There could be a simple reason, he might have run out of money in his account or minutes available in the month.  Most institutions have limits on the number of minutes an inmate can call in a month (not the by the calendar but by date it began). If you are really worried, you can call the institution and have them check on him to be sure.

You have to put money on his commissary account through Western Union and it gets ordered - which takes a week or so.  Black and white is about $100, color is $250-300. They do count against commissary spending but not the entire amount for one month.

There is no way of knowing who the caller is without getting the actual prison involved. The prison calling system tracks and records all calls. If you want to pursue it, you will have to make a report to that particular jail.

Smoking has been banned in just about every facility. There are still some county jails here and there that sell tobacco products on their commissary but there are very few. Cigarettes are a major "black market" item that can sell for one dollar to $20.00 per cigarette depending upon the custody level of the prison.

Generally speaking prisons do not allow clothing to be shipped into a prison (there are some exceptions). Prisons provide clothing and the commissary has workout clothing that can be bought and then worn when not in uniform. Our advice is to wait until your inmate can provide information about that facility and whether or not they allow it.

InmateAid is a mail service to the inmate, not a direct line.  You can write a letter with our service using a credit card. The coupon code is for offers that we run from time-to-time. Use the Contact Us link on the Home page with your email address and we will happily send you (or ANYONE) a discount coupon for your next letter.

Books MUST be sent by the publisher like Amazon.com. Once the package arrives at the prison the staff will open it and inspect them for contraband. The time it takes from the mail room to inmate "mail call" could vary by facility, we have no control once inside the prison.

If he was admitted with clothes and they didn't mail them back to you he will have them to wear. Other alternatives are they give him a set of clothes, or he might have had "work out clothes" that he can wear home, too. You will have to ask him about what he has or if he needs you to send some.

There are some facts in your question that make the answer difficult to accept but it would appear that he's looking at the beginning of an 8 year sentence. The six months will be credited and if he can be productive and stay out of conflict while he's there he will accrue good time credits and get out earlier than the entire bid. Help keep him busy by communicating and sending him things to read. If you have more information

Any mail that comes into the prison is inspected by the staff for contraband. Typically the daily received mail makes it to mail call the same day (Monday-Friday).