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

No federal program provides airfare or travel assistance for families visiting federal inmates. The Bureau of Prisons does not offer transportation subsidies, and there is no government program specifically designed to cover the cost of visiting an incarcerated family member. A few nonprofit organizations have worked on this issue over the years, and it is worth doing some research for your specific state and situation. Organizations focused on prisoner reentry and family support sometimes have small funds available for family connection...

It is entirely up to the staff and warden if they allow it. Normally, an application for visitation will be summarily rejected for that reason alone. We recommend calling to speak with the counselor or case manager and ask them the protocol for application with special circumstances. Being a relative will increase your chances. Remember to be respectful when you speak with the staff, this is a request that will require some finesse so the nicer you are, the more...

Per the requirements of the GDC, orders may only be placed by those individuals that are approved for visitation or approved for financials for the inmate they are placing the order for. If you are not currently registered on the inmate’s visitation list, please visit the GDC website www.dcor.state.ga.us and review the Offender Families and Friends section titled “Visitation – GDC Policy” to review the necessary procedures to become registered. Access Securepak is required to compare the visitors name and other contact information...

There are several solid questions here so let's take them one at a time. On the sentence calculation, one third of a 15 month sentence works out to five months. After serving two months, roughly three months remain before hitting that one third mark. Whether one third is the relevant threshold depends on the specific system and the offense. Some state systems use one third as a parole eligibility benchmark while others use different fractions or percentage based calculations. The federal...

All of the facilities do things differently. To be certain, you might call them to ask what their procedures are. Typically, you will need to go through an NCIC background screening process to gain approval. Felons or co-defendants are usually not allowed for visitation. Unless you are a close family member with a criminal record, you might gain approval by petitioning the warden for a special exemption. The approval process sometimes requires the inmate sending you a form to fill...

Visiting an inmate at Ware State Prison, especially in a high security setting, comes with stricter rules than general population, so it is good you are asking ahead of time. Visitation form On your visitation application, list your full legal name exactly as it appears on your ID. Your relationship can be listed as “friend” or “girlfriend” if the form allows it. Some facilities are more comfortable with “friend” for non-family visitors, but either way is usually fine as long as everything...

The procedure that determines where the inmate will do their time is based on several factors. The factors range from the length of the sentence, the type of crime, the number of times the inmate has been incarcerated, the criminal history of the offender, was there violence or weapons involved and several others. This process might take as little as 30 days or up to several months to finalize. Sometimes the delay is simply a lack of bed space. If...

Jewelry and piercings are generally permitted during visitation as long as they do not set off the metal detector or create a concern for staff during the security screening process. Permanent or fixed piercings that cannot be removed are understood to be part of the visitor's person and are not typically a barrier to entry on their own. That said, facilities vary in how strictly they apply jewelry rules, and some have specific policies about the amount or type of jewelry...

Most facilities require visitors under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during the visit itself, regardless of whether the minor has been individually approved on the visitation list. Being on the approved list and being allowed through the door alone are two different things. So yes, in most cases your parent would need to be present with you during the visit, and they would need to be on the approved list as well, which means submitting...

When someone gets transferred to a new facility the visitation rules, scheduling process, and any waiting periods before visits are allowed vary enough from jail to jail that the only reliable source is the facility itself. For DeKalb County Jail in Tennessee specifically, visitation schedules, days, and times are set by the facility and can change based on staffing, population, and facility operations. The best move is to call the jail directly and ask to speak with someone who can give...