down with: Their case manager Counselor Unit team staff They review: Behavior and disciplinary record Work performance and program participation Overall adjustment to the facility Does this lead to a transfer to a lower level prison? Not immediately. Good performance helps, but there are a few steps: The inmate needs to show consistent good...