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

Yes, InmateAid’s discount telephone service is different from the GTL pamphlet, but they actually work together, not separately. About Global Tel Link (GTL): GTL is the official phone provider for the facility They handle: Connecting the call Recording and monitoring Billing you You must use GTL to receive inmate calls. There is no way around that. What InmateAid does differently: Provides you with a local phone number Your inmate calls that number instead of your regular number The call is billed by GTL as a local call instead of long distance Why this matters: Long distance calls: often $4–$15 per call Local calls: often under $2...

At Odom Correctional Institution, it is normal for there to be a delay before your husband can use the phone. What happens after arrival: He must go through intake and orientation Orientation can take place anytime within the first few days up to a few weeks During this time, access to phones may be limited or not available Phone access setup: He needs to submit and get approval for his phone list Once approved, he can begin making calls About adding money for calls: If he is using the inmate-paid system (like Global Tel...

For Deuel Vocational Institution, you should send your visitation form to the mailing address, not the physical address. Visitation form mailing address: P.O. Box 400 Tracy, CA 95378-0004 Important tips: Make sure your form is fully completed and signed Double-check all required information to avoid delays Processing can take some time, so plan ahead before trying to visit If you want to confirm or speed things up: Call the visitation office at (209) 830-3900 (Friday mornings) Or email: dvivisiting@cdcr.ca.gov (Monday or Tuesday mornings) Visiting hours (once approved): Saturdays and Sundays: 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM Certain holidays are also included Best advice: Wait...

At Minnesota Correctional Facility – St. Cloud, what you are experiencing is very common. Even if the area code looks local, the call can still be billed as long distance based on the rate center, not just the area code. That is why your cost only dropped slightly from $7 to $6.45. About your options: 1. Putting money on your phone account: Convenient and controlled Often more expensive per call, especially if billed as long distance 2. Inmate buying phone cards or using their account: Can sometimes be cheaper per call BUT: You...

You do not need to remove sewn-in hair extensions or weaves to visit a correctional facility. Permanently attached hair additions are not something facilities require visitors to remove before entry. What you should be aware of is that corrections officers conducting entry searches have the authority to inspect hair thoroughly, including running their hands through extensions or along the scalp, if they have reason to believe contraband could be concealed. This is not routine for every visitor, but it is within...

All inmates have to have a job. The prisons work like a little community where the inmates work to make the operation and living conditions civilized. The prisons pay the most nominal of wages. For instance, the federal system has a pay scale commiserate with the type of work and the length of time in their job. Pay starts at $0.12/hour and tops out at $0.40/hour. They are paid monthly and it is deposited into the Inmate Trust Account for use at commissary, telephone or Corrlinks email...

You should definitively call the facility first to see if they offer "special visits". Many times, the long distance visitors are granted longer visits if they set them up prior to arrival. Here are some general rules to follow and keep in mind before your visit. Dress Code Wear clothing that is appropriate for a large gathering of men, women, and young children. Wearing inappropriate clothing (such as provocative or revealing clothes) may result in your being denied visitation. Visiting...

Yes, if your inmate is at Lowndes County Jail and they use Infinity as their phone provider, you will need to use Infinity’s system to receive calls. How it works: The jail contracts with one phone provider only That company (Infinity in this case) handles: Call connections Recording and monitoring Billing So even if you use another service, calls still have to go through Infinity. About saving money: If your number is long distance, calls can cost $5–$15 per call If your number is local, calls are usually under $2 A local-number setup can help if: You are not local...

When you hear a sentence like “5 years at 50% with no lid,” it refers to how much time must be served and how release is handled. “5 years at 50%” means: The person must serve at least 50% of the sentence before being eligible for release consideration In this case, that is 2.5 years before they can be considered for parole or early release “No lid” generally means: There is no guaranteed early release date The inmate could be kept for up to the full sentence (5 years) depending on decisions by parole authorities...

The facility notifies the inmate when a visitation application is approved, not the visitor. That means your family member will know you have been approved before you do, and it is their responsibility to pass that information along to you. If you have not heard anything after submitting an application, there are two ways to find out your status. The fastest is to ask your family member directly during a call or through a letter. They can check with their housing...

In most cases, prisons do not automatically take money from what you send, but there are a few situations where deductions can happen. 1. Restitution or fines: If your inmate has court-ordered restitution or fees: A portion of deposits may be taken In federal cases, this is often around 25% of incoming funds State systems vary, but similar deductions can apply 2. Jail or facility fees: Some county jails charge: A daily housing fee Medical or booking fees These can be deducted from the inmate’s account over time 3. Other deductions: Medical or dental visits Disciplinary fines...

If your number is already local to your partner at Balch Springs Jail, then in most cases, there is little to no savings using a local number service. Here is why: You are already being billed at the local rate, which is usually the lowest available The main purpose of services like InmateAid is to convert long distance calls into local calls However, there is one exception: If the facility uses Securus Technologies or a similar provider, sometimes: Even “local” calls are priced unusually high Using a different local number (from another rate center)...