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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.

Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.

Subject: Inmateaid website questions

First, check the locator on the prison page - the link sends you to the actual locator from the facility. If they are not providing it, go to vinelink.com, they might have it. If they fail, send us the inmate's name and facility and we'll search for you.

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Subject: Inmateaid website questions

Inmate profiles on InmateAid come from two sources working together. The first is users themselves. When someone signs up to send letters, photos, or use any of InmateAid's services, they create a profile for their inmate as part of the setup process. That user-generated information is the foundation of many profiles in the system. The second is a data service that InmateAid uses to pull daily updates on inmate designations from correctional systems across the country. That data

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Subject: Pending criminal charges

You have to call the Clerk of the Court where the charges were filed. This is public information, this is where attorneys go to get the facts of the indictment, nature of the charges, etc.

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Subject: Commissary

Inmates can buy longjohns-type shirts or sweatshirts at the commissary.

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Subject: Survive prison

Inmates are supplied with the essentials which include bedding and one blanket. This is not a hotel, this is a prison. They cannot call housekeeping and get another pillow or blanket. The only way is to barter for one with another inmate - there is always an inmate in every facility that is very plugged in and somehow has access to all kinds of contraband (for a fee). This scenario is a real possibility. My first week in federal prison, I was

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Subject: Inmateaid website questions

The new phone number is posted in your account and is emailed to you (check the spam folder, too). When you go to your My Account area, click on Discount Phone calls and the new number is displayed along with the forward-to number, the inmate's prison, next billing date, and even a cancel the recurring charges button, too.

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Subject: Send inmate mail

Yes! and they are great quality. Prison-approved 4"x6" glossy photos printed to the edge of the paper. There isnt anything like this service in the industry, the others are a very cheap imitation, 1/2 white border, really poor reproduction. Go with Inmateaid on this, the price right.

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Subject: Release questions

Release dates are not provided to the general public at all facilities. You can check Vinelink, or call the institution and speak with your inmate's counselor. They surely know the out-dates

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Subject: Sex offenders

Inmates that are found to have committed sex crimes by other inmates will not last long. They are usually placed in Protective Custody (PC) which is a segregated area of cells also known as the Special Housing Unit (SHU), unless they are at a facility where all inmates are convicted of sex crimes. Even then, the child molester (Cho-Mo) is placed in some segregated area for their own protection. 

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Subject: Inmateaid website questions

InmateAid is for all 50 states, federal, state, county and ICE

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