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

Two or more penal sentences that are served simultaneously: the total sentence period equals the duration of the longest sentence. Sentences that may all be served at the same time, with the longest period controlling, are concurrent sentences. Judges may sentence concurrently out of compassion, plea bargaining, or the fact that the several crimes are interrelated. When the sentences run one after the other, they are consecutive sentences. In contrast, consecutive sentences run one after another: the total sentence period is...

When someone gets time for a parole violation, where they serve that time depends on how the court and the parole authority structured the sentence. In most cases, a parole violation means the person is being returned to custody to serve time tied to the original sentence. That usually places them in state prison, not county jail, because they are still under the jurisdiction of the original case. The 160 days your husband received is the sanction for the violation. Whether he...

There is a nurse's station inside the prison that is visited 3-4 times a week by a local physician. Your inmate will get a complete physical when entering the facility and any medical attention that is required or medicine that they will need going forward gets handled there. Inmates that feel sick may request a doctor's visit, this is referred to as a "sick call". When the doctor arrives, the inmate will be called to the appointment, diagnosed and treated...

This is a tough situation, and it happens more often than people think. When an inmate feels targeted by certain staff, it can be frustrating because the system tends to favor the officer’s report over the inmate’s version of events. The first and most important step is to continue using the grievance process. It may feel like it is not working, but building a consistent paper trail matters. Dates, times, names, and details should be documented as clearly as possible. Multiple...

A defendant will be designated to a facility based on a point system and their designation score. The higher the point score, the more restrictive the facility, although Public Safety Factors can (and in almost all instances do) override the designation score. Inmates former criminal history weighs heavily on where they are designated. Obviously this is a major increase in points for those who have significant criminal history. They look at the Judgment and Commitment Order for this score. If...

In most prisons, including facilities like Shutter Creek in Oregon, inmates do not have direct access to the internet. They cannot legally browse websites, use social media, or post ads online the way people on the outside can. If you are seeing something posted online that appears to be from him, there are a few possible explanations. The most common is that someone on the outside is posting on his behalf. Friends or family sometimes manage social media accounts, post ads, or...

Camera footage is potentially significant evidence in this situation, but how it plays out depends on what the tape actually shows and how the case is handled from here. The charge of robbery rather than shoplifting is a serious escalation. Robbery typically requires an element of force or threat, and if the incident involved only an attempted exit with merchandise and no threatening behavior toward store employees, the charge may be overcharged. That is exactly the kind of argument a defense...

Most inmates do not have access to the Internet or email, they receive letters through the US Mail. Mail call is done Monday through Friday only. Inmates that have money on their inmate trust accounts can purchase stamps and envelopes at the weekly commissary. If they do not have money on their books, the prison will provide indigent inmates with all the materials necessary to send out mail to their loved ones. If your inmate writes to you directly, using your address, the cost of the mailing...

When an inmate is transferred from a county jail to a state prison (DOC), their personal property like wallets, clothing, and personal items is handled by the jail, not sent with them. What usually happens to the property: 1. Held by the jail: The facility may store the property until release This is common if no arrangements are made 2. Picked up by family or friends: Many jails allow a designated person to pick it up The person may need: Valid ID Authorization from the inmate 3. Mailed out: Some facilities will ship the property to a...

After your inmate goes before a judge to hear the charges read in open court will the topic of bond come up. If your inmate has a competent attorney, they will make a case to the judge for a reasonable bond amount. But, depending on the charge, if there was violence and the likelihood that the defendant will appear at all their court hearings will be the basis for whether a bond is allowed and how much it will be....

Death Row Maximum Security Inmates The cell12 ft. by 7 ft. cell; 86 square feetAll solo cellsBed built into wall (hard surface bed)Blanket and pillowStainless steel toilet and sinkShelving across one side of bed, which could be used as a deskSmall chairPersonal items can be displayed in the cell and there are two small and very thin windowsAllowed to buy a small radio or TVMeals Inmates are fed 19 meals a week, three meals a day Monday through Friday and...

We do not have a running list of the 2.3 million inmates that are incarcerated in over 10,000 locations. The list changes every day with new people going in and other inmates getting released. The inmate locators are updated in the jurisdiction where they're sentenced. The list of Personal Inmate Pages on our site are "user-generated content". Members like yourself create an Inmate Profile for you to use in assisting them during their sentence. If you would like some help...

Inmates make outbound calls. It is the responsibility of the inmate to add your number to his list. Depending on where he is incarcerated, you might have to set up a pre-paid calling account with the prison telephone company. If that is the case, you will have to fund this account for your inmate to call you. If you are long distance, the calls will range from $5-15 each; InmateAid has a Discount Telephone service that you can enroll in,...

Offenders/residents must participate in an orientation upon admission to any department facility. The department holds offenders/residents accountable for the information presented in orientation. The department must provide orientation to newly-committed offenders/residents within the first 28 days of admission. The department provides a supplemental orientation within the first 28 days of admission to adult offenders transferred from another department facility and adult offenders readmitted to a facility as a release violator without a new felony conviction. Adult offenders readmitted to a...