If you call the office between 8am and 6pm Eastern Time, someone will talk you through the process. It is easier than you think, but sometimes the first attempt can be a little confusing. When you call, tell them Ask the Inmate said to ask for a coupon to try the service for free (one letter and one photo).

The letters on the weekends do not get mailed until Monday. The mail comes into the mail receiving room in 2-3 days and then the COs decide when to hand them out. We think they should get it this week for sure.

It takes 2-3 business days for delivery

The mail service uses the InmateAid corporate address (in Florida) for the sender's address. Most people like the privacy the service provides. If you want to give your address to the inmate you would need to put it in the letter itself.

Mail call is Monday through Friday in all TDCJ facilities

2 to 3 days in most cases

The inmate may replay to you with the InmateAid Inmate Response Letter Service. There is no cost to the inmate, but there is a cost to the recipient of $1.49.  Transfers can mean a few things, but early release is not one of them. Usually it is that the inmate is "working his way down" the various custody levels. If it is that, it might lead the way to the earliest possible release date.

Yes, mail is considered sacred, there is no withholding of inmate mail for punitive reasons

Inmates may reject mail without opening it. We are not 100% sure that is the reason in this case, but if there are hard feelings or it's a recent incarceration, the inmate might be a little out of sorts.

Maybe a few hours earlier than the other inmates at mail call, or a few hours later. They will likely call him to the administration building to sign for it, and that would be on their schedule as they are not treating this mail any different than the others - all incoming mail is opened, read and inspected for contraband before the handed out. We think certified mail is not necessary because of where he is.