Here’s a question I’m sure hasn’t been asked here before!

[textbookcase]

I have a family member who will be going to prison for 24 months starting in January. I drew said person’s name in our family Christmas gift exchange.

WTF KIND OF GIFT DO YOU BUY FOR A PERSON WHO WILL BE ENTERING PRISON NEXT MONTH?!

[mcsangel2]

Wow.

[isabel]

Well. That certainly is an interesting question.

eta: Oh, and obviously I want to know why he/she is going to prison.

[sarahbear]

A gift card that doesn't expire?

[textbookcase]

Dec 17, 2017 17:36:37 GMT -5 sarahbear said:

A gift card that doesn't expire?

Ha! I was trying to think of something he could use immediately...a gc is a good idea, maybe to a restaurant or movies or something. Ugh.

[dragon's breath]

Uh, prison commissary tickets?

That is an interesting situation to be in...

[FrozenSunshine]

A phone card? That’s an interesting one.

[textbookcase]

Dec 17, 2017 17:36:12 GMT -5 isabel said:

Well. That certainly is an interesting question.

eta: Oh, and obviously I want to know why he/she is going to prison.

Embezzlement and tax fraud. PDQ

[ginandjucie24]

Wow.

The only thing I can think of is gift cards to the persons favorite fast places and restaurants.

[isabel]

Dec 17, 2017 17:37:53 GMT -5 dragon's breath said:

Uh, prison commissary tickets?

That is an interesting situation to be in...

This was my first thought. lol

[huskymom]

A rock hammer and a poster of Rita Hayworth?

[imojoebunny]

Cash. Prison is expensive. They are always catching people sneaking in goods to the prison not to far from me. I can't imagine that the prepaid cell phones, liquor, smokes, and protein powder they seem to always find by the truck load are cheap on the inside. Sorry this is a question you find yourself with.

[textbookcase]

Dec 17, 2017 17:46:18 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Cash. Prison is expensive. They are always catching people sneaking in goods to the prison not to far from me. I can't imagine that the prepaid cell phones, liquor, smokes, and protein powder they seem to always find by the truck load are cheap on the inside. Sorry this is a question you find yourself with.

Thanks, yeah we will definitely be giving him cash while he’s in there. Uhhh yeah it’s a strange situation for sure.

[ssmjlm]

I would say cash. Hopefully they will save it for their account in prison to buy stuff.

Signed someone who has had a similar thing.

[4speedy]

Winner winner chicken dinner!

[rosiebear]

That's a new one! If you are close enough and supportive enough of this person to be sending him money while he's in prison, then I guess you can just give him cash now as a gift. Otherwise I don't know - a meal at his favorite restaurant before he goes in?

[dochas]

A carton of smokes goes a long way in the joint!

[TR]

Definitely a shiv.

[adhdfashion]

You can put money on their account. You can also ship books and magazine's from the manufacturer.

[CloudBee]

Oh man. While you can buy things while you're in there, I don't think you're allowed to take much in?

I would get a restaurant gift card that they will hopefully use before they go.

[zitiqueen]

walkenhorsts.com/home.html

www.unionsupplydirect.com

It looks like these are available only in certain states. It might be useful if your state is listed and also for sending things during the incarceration.

[meganew]

Dec 17, 2017 18:09:25 GMT -5 dochas said:

A carton of smokes goes a long way in the joint!

Actually I think it’s ramen now.

[meganew]

It depends on how close you are and what they’re going away for and what their coping mechanisms are (mine is to laugh at my problems and then ignore them) but I’d laugh really hard if someone got me a rock hammer and a poster of Raquel Welch. Eh?

[cville]

If you want him to use/enjoy it before he goes in, something edible.

Otherwise, I'd go unexpiring gift card. Or those socks that have separate toe things like gloves to wear with prison thong sandals.

[Leeham Rimes]

Money in his commissary account. As far as I’ve been told by the criminal element in my family, they always looked forward tonwhen the commissary was open.
ETA: I missed that it’ll be after Christmas when they’re in. I guess a gift card then? I thought he was in prison FOR Christmas.

[brandy0331]

Oh that is an interesting situation. You could buy him that Get Hard movie with Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. Lol. I would go with the GC with no expiration or to dinner somewhere tasty.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Definitely money in the commissary account. And, mail throughout the year. I’m keeping up with a friend who’s currently incarcerated, and mail and researching his case are what keeps him busy.

[blondemoment123]

Uh, money for the commissary in prison?

[dianecourt]

Depending on the system, there will be ways for you to share the money for exchange. And I found that books (once incarcerated) were much appreciated. Amazon will ship to prison addresses.

[flex]

A cake with a file in it? Ar ar ar!

A gift card for the movies and snacks would be appropriate. He can use it before he goes into the Big House.