Inmates cannot receive calls in ANY prison or jail. Writing a letter is the only way for you to initiate contact, the telephone call MUST be initiated by the inmate from the prison.

Click on our Western Union Link or Send Inmate Money for the step-by-step instructions. The following may address your concerns - In the account number, there is no space between the offender number and offender last name. Account Number Example: 123456Smith

Most inmates will check their account from time to time, but unless you send a letter, there is no other way to communicate with them - the staff inside the prison "might" pass along a message but you should send a letter to be sure.

No, commissary is for the inmates inside the prison.

The short answer is "no", both are not being charged for the same call. You will need to listen carefully to the recording as the inmate MAY be calling "collect" (where you would accept the charges). But, mostly the recording is an warning of sorts letting the recipient know the call is coming from a prison or jail and asking if you want to "accept the call".  Sign up for the InmateAid Discount Telephone Service - when they call, it's

Western Union first requires the sender to set up a User Account and then you will need their inmate number to route the cash to the appropriate trust account for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. The complete step-by-step directions are in the Send Inmate Money section of InmateAid

You may send books through the Amazon links located in the Send Books section. There is even a search function to look for the type of book or the author. Sending money is easy through Western Union - simply click on the Send Inmate Money page where there are complete step-by-step instructions. Once an inmate has money in their account they can buy stamps and writing utensils to write you back.

InmateAid prints and delivers the mail into the prison location corresponding to your inmate. The service is delivered to the inmate at mail call a day or two after you create it in the Write Letters/Send Photos service.

If you change your cell number to the local exchange (913) the calls will become local calls from the prison. Use Western Union and send money into the inmate's phone account and he will then be calling you at the lower rate.

Generally speaking, prisons consider mail sacred and will do whatever they can to deliver it to the person it's intended for. They will make ever effort to connect the name on the envelope to a recipient at their prison. The basic connection to someone on the outside is seen as a crucial element to rehabilitation and the goal of not having the inmate come back.