National Guides

General information about prison visiting, communication, sending money, and visitor rights. These guides apply broadly across all states. For state-specific rules, visit the state pages.

Visiting Basics

How prison visiting works in the United States — the general rules, what to expect, and how to prepare

Your First Visit

A realistic walkthrough of what your first prison visit looks like, from start to finish

Staying in Touch

Phone calls, video visits, email, and mail — all the ways to communicate and what they cost

Sending Money

How to put money on someone's books, what it costs, and what they can actually buy with it

Know Your Rights

What rights you have as a visitor, what's monitored, and what to do when something goes wrong