How to send messages, photos, and packages
FCI Terre Haute gives inmates telephone privileges to help maintain community ties, but third-party or alternative calling arrangements aren't allowed. Calls are usually paid by the inmate, though sometimes the receiving party can pay. Phones display notices that calls are monitored—unmonitored calls to attorneys are permitted in certain circumstances. For electronic messaging, the facility uses TRULINCS, which allows screened, text-only messages up to 13,000 characters. Remote and electronic services typically require vendor accounts and fees. Schedules and approved apps can vary, so confirm details before signing up.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Ordinarily, the inmate pays for telephone calls. In some cases, the receiving party may pay, and calls can be subject to facility limitations and conditions.
Yes. Telephones display notices advising inmates that calls are monitored. Unmonitored calls to attorneys are permitted in certain circumstances.
Yes. FCI Terre Haute uses TRULINCS for screened, text-only electronic messages with the public, and messages are limited to 13,000 characters.
Yes—if your letter is treated as general mail, staff will open and inspect it. Special mail is handled differently and may only be opened in the inmate’s presence.
Not unless you have prior written approval. From home, only packages containing release clothing and authorized medical devices are allowed.
Stickers, glitter, cash, clippings, and sexually explicit material are commonly prohibited. If your mail includes restricted items, it may be rejected or returned.
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When a child is dealing with death, a good book gives you a shared “third thing” to look at together—so the conversation isn’t all on them (or all on you). Age-appropriate stories can put plain language to big, confusing ideas like “death,” “funeral,” and “missing someone,” and they can show kids that a lot of feelings can be true at the same time: sadness, anger, worry, even moments of play. Books also help because kids often ask the same questions again and again. Re-reading lets them revisit the hard parts at their own pace, and it gives you a steady way to answer honestly without overexplaining. You don’t have to get every word perfect—what matters most is being present, naming what’s happening, and making it safe for your child to talk (or not talk) when they’re ready.
When you need to explain death to a young child, a picture book can give you the words when yours run out. Here are a few gentle, age-appropriate titles for ages 4–8, plus practical ways to use them—especially for families connected to FCI Terre Haute.
