There are other ways to get him what he needs. You set up an account for the phone so he can call you. You don't give him money to buy phone cards. You can order him things he needs like toiletries, books, underwear, etc. Whatever is acceptable from catalogs the prisons use for this purpose. Some even have food you can purchase for them. Check that out.

He won't be able to get some things this way, but it will still help him, and if he is being irate about it then yes, he may be using it for illegal things. Funny that drugs do get in there, isn't it?

They also use canteen to buy stuff that other inmates want. They use that for many purposes, like paying for drugs, or gambling debts, or maybe the other inmates get their canteen money taken for court costs, restitution, medical payments, etc. So instead they get another inmate to buy things for them. It can be just being friends, but it is highly unacceptable in prisons, or it could be a way of being extorted. That's why they can't legitimately do it.

I also question sending money. I feel I am being taken advantage of. But I also want my son to have things. But I feel he isn't feeling as bad as me for his crime. He guilts me into sending money. He always seems to need more. Footlocker,shoes,glasses, it never ends. He gets upset about everything. Help

I had to pay for my husband during his time. The system was pretty good though. Each inmate received 5 a week "wage", those who worked for more. No matter how much you had in your prison account you would only be able to have 20 a week for canteen.

The local prison here is notorious for drugs, there's no limit to what can be spent in canteen. They get them inside in the most ridiculous ways, a "personal favourite" of mine that I head about was putting then inside a dead bird and throwing it into the yard!

I only give mine about 40 to 50 a month. He doesn't ask for much. In the beginning when he went I got him the TV, radio, socks and underwear. He knows I don't have that much to give and doesn't ask. Sometimes he asks if I can afford to order magazine subscriptions so he has something to do, but not much else.

He needs that 40-50 a month for ramen noodles, tea, and things like shampoo, etc. Those I don't mind getting since they aren't provided.

I just ranted on my journal about this. I am one of my daughters victims. One reason she is in prison. Yet, I am the one putting money on her books. I have bought her a tv, shoes, socks etc. In addition I put around $200 on her books a month. I really need to look into sending boxes and less money. She said she buys shampoo, dish soap, stationary stuff like that. She also buys food. She also has to pay for a stinkin blood test because she got a tattoo! She also says she has to pay for craft supplies for the crafts she makes. But I also feel like I am being taken advantage of.

I know blood test now where my guys are they now need to pay for which I find stupid because of all the other inmates Lord knows what they carry! I already told my guy if he gets a tattoo there I'm done God only knows what on the needles they would use....my guy is a germaphobe like me...

If i buy them anything I purchase it myself I will not send money to them unless it for the phone which I put on their phone myself!

They can't get tattoo's where mine is.

I take care of ordering his craft supplies, so I know that it is paid for, and he wouldn't be using the money for other things, and saying it was for that.

I know that we can order them some things like razors, brushes, towels, sweat suits, t shirts, so if he needs them, I get them sent to him out of the catalog we can order things for them from.

Mine actually does do crafts that he sells in the visiting room, or I get them, bring them home and send them to people that are related to inmates he knows that want them. Then I get the money for them, not him. So I guess mine is doing it right.

I can't order food things so if he wants pop, or rolls, or tea, or ramen noodles he does have the little bit I give him for that. Mine has never been into drugs so wouldn't be using it for that.

For those of you who think your money is going for other things, just order them the essentials, and don't send them money.

Regarding money - when my son went to jail they took his undershorts, tshirt, socks, he had nothing. Had to send him money to buy underclothes, and toiletries. Yes there is a lot of money misuse by persons locked up, however much of the time money is a necessity to purchase essential items. Hope you are fairing well.

If we can get it for them, that is one way to make sure they are using it the right way. BUT giving them SOME, but not a lot makes them be able to feel human, and normal in some way by being able to buy things they need and want on their own. Mine does not get extravagant amounts of money and never abuses it. He even shows me the purchase slips sometimes, so he knows I know he isn't abusing it.

Just think what it would be like to never be able to buy anything you wanted. This is the only way they can and they are very limited.

I send my son only a certain amount a month, and he takes care of what he needs. If he goes over the amount he has to deal with it, I won't send extra. I also do send him packages from time to time of things I know he can't get on his own. Being taken advantage of? Maybe, but hey, I'm the mom. Isn't that always the case? I just have him on my budget as another expense. I pay it, he spends it, and it works for us. I refuse to dwell on it any further than that, otherwise I would go nuts.

Touche !

I need to get some advice. This will be a long post regarding my friend's son who is addicted to heroin and in prison. He has been in prison for two years and is 27 years old. He has had trouble with gang members extorting money from him because of instead of keeping him separate from people had to turn in, they would put him in the same block and they would tell him they were going harm him or kill him if he didn't get them money. It used to be a green dot card (like a prison credit card) but then when they transferred him to another prison, the guard started extorting money from him as well the guard's wife who was a case manager. The money amount jumped from $50 to $200 and her son came up with a gang member who would protect him if my friend and her husband would pay him $50.00 a month. There are cell phones in every prison and they would contact the head gang member who would want his cut at $100 to $200.00. Then when he would get transferred to another prison, things would be quiet for a week until the gang members found out where he was and then it would start all over again. His mom and dad contacted DOC and the person they spoke to was very helpful and got his mom in contact with the head of security. By that time they had changed to Paypal cards. The head of security turned out to be as crooked as every one else. Now the head of security is going in an terrorizing inmates and extorting money from them. My friend's son is not a very credible person but when he calls and cries saying he needs money or he will be killed, she doesn't know what she is supposed to do. Her gut tells her that he isn't being honest, but if something were to happen to her son, she could not live with the guilt. Over the past year, they have paid out thousands of dollars for extortion (or drug use possibly). Can you guys please give tell me your thoughts on what is going on here, who would be the person or place to safely contact so that her son does not end up in further trouble for any reporting because this has also happened a number of times, and she is also requesting prayers for her son and her husband and her.

I had to send money when my D went in as just for things like toiletries and things like that after that we could only put 140 on per month and that was it.
if your worried about what his using the money for maybe look at sending in packages?