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

InmateAid works in every prison, jail or detention center in the United States. There are varying degrees of how much we can help and which service works best for your situation.  Our mail service makes it into all facilities unless there is a "post card only" restriction. We will have a post card option within a few weeks and at that point we will have 100% coverage. Magazine subscriptions are allowed in all facilities, paperback books, too.  The telephone service works in almost...

For a short sentence like 30 days, most facilities still apply good time credit, but the reduction is usually small. In general: Many systems require about 85% of the sentence to be served On a 30 day sentence, that typically means serving around 25 to 26 days So he might get out 4 to 5 days early, assuming no disciplinary issues For very short stays, some facilities may not apply credits the same way, but most do give at least a small reduction. Release time of day: Inmates are almost...

The primary way to get a sentence reduction without having to cooperate with the government with substantial assistance in convicting someone else is the Residential Drug Addiction Program (RDAP). If the inmate is eligible, there is a nine month program what once completed will reduce the sentence up to twelve months along with a guarantee of six months of halfway house.  If you have more detailed questions about this, we have people here that have gone through the program and know more about it than anyone...

In federal cases, especially drug conspiracy charges, there is a strong likelihood of prison time, even for first time offenders. That does not mean the outcome is fixed, but the odds are different than in state court. Federal cases tend to have high conviction rates, and most are resolved through plea agreements rather than trials. The question is usually not whether there will be consequences, but how severe they will be. Here are the key factors that will affect your husband’s situation: Level...

What you are experiencing is very common in federal cases. The process moves slowly, and a lot of what is happening is not visible from the outside. What are you “waiting” for? In federal drug cases, there are several things happening behind the scenes: Discovery review where both sides go through evidence Possible plea negotiations between the defense and prosecutors Pretrial motions that can delay movement in the case Coordination with co-defendants, which can slow everything down When there are multiple people charged, the case often moves at the pace...

His lifestyle is only going to change if he does steps necessary to improve his thought process. There is something that the therapists point to when assisting in rehabilitation: criminal thinking. Does your inmate have the capacity to look at himself and his flawed thinking. The inmate that can come to terms with his mistakes and face "change", will change. There are also other attitudes that an inmate must address as they go back to be a productive member of society -...

USP Atlanta is one of the older federal penitentiaries in the Bureau of Prisons system. The facility has been operating for well over a century and the age of the building is something inmates and their families notice. Older infrastructure means the physical environment is less comfortable than newer facilities, and the population density at Atlanta has historically made conditions more difficult than at some other USPs where housing is less crowded. That said, a few things remain consistent across all...

We appreciate the kind words. InmateAid was built to help folks like you - let others know about us.  Getting the trial transcripts is not that hard to do, but they are going to charge you a fee (per page) to print and mail them to you. You need to find the Clerk of the Court where he was tried and make a formal request. This is something that the lawyers in other cases do all the time for researching...

A Class 4 yard in the Arizona Department of Corrections system is not maximum security but it is a higher custody level. Arizona classifies inmates on a scale where higher numbers generally indicate more restrictive housing and more significant behavioral or security concerns. A Class 4 yard houses inmates who have either come in with serious offenses, accumulated disciplinary history inside, or both. It is not the highest possible classification but it is well above minimum or medium. Whether your friend...

Calling 911 is not the brightest idea. There is no access for the ambulance to get to an inmate unless the prison calls them first. There is capable medical attention in all of the facilities. The process is that there are a few days set aside when a doctor comes into the facility to see inmates on a "call out" basis. If your inmate has an issue, he needs to fill out a form and give it to the counselor...

It is completely normal to feel nervous, especially if this is your first experience with the prison system. The good news is that a transfer closer to home, especially on good adjustment, is a positive sign. Everglades CI is not considered one of the more dangerous or chaotic facilities. It houses a mix of inmates, but many are closer to release or have demonstrated better behavior. In those environments, most people are focused on doing their time, staying out of trouble,...

Since your husband was just transferred to the Middleton Unit, he is likely still going through intake and processing. That can affect both commissary access and communication during the first couple of weeks. Commissary access: Inmates can usually shop commissary once a week, but they must: Be fully processed into the unit Have money in their trust account At about a week and a half in, he is likely getting close. In many cases, inmates are able to access commissary within the first 1 to...

The path to a judge's secretary runs through the courthouse, not through any direct listing you will find online. Here is how to navigate it. Call the Clerk of the Court in the jurisdiction where your family member was sentenced. When someone answers, explain that you need to contact the judge assigned to a specific case and ask for the judge's name and the courtroom or chambers number. The clerk's office maintains these assignments and can point you in the right...