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

Commissary limits in federal and contract facilities are not just about what you can buy in a single week. The numbers in parentheses on the commissary list indicate how many of each item an inmate may possess at any given time, not just how many they can purchase per order. An inmate can buy ten tuna packets one week and ten more the following week, but if the possession limit is five, having fifteen in their locker is a violation...

It is possible but not guaranteed at a parish jail. In Louisiana, parishes function the same way counties do in other states, and Bossier Parish Jail is a local facility. County and parish-level jails are significantly less likely to permit inmate marriages than state or federal prisons, which typically have formal procedures in place for long-term inmates. The first step is to call the facility and ask to speak with the chaplain. The chaplain is the person most likely to know...

There is no reliable yes or no answer here. Some courts do structure DWI sentences in a way that allows early release when outstanding fines and fees are paid, particularly on misdemeanor cases. The September 29 update date may be a review hearing where that determination gets made. Whether the judge will actually sign off on release at that point depends on the specific court, the judge, and how aggressively Harris County is handling repeat DWI offenses right now. A second...

I just sent my first letter through InmateAid. How will I know when he receives it, and how long does it take? There is no delivery confirmation or read notification for prison mail. Once the letter is sent and has not been returned, the assumption is that it reached him. The only way you will know for certain he received it is when he mentions it in a call or writes back. On the timeline, InmateAid estimates 2 to 3 business days...

You are right that large restitution amounts are rarely paid in full, but you should be receiving small payments if an order is in place and being enforced. Here is how it works and what you need to do: How restitution is usually collected: A portion of the inmate’s prison wages and any money deposited into their account can be taken The Department of Corrections applies this based on a court order Payments are often very small, sometimes just a few dollars at a time If you have not received anything, it...

Yes, there is another main company, but here is the important part most people miss: In Florida, you usually cannot choose freely between vendors. The Department of Corrections assigns approved vendors and specific ordering windows. That is why Union Supply told you to wait until October. The other major vendor is Access Securepak. They run Florida’s quarterly package program, where: Orders are only accepted during certain dates each quarter Items are pre approved by the Florida DOC Inmates are limited on how many packages they can receive  There are typically set ordering...

Yes, there are guidelines, but they are mostly about safety and security, not normal conversation. Every facility opens and reads incoming mail, so you should always assume a staff member will see what you write. What is generally allowed: Personal updates about your life Emotional support and encouragement Romantic or intimate expressions (within reason) Photos that follow the facility’s rules Talking about love, missing each other, and even some level of intimacy is usually fine. Just keep it respectful and not explicit. What to avoid writing about: Details about the...

This situation is serious, and the risk of prison time is real. A DWI 3rd or more is usually charged as a felony in many states. When you add a probation violation on top of that, the court is going to look at it much more harshly because it shows a pattern and failure to follow prior orders. Here is what is working against him: Multiple DWI arrests Being on probation at the time of the new offense Bond being denied, which suggests the judge sees him as...

In most juvenile facilities, the answer is still no, even if you are pregnant with his child. Juvenile systems have much stricter visitation rules than adult facilities. They usually limit visits to: Parents or legal guardians Immediate family members Approved individuals with a clear legal or custodial connection Being pregnant does not automatically qualify you as “family” under their rules. That said, you do have a small window to try: Ask the facility directly Call and speak with: The case manager Counselor Or chaplain Explain your situation respectfully and ask if there is any...