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

At USP Big Sandy, which is a high-security federal penitentiary in Kentucky, segregation is called the SHU, the Special Housing Unit. It is solitary confinement, and inmates end up there for one of two broad reasons: disciplinary or administrative. The disciplinary side covers a wide range of infractions. Fighting is the most common reason at a high-security facility like Big Sandy, but the list also includes possession of contraband such as a cellphone, drugs, or tobacco, failing a drug or alcohol...

I feel like it has made me more aware of the world around me. Before incarceration I took for granted the wonderful sights and sounds that surround us everyday. Showering barefoot, using the bathroom alone, going to bed whenever it suits me, ice cream, kids laughing, fresh fruit... the list is endless and I am appreciating them all so much more than ever before. Therefore, I feel that the time I've done has helped me enjoy my life now and ahead more than I knew I could.  ...

In most cases, no. Federal prisons and the majority of state prison systems require visitors to be pre-approved before they can enter. The approval process typically involves the inmate submitting your name to their counselor or case manager, a background check on your end, and formal clearance before your first visit. Showing up without prior approval almost always means being turned away at the door. County jails vary more. Some smaller county facilities allow walk-in visits without a pre-approved list, particularly...

Plan for about 2 to 3 business days for the mail to travel from InmateAid's office to the facility through the US Postal Service. That is the transit portion of the timeline and it is fairly predictable. What happens after it arrives at the facility is less predictable. Every mailroom operates differently. Staff open, read, and inspect each piece of incoming mail before it is cleared for distribution. Some facilities turn mail around the same day it comes in, while others...

It could be either. This depends on the system where your inmate is incarcerated. An inmate can make a collect call from ALL jails, prisons and detention facilities This is absoolutely the most expensive call. In most federal facilities, the inmate's TRULINCS account controls the outbound phone calls (along with commissary and CORRLINKS email). Every call made is debited from this account by the minute. Local calls are 1/4 the price of long distance calls. We get people local numbers through our...

The medical issue needs to be addressed immediately and separately from the transfer question, because that one is urgent. CCA facilities are required to provide medically necessary care, and cancer treatment falls squarely in that category. If your husband has a documented cancer diagnosis and is not receiving treatment, the facility is legally obligated to either provide it or transport him to an outside hospital or specialist. Most CCA facilities in Arizona have arrangements with nearby hospitals for exactly this...

Sexy photos are absolutely allowed, and they mean more to an inmate than most people realize. The guidelines are straightforward: lingerie shots, bikini photos, and tastefully suggestive poses are all fine. What crosses the line is exposed private parts or anything that would be classified as pornographic. Most facilities reject explicitly sexual material outright, and if it gets flagged in the mailroom, it never reaches him. Strategic posing with hands placed carefully is generally acceptable as long as it stays on...