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

The inmate information on this website is self-directed data meaning that the member/user creates and controls that information. We do not create inmate profiles nor do we monitor their accuracy. It is not uncommon for an inmate to be transferred after spending time in solitary confinement, also known as the SHU (special housing unit). This sounds like a method of operation of the federal prison system (BOP), if your inmate is in federal prison (or any other prison, we just...

Inmates do not make an account on InmateAid, they do not have access to the Internet. This site is for you to help them while they are in. Some of the services we offer here are not easy to find. We think we've made the process more convenient for you. We estimate that it takes 2-3 business days to make it to the jail. Once there, the staff opens and reads each piece of mail and inspects it for contraband. Any delay that occurs...

When an inmate is in segregation, their privileges are restricted, but they are not completely cut off from communication or support. Your fiancé will still be able to receive certain InmateAid services, even while in segregation: Letters and photos: You can continue sending letters and photos without any issue. Mail is still delivered to inmates in segregation, although it may take a little longer to be processed. Books and magazines: You can send approved books and magazine subscriptions. These are often allowed and can be...

In most cases, someone who has been convicted and is in federal custody should appear in the Bureau of Prisons locator, even after release. So if they are not showing up at all, there are a few possible explanations. One possibility is that they are not actually in BOP custody yet. After a federal conviction, inmates are often held by the U.S. Marshals Service while awaiting designation to a federal prison. During that time, they will not appear in the BOP...

A detainer is just a "hold" placed on someone that is in jail. If a subject is incarcerated and has a warrant out of another jurisdiction, then a detainer is placed on that subject so he won't be released before there's a chance for extradition.A detainer is a warrant placed against an inmate for pending charges from another jurisdiction. These pending charge(s) are usually from some county, federal and/or out-of-state law enforcement agencies. A detainer warrant may also be placed...

Yes, your wife can call your cell phone from TDCJ, but there are a few steps you need to take to make sure everything is set up correctly. First, you will need to set up an account with the prison’s phone provider. TDCJ uses a contracted phone system, and all inmate calls must go through that provider. Once your account is set up and funded if required, your wife can add your number to her approved call list. After your number is...

No. Inmates are released when their sentence is served, and that date falls on whatever day the calculation lands on. There is no policy at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center or at any other facility that holds inmates until the first of the month if their actual release date falls earlier. The release date is calculated based on the sentence length minus applicable good time credits, and that result is a specific calendar date. If that date is the 14th of...

If your inmate writes to you directly, using your address, the cost of the mailing is a 49 cent stamp. Many of our members use the Inmate Response Mail service through InmateAid. Your inmate would write you back to the return address on the letters which are to the InmateAid corporate offices in Florida. We receive the letters on your behalf, scan them into your My Account section and notify you by email that they are waiting for your review. There is a charge of $1.49...

Most immigrants are being held in Immigration Detention Facilities that we have denoted in our directory with (ICE) in the name. The U.S. government is using detention with increasing frequency as a means of dealing with undocumented or otherwise removable immigrants after their arrest. When a friend or loved one has been placed in detention, it can be difficult to try to discover information on the person’s whereabouts.Immigration detention is not too different than jail or prison. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) either operates the...

Yes, you can usually get married while he is incarcerated, and you can also visit him without being married. These are two separate issues, and neither one automatically requires the other. Marriage while incarcerated: Most facilities, including places like CNMCF, do allow inmates to get married, but there is a process. You will need approval from the facility, and both of you must meet legal requirements to marry. This usually involves: Submitting a marriage request through the chaplain or administration Providing identification and required...

There is no notification system where someone tells the inmate a letter was sent online. From their side, it looks just like regular mail. When you send a letter through InmateAid, it is printed out and mailed through the U.S. Postal Service. Once it arrives at the jail, staff will open and inspect it, and then it is delivered during normal mail call. Your inmate will not know it was sent online unless you mention it in the letter. To them, it...

When an inmate is transferred without notice, it can feel like they disappeared, but there are a few common reasons and ways to track them down. Based on what you described, a transfer by air is often a sign that the inmate may be in federal custody or being moved under the U.S. Marshals Service. State inmates are usually transported by ground unless it is a long distance transfer, but flights are much more common with federal movement. Here are the most...

If your husband was transferred from another federal facility, his inmate trust account balance will follow him. The Bureau of Prisons keeps that account centralized, so the money moves with him automatically. He should have access to those funds once he is processed into FDC Miami, though it can take a few days during intake for everything to show up and become available. If he was coming from a county jail or a state facility, it is different. Those systems do...