Contact

# Ask. It's free

Ask a question about federal prison, whether that is before, during, or after. One question or five. No intake form, no discovery call, no invoice, and no follow-up sequence trying to convert you into a customer.

### What helps me answer well

Where things stand (charged, pleaded, sentenced, already in), the facility if you know it, and what's actually keeping you up at night. You don't need to tell me the whole case. I don't need it, and honestly, the less legally sensitive detail in an email, the better. Never send me legal documents, and remember that if your loved one is asking through TRULINCS (the inmate email/phone/money system, all monitored), the Bureau (the federal Bureau of Prisons) reads it too.

### Asking from the inside

If your loved one is already in, they can ask me directly through TRULINCS, and you set it up out here in about a minute.

### Need more than an answer?

If your situation needs a plan (sentencing prep, self-surrender (reporting to prison on your own), designation (which prison you're assigned to) strategy), that's the paid lane, available on a limited basis. [How consults work.](/consult) If you're not sure which lane you're in, just email the question. I'll tell you honestly, and "you don't need a consult" is my most common answer.

Not legal advice, ever. I'm not a lawyer. If your question needs one, I'll say so and point you at the right kind.

No Charge
The question

Prefer email? [josh@federalprisondude.com](mailto:josh@federalprisondude.com?subject=Question) works exactly the same. I answer in the order received, usually within a couple of days. I have a day job.