Inmate Family Assistance of the NRV

Inmate Family Assistance of the NRV is committed to helping families of inmates stay connected with their loved ones.  When a family member goes to jail, they have to pay for telephone calls in order to stay in touch with their loved ones.  Depending upon the facility, the phone costs can range from $1.05 to $14.30 for a 15 minute call.  Often, when a family member goes to jail, the family has lost an income provider and now must support them while they are incarcerated adding another burden to the family finances.    According to a recent op-ed by a group spearheading ending prison profiteering, "Families of the incarcerated are disproportionately poor and are further negatively impacted by a family member going to jail."  In addition, "1 in 28 children in America has an incarcerated parent."  Because of the inordinate high costs of phone calls, "1 in 3 families of an incarcerated family member go into debt to communicate with them."   In addition to phone calls, inmates have to pay for hygiene items and supplemental food which are added costs the families must bear.

We hear from a lot of moms, grandparents, children and spouses of inmates about how we positively impact their families.  We also receive mail from inmates thanking us for how we have helped their families while they are incarcerated.  

Inmate Chris writes,   "I just want to start by saying thank you so much for what you are doing and have done for me. I have 4 little girls out there and money is so hard to come by and I love talking to them and you have helped me stay in touch with them by putting money on my books.  It's nice to be able to get my food and hygiene and not take away from them.  My mom is taking care of them while I'm in here and she stays sick all the time and it's all she can do to try and keep money on the phone so thank you so much for helping us. I would also like to ask if you could include us in your prayers please we all really need God's help especially my Mom as she is struggling and I am lost."  

Inmate Tomy writes, "I just wanted to thank you so much for the IFA!  My wife is currently in a physical rehab center due to a coma brought on by a seizure and stroke.  Without the funds you so generously donate to me here at the Montgomery County Jail, we wouldn't have any way to communicate! Your donation allows me to call and check on and visit with her."

We currently assist families with loved ones incarcerated at the Montgomery County Jail in Christiansburg, Va.  Since we are trying to insure that our efforts assist the most needy families, we have adopted the Jail's indigent definition as our eligibility requirement.   before remitting money to an inmate on behalf of their family, we verify eligibility with jail staff. If an inmate is eligible, we provide $40 a month for their telephone and commissary.  Since our inception in 2020, we have helped over 300 families in the NRV stay in touch with their incarcerated loved ones.

In 2023,  we partnered with Mt. View Humane Spay and Neuter to help provide services to the pets of families with incarcerated loved ones at discounted rates.  Families who are eligible through our program are eligible for reduced rates through Mt. View Humane.  Those discounted rates may further be subsidized with a $40 payment from IFA to Mt. View for veterinary services.