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Must read Terms of Service & Privacy Policy and be at least 18

 
chizlit

Hello, I'm new here so please be gentle with me if this question is stupid! I've written to someone in Texas using Jpay, don't really understand how it works or even if he's got the email as I never heard back from him as yet.
I'm wondering do I first have to write him a physical snail mail letter and give him by email details or what? I really do not want to start a normal letter writing process, I only want to do it via email.
Also is Corrlinks basically the same, as I wrote to someone today and have no real clue how it's meant to work!

Thanks for any help/advice.


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Anonymous

Now if only they could justify a way to use color ink. You use a stamp to send them photos and they have to imagine what the colors would be. I call foul :)

 
Gipsy

That's genius!

 
Bluebottle87

Oh wow! I need that but for the german version of The sun. For some reason, certain people really do quote it as if it was a genuine newspaper. I always wonder what went wrong in their eduction...

Have a search on the chrome extensions page... you can get generic website blockers where you specify which websites to block, but you might find one for the specific website. The one for the Daily Mail displays this message along with the GIFs:

"Hang on a second!

You're heading towards an article that was probably written specifically to provoke a reaction. Take a moment, enjoy this gif, and think about whether or not you want to give them the satisfaction of knowing that you took the bait.

Another selfless act performed just for you by @Jonic. You're welcome."

:adance2:

 
gsc984

Thanks for the fast reply. I'm in the UK so have no clue as to the difference between state and federal prisons, however he is in Telford Unit, New Boston, TX , so not sure if that is State or not. I'm confused because it says on his advert that he has Jpay, so it then seems pointless to me that he has to write back to me using normal mail (which he can't do as I didn't give him my address).

I speak to someone in Telford I send him JPay and they are printed out and sent to him, and he snail mails, the reply. He said photos are printed in black and white (someone else may clarify this) If you want him to reply you will have to send another message with your address

 
Gipsy

I've just installed a chrome extension to block that absolute rag of a "news" site... now if I inadvertently click a link to it, it plays me random GIFs.
No more outrage and scaremongering, or seeing the daily "article(s)" on what Kim Kardashian's arse is up to.
I feel liberated.

Oh wow! I need that but for the german version of The sun. For some reason, certain people really do quote it as if it was a genuine newspaper. I always wonder what went wrong in their eduction...

 
Bluebottle87

Imagine the outcry in the Daily Mail!

I've just installed a chrome extension to block that absolute rag of a "news" site... now if I inadvertently click a link to it, it plays me random GIFs.
No more outrage and scaremongering, or seeing the daily "article(s)" on what Kim Kardashian's arse is up to.
I feel liberated.

 
RaineDancer

Indiana also seems to be implementing jPay kiosks, for use in facilities, FYI.

 
josephina2

Take Washington, for example, not only do the state prisoners have kiosks where they can read and type replies to emails on JPay, they also have the option of buying a tablet that is an MP3 player and email machine in one. Something not too dissimilar from a smartphone. They can look at pictures and videos of their family on it. Washington also has video visits (just like Skype video calls), extended family visits (conjugal visits), pizza and bingo nights for the families, family barbecues, Christmas parties with Santa and gifts for the children, music rooms, art studios, etc. so I have to disagree with people here in the UK who say "American prisons are strict". Yes, Texas, Louisiana, California and others have strict prisons but not all states are that harsh. I can't imagine a bingo night being held in a UK prison for the families and the prisoners. Imagine the outcry in the Daily Mail!

100% agree!

 
februarymoon

Take Washington, for example, not only do the state prisoners have kiosks where they can read and type replies to emails on JPay, they also have the option of buying a tablet that is an MP3 player and email machine in one. Something not too dissimilar from a smartphone. They can look at pictures and videos of their family on it. Washington also has video visits (just like Skype video calls), extended family visits (conjugal visits), pizza and bingo nights for the families, family barbecues, Christmas parties with Santa and gifts for the children, music rooms, art studios, etc. so I have to disagree with people here in the UK who say "American prisons are strict". Yes, Texas, Louisiana, California and others have strict prisons but not all states are that harsh. I can't imagine a bingo night being held in a UK prison for the families and the prisoners. Imagine the outcry in the Daily Mail!

 
josephina2

Both Feb and me are Brits, not American.

It is up to each individual state whether they negotiate the services of Jpay or any other service provider. Texas only recently installed an inmate telephone system.

The layout and design of many Texas prisons would make it difficult for them to control the use of Jpay kiosks in the way the administration would want to, but often the desire to benefit inmates in any way is not there unless the state can make some money off it as well.

So so true. Its great to see someone who can tell it like it is.

 
Bluebottle87

Think I'd have to do a whole lot of reading to try to understand your system. If state prisons do not allow Jpay is it because they are more strict or simply do not have the ability to impliment it?

Some state prisons do have Jpay.
If you do a WAP search for prisoners with Jpay, you can then Google their facility + jpay, and it'll tell you whether there are kiosks available for them to write back to you via email, whether their replies are scanned back to you, or whether they just have to reply via snail mail.

 
sunray's wench

Think I'd have to do a whole lot of reading to try to understand your system. If state prisons do not allow Jpay is it because they are more strict or simply do not have the ability to impliment it?

Both Feb and me are Brits, not American.

It is up to each individual state whether they negotiate the services of Jpay or any other service provider. Texas only recently installed an inmate telephone system.

The layout and design of many Texas prisons would make it difficult for them to control the use of Jpay kiosks in the way the administration would want to, but often the desire to benefit inmates in any way is not there unless the state can make some money off it as well.

 
chizlit

Think I'd have to do a whole lot of reading to try to understand your system. If state prisons do not allow Jpay is it because they are more strict or simply do not have the ability to impliment it?

 
februarymoon

And what a lot of people here don't realise is that each state has its own system of sentencing and punishment. My man is doing life in Texas for robbery, my pp in Washington stabbed someone and almost killed him and got 9 plus 2 enhancement for a weapon.

Likewise not all states have the death penalty.

 
sunray's wench

Federal prison is for those who break federal laws, or commit crimes that span across more than one state. They were implemented in 1930 after J. Edgar Hoover's response to criminals such as John Dillinger created the FBI.

States also have their own prison systems for those convicted of state felonies. There are also county jails which hold those charged with public order offences and misdemeanours and those awaiting trial (and awaiting transfer to a state prison or other facility).

There are lots of layers to the American criminal system.

 
chizlit

Thanks everyone for the fast helpful replies, I now understand. However for me in the UK it does beg the question what is the difference between state and federal prison?

 
februarymoon

I second earthmother's suggestion of Washington being a good choice for an email-only pal.

 
sunray's wench

The Federal prisons in Texas are FCI Fort Worth, FCI Beaumont Low and Medium, FCI Big Spring, FCI La Tuna, FCI Segoville, FCI Texarkana, FCI Three Rivers and FCI Bastrop.

There is an FCC at Beaumont, FDC at Houston and Carswell, FPC at Bryant, and a US Pennitentiary in Beaumont.

If the inmate's address is anywhere else in Texas, then it is almost certainly a TDCJ facility.

 
Earthmother

Telford is a state prison. He does have Jpay in as much as he can receive letters via that route. However, as Febmoon has stated, Texas state inmates get a print out of any Jpays delivered to them at regular mail calls, and do not themselves have any access to Jpay kiosks. Texas state prison inmates reply to Jpay messages via snail mail...and as you have not put your address in the Jpay message you sent, there isn't any way the inmate can respond to you...so unless you send another Jpay with your address included, then waiting for a response from him will be an exercise in futile patience :rollinglaugh:

You could email him again, provide your address and make it clear that all correspondence from your end will be done via Jpay - if this is a person with whom you really would like to establish a friendship.

If ability to electronically correspond is your priority, then contact an inmate in Washington state prisons, or Michigan perhaps? Or Ohio. Inmates in those states generally have the ability to reply via email, provided they have adequate funds to do so.

 
elysium

Telford's a state prison, I'm sure. I wouldn't underestimate how damned exciting it is to receive an actual letter through your door that's not a bill :D I hear from my pal in Texas every 1-2 weeks and it's always great to receive his letters, I mostly write to him using Jpay though to make things a bit quicker! xx

 
chizlit

Thanks for the fast reply. I'm in the UK so have no clue as to the difference between state and federal prisons, however he is in Telford Unit, New Boston, TX , so not sure if that is State or not. I'm confused because it says on his advert that he has Jpay, so it then seems pointless to me that he has to write back to me using normal mail (which he can't do as I didn't give him my address).

 
februarymoon

Assuming the Texas penpal us in state prison, he won't be able to reply by Jpay message. Your message to him will have been printed by the unit staff and handed to him with the regular mail. If he wants to reply, he will have to so by hand and send it in the mail to you.

Corrlinks users can reply electronically. Remember that messages are screened so it's not quite as fast as emailing someone in the free world. Also the Corrlinks inmates have to pay by the minute to use the machine to read and reply. They are aldi limited to when they can use the machines. If there is an emergency situation like a lockdown the machines will be inaccessible.

You can never have too much patience when corresponding with prisoners.