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

Prison food programs vary widely across facilities and some correctional systems have moved toward more self-sufficient food production models that include baking bread on site rather than relying entirely on commercially prepared products delivered from outside vendors. The Tennessee Department of Correction operates several facilities across the state and like many state systems has worked to reduce food service costs through in house production where possible. Inmate labor is used extensively in prison kitchens and bakery operations are a natural extension...

Being in single man lockup, which is typically administrative segregation or protective custody rather than general population, does affect visitation but it does not necessarily eliminate it entirely. Visitation for inmates in segregated housing is more restricted than for general population inmates. Some facilities suspend visitation during the initial placement period while the situation is being assessed. Others allow non-contact visits through a partition on a limited schedule. The specific policy depends entirely on the facility and the reason for the...

The most reliable way is through a letter. Write to your loved one and let them know you have added funds to their phone account and that call time is available. Mail takes a few days to arrive but it gets the message through in a format they can hold onto and reference. If timing is tight and you need them to know sooner, sending a message through the facility's electronic messaging platform is faster in systems where that is available....

A transfer that happens close to a release date is actually more often a positive sign than a concerning one and understanding why facilities move inmates near the end of their bid can turn a confusing situation into a reassuring one. As inmates progress through their sentence, their custody level is reassessed regularly. Someone who came in at a higher security classification may have earned their way down to a lower level through clean conduct, programming completion, and time served. When...

Yes. Any money remaining in an inmate's commissary account at the time of release belongs to them and they get it back when they walk out the door. The facility does not keep it. The money is typically returned in the form of a check issued in the inmate's name or loaded onto a release card depending on the facility and the state system. It is part of the standard discharge process along with the return of any personal property that...

Our service is not a replacement for the prison phone service, we get you a telephone number that makes the charges from the provider at that institution less expensive. As long as you are a long distance call from the jail, there will be a savings of about $4.00 per call.  You can call the office (866-966-7100) and speak to someone about the specifics or email your questions and telephone number to aid@inmateaid.com and we will give you an honest...

Yes, as long as the transfer stays within the same state system the money should follow him. In the Arizona Department of Corrections system, phone accounts are tied to the inmate rather than the specific facility, which means funds deposited through the ADC website travel with the inmate when they move to another ADC prison. The key phrase is within the system. A transfer from one ADC facility to another keeps everything intact. If he were to be transferred out of...

Yes. You do not need a traditional bank account to fund a prison phone account or add minutes for your loved one. Prepaid debit cards are the most straightforward alternative and they work exactly like a regular bank card or credit card when making deposits through prison phone providers like Securus, GTL, or ICSolutions. You can pick up a prepaid Visa or Mastercard at most grocery stores, pharmacies, and convenience stores, load it with cash, and use it to make deposits...

Most likely yes, but the situation deserves more attention than simply showing up again on the next visitation day and hoping for the best. Being turned away for contraband is not a minor inconvenience. It is a serious event that goes on record at that facility. Whether it results in a permanent visitation ban, a temporary suspension, or just a single turned away visit depends on what was found, whether it appeared intentional, and how the facility chooses to handle it....

Most facilities require new arrivals to complete an Admissions and Orientation period before visitation is permitted. That process typically takes about two weeks, though there is no universal standard and some facilities move faster while others take longer. During that initial period, the facility is processing the inmate into their system, completing medical and classification evaluations, and establishing housing assignments. Visitation is generally not available until that intake process is complete and the inmate has submitted their approved visitor list. The most...