Today I want to talk about the topic of financially supporting your incarcerated loved one. I’ll answer the questions:

1. “What are the benefits of financially supporting my loved one?”
2. “How often should I send money?”
3. “How much money should I send?”
4. “When should I stop sending money?”
5. “When is sending money detrimental?”

I know that some of you are financially supporting an incarcerated loved one either regularly or by periodically sending money for ‘special’ occasions like institutional fundraisers, birthdays, sundry or food packages etc. Coping with separation from loved ones is difficult and financially assisting them is a way to maintain an ongoing connection. It probably also provides you with a sense of comfort that you are able to help. About 70% of all prisoners receive some form of financial assistance from friends or family.

Continue reading “Financially Supporting Incarcerated Loved Ones by Christopher” →

It has been 16 months since I last wrote about JPay and GTL in my 9/23/19 letter titled “Captured Clientele”. I think the time has come to talk about these companies again because these two companies have an outsized impact on prisoners, their loved ones and how states approach rehabilitation. Their impact isn’t always beneficial either, but I’ll get to that in a moment. Today’s letter isn’t about trashing JPay or GTL, that’s not what this blog is about, but I will give you an honest take on both. JPay and GTL each have their positives and negatives.

Continue reading “JPay & GTL by Christopher” →

I remember when I began my sentence I thought it was the end of the world. The end of life and the end of family and the life I knew with them. Today I am talking to those of you who recently lost loved ones to incarceration with long sentences. I want to talk to you about what you can expect.

Continue reading “A Life Sentence Isn’t The End” →