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

Visitation is different in every prison system. Whether it is federal, state or state, they all have a set of rules that have to be followed - where your inmate may have to place you on a list. Some require a form to be filled out and background check performed (Arizona requires you to pay a fee for that check). Others allow you to come straight in with just a government ID. What prison are you thinking about visiting, we...

Here is how the discount phone service works for a federal facility like FCI Allenwood: Step 1: Sign up for the service Go into your InmateAid account and select the Discount Telephone Service. You will enter: State: Pennsylvania Facility: FCI Allenwood Your phone number Your inmate’s name Then choose the monthly plan and complete payment. Step 2: Receive your local number After you sign up, you will be given a new local phone number that is matched to the Allenwood area. This usually happens pretty quickly after your order...

Yes, and USP Allenwood is among the federal facilities that will accommodate extended visitation for out-of-state visitors, but the key is making arrangements in advance rather than showing up and hoping for flexibility. Contact the facility before you travel. Ask to speak with your inmate's counselor or the visitation department and explain that you are coming from out of state. Request an extended visit and ask whether back-to-back weekend days can be arranged. Standard visiting at most federal facilities is limited...

What commissary provides is the ability to supplement those meals with preferred items and to have more control over what goes into the diet. Common commissary food purchases include soups, snacks, protein supplements, condiments, coffee, and items that make the standard facility meals more palatable or filling. For inmates who find the cafeteria food difficult to eat consistently, having commissary food available becomes more important. At the county jail and state prison level, $75 per week represents a reasonable high-end budget...

Western Union does not have Wayne County as a money transfer vendor. Money may by deposited into a Wayne County Jail Inmate's Commissary account under the following conditions: the money order must contain the Inmate's full and correct name and his WCJ Inmate number in order for the monies to be credited to the proper account. The money order must contain a return address and preferably a telephone number, in the event the person is discharged or there is a...

At Spartanburg County Jail, all inmate phone calls go through a contracted provider, which is GTL. That means you have to use their system to receive calls, there is no way around it. Here is how to get set up so he can call you and the kids: Step 1: Set up a GTL account You will need to create an account with the phone provider and add funds. This allows you to receive calls and pay for them. You may need to: Register...

In general, all inmates must have a job. There are very rare occasions where inmates get off not working. Prison is like a community. The services that make a community run have to be maintained by inmates. There is food service, landscaping maintenance, sanitation and garbage, cleaning of the living quarters, laundry, recreation, education, health and commissary are all areas where labor is needed. This is all done by the inmates and supervised by the corrections officers. After the jobs are...

A school ID is generally not accepted as valid identification for prison or jail visitation. Facilities require a government-issued photo ID, which means a state-issued driver's license, a state ID card, a US passport, or a military ID. School IDs do not meet that standard because they are not issued by a government agency and do not carry the same verification weight. If you are under 18, you will need to be accompanied by an adult who is on the inmate's...

The phone service at all of the correction centers are set up through bid process. There are about 30 prison-specific phone companies that fight to get the contract for each and every prison. Whoever has the contract for all inmate outbound calling and to tape record the calls essentially has a monopoly and you have to use them to receive calls.  The choice is whether you pay them for a long distance call that can run as much as $15.00...