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

Yes, inmates are legally entitled to three meals a day and every facility operating within the law is required to provide them. That is the standard across federal prisons, state facilities, and county jails. It is not a privilege, it is a constitutional baseline rooted in the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. What those three meals actually look like is a different conversation entirely. Prison food is functional, not enjoyable. Meals are designed to meet minimum caloric and nutritional...

There is a resident or visiting chaplain at every detention facility. You may call the main number and request to speak to the chaplain. They are usually very good at giving time to concerned family and friends. Normal visitation will usually cover a pastor's visit. The only time it is considered a "special visit" is if there was some sort of family emergency and the pastor would need to deliver news to the inmate in person. That may be arranged...

The honest answer is that it depends on the facility, but for most people, the reality is nowhere near as bad as what television and movies would have you believe. Scripted prison dramas are built around conflict and chaos because that makes for compelling entertainment. The daily reality for the vast majority of inmates is far more mundane. Most people inside are trying to do exactly what your husband should be focused on, getting through their time with as little drama...

Visitation at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, like most juvenile facilities across the country, is more restricted than what you would find at an adult jail or prison. Access is limited to immediate family members only. Friends, girlfriends, boyfriends, and extended family who do not fall under the immediate family definition are generally not permitted to visit regardless of how close the relationship is. Visit times are limited as well. Juvenile facilities operate on tight schedules built around programming, schooling, and...

It is usually not because something serious like violence has happened. There are many common reasons why an inmate might not write for a few weeks: Most likely reasons: Loss of privileges due to a minor disciplinary issue Being placed in segregation where communication is limited No access to stamps, envelopes, or writing materials Delays in mail processing at the facility Transfer to another unit or prison Busy with intake, orientation, or work assignment changes About violence: It is possible, but not the most likely explanation If something serious happened, the...

All visits in the HCADC and work center are non‐contact; however, inmates may be allowed contact visits with the approval of the Warden. Each inmate is allowed five (5) visitors and a reasonable number of children under the age of 18 on their visitation list. A parent must accompany persons under the age of 18. All adult visitors must have a government issued picture ID in order to visit. All visits are limited to three (3) people per visit (including...

Normally, there will be no restrictions placed on the length of visits during the facility's established visitation periods. However, certain situations that may affect the length of time for a visit. Here are a general list of situations:  • To have the offender in the visitation area during the mid-day count, visitors must arrive at the facility one (1) hour before the time that is designated by the Warden as the mid-day count. The mid-day count time shall be posted in...

At most county jails, physical contact during visitation is not permitted. Christian County Jail in Illinois operates non-contact visits, which means you and your loved one will be separated by a partition and communicating through phones in the visitation booth the entire time. A hug or kiss is not going to be possible in that setting. For anyone who has never visited a jail before, here is what to expect at Christian County. Visitation days are Wednesdays and Sundays from 12:30...

When an inmate breaks the rules, the facility has a range of disciplinary tools at its disposal and the punishment handed down depends on the severity of the infraction and the inmate's prior disciplinary history. The most common privileges that get pulled include phone access, commissary, visitation, and recreation time. These are the four things inmates value most in their daily lives and facilities know that. Losing one or all of them for an extended period is a significant consequence that...