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

InmateAid has all of the offerings that you could possibly send an inmate in a prison or jail. Since inmates have a lot of time, reading is something you should encourage, even if reading wasn't a big part of their life on the outside. Using this time in such a way that improves their chances of successful reentry into society. We recommend "the obvious" birthday card and magazines, books, pictures of things you want him to dream about, like you :). If...

Both are returned to you upon full release, but how that money comes back to you matters more than most people expect going out the door. The facility typically returns remaining funds on a debit card issued at release rather than cash. That sounds convenient until you read the fine print. Most of these release debit cards carry fees that chip away at the balance every time the card is used, sometimes per transaction, sometimes as a monthly maintenance fee, sometimes...

The new visitation week starts on Monday. That means your visit count resets at the beginning of each Monday and you have a fresh set of visits available for the week running Monday through Sunday. If you visited on Wednesday and Saturday last week, both of those counted against last week's allotment. Starting Monday you are clear to schedule visits again according to whatever the facility allows per week. A couple of things worth confirming directly with Brazos County Detention Center before...

Yes, immediately. Once the restitution is paid in full there is no waiting period before you can deposit funds into the inmate's trust account. The two things are handled through entirely separate systems and one does not create a hold on the other. Restitution payments go to the court or the victim compensation fund depending on how the order is structured. Commissary deposits go directly into the inmate's trust account through whatever platform the facility uses, whether that is JPay, TouchPay,...

Yes, and the process is more structured than most people realize. When an inmate has an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction, that jurisdiction places what is called a detainer on them. A detainer is a formal legal hold that notifies the facility currently housing the inmate that another agency has a claim on them. It essentially says do not release this person without notifying us first. Once the current sentence or custody situation is resolved, or sometimes while it is still ongoing...

Yes, exactly. The letter service on InmateAid allows you to attach a 4x6 photo directly to your letter, and that includes a selfie taken on your phone or any photo you have saved on your device. The process is straightforward. When you compose your letter through InmateAid, you have the option to attach a photo. You upload the image from your phone or computer, InmateAid prints it on glossy 4x6 photo stock, and it goes out with your letter through USPS...

Photos yes, standard Hallmark cards no, and understanding why the distinction exists helps you send something that actually arrives. Family photos are accepted at most county jails when sent through an approved channel. InmateAid prints photos on glossy 4x6 stock and mails them through USPS in envelopes that mailroom staff recognize and trust. The photos go through the standard inspection process and get delivered at mail call. Sending a family photo is one of the most meaningful things you can do...

Yes, you can. Go to inmateaid.com/letters and follow the steps as you scroll the page. You must locate your inmate. If the inmate is not in our database, it simply means no one has added it. You will create the Inmate Profile page starting with the facility where he is located, Merrimack County NH DOC, Boscawen and add his name and inmate ID number (if known). This information is synced with the data we have on the facility and then we send out...