What to say to someone that is in jail?

Asked by: Dr. Noemi Fadel  |  Last update: August 14, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (34 votes)

Here are four compassionate things to consider saying:
  • 1. “ You're Not Alone” ...
  • “We're Working on Getting You Out” Discussing the steps being taken to secure their release can provide hope and alleviate anxiety. ...
  • “Focus on Your Well-being” Encourage them to prioritize their well-being while in jail. ...
  • “Plan for the Future”

How to make an inmate feel special?

Pictures and Letters: Sharing memories with your loved one is a great way to stay connected. Photos, letters, and postcards are some of the easiest items to send incarcerated individuals, and they can provide a powerful emotional connection.

How to encourage someone who is in jail?

Here are some tips for writing an encouraging letter to someone in jail: Express empathy and let them know you care. Acknowledge the difficulty of their situation and that you're thinking of them. Offer words of hope and encouragement. Remind them that this is a temporary situation and that better days are ahead.

How do you emotionally support someone in jail?

Psychological support is fairly easy, too. Accept the collect calls they make and talk with them as often as possible. Visit at every possible chance. Write letters and send cards in between calls and visits. In any case, be sure to keep it positive and supportive, and let them know you're there for them.

What to say instead of inmate?

IL-CHEP has compiled a list of terms that replace oppressive institutional terminology with empowering and uplifting language. Incarcerated Person: A person confined to a jail or prison. Formerly Incarcerated Person: A person who has been in a carceral setting.

HOW TO BE THERE FOR YOUR LOVED ONE IN PRISON OR JAIL(STEP BY STEP)

39 related questions found

What can you say to someone in jail?

Here are four compassionate things to consider saying:
  • 1. “ You're Not Alone” ...
  • “We're Working on Getting You Out” Discussing the steps being taken to secure their release can provide hope and alleviate anxiety. ...
  • “Focus on Your Well-being” Encourage them to prioritize their well-being while in jail. ...
  • “Plan for the Future”

What is a better term for inmates?

PHRASES TO USE INSTEAD

Offender, Inmate, Felon, Criminal, Convict, Prisoner, Delinquent. Person or individual with justice system involvement; Person or individual impacted by the justice system; Person or individual affected by the justice system. Ex-offender, Ex-con, Ex-Offender, Ex-Prisoner.

What is an uplifting quote for someone in jail?

“Every moment is a fresh beginning.” “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!” “You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

How do I give emotional support?

What emotional support can I offer?
  1. Listen. Simply giving someone space to talk, and listening to how they're feeling, can be really helpful in itself. ...
  2. Offer reassurance. Seeking help can feel lonely, and sometimes scary. ...
  3. Stay calm. ...
  4. Be patient. ...
  5. Try not to make assumptions. ...
  6. Keep social contact.

What to do when a friend is in jail?

Offer Support and a Source of Comfort

You may feel helpless, but it's important for you to retain your composure and be a source of strength and support for them. Whether you're there when they're arrested, speak with them on the phone or visit them at a holding facility, it's important to help them remain calm.

How do you get mental help for someone in jail?

You may be able to arrange for your loved one's psychiatrist to see them in jail (at the expense of the individual or family member financially responsible). The provider's treatment plan is usually reviewed by the Department of Corrections, which will inform the prison's mental health staff on any treatment decisions.

What is a good Bible verse for someone in jail?

Isaiah 41:10—So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. John 16:33—I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.

How do you talk to a loved one in jail?

The Department of Corrections (DOC) strongly encourages communication between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones. The primary ways to keep in touch are through phone calls, email, and mail.

What are 5 ways you can encourage or support someone who is incarcerated in jail?

  • Suggestion #1: Send Money if Possible. ...
  • Suggestion #2: Answer Your Loved One's Phone Calls. ...
  • Suggestion #3: Write Letters to a Loved One in Prison. ...
  • Suggestion #4: Visit Your Loved One in Prison. ...
  • Suggestion #5: Visit Your Loved One's Friends in Prison. ...
  • Suggestion #6: Communicate Positive Messages to Your Loved One in Prison.

What is a good prayer for someone in jail?

“Father, I am praying for inmates to look up to You and see Your glory. For their eyes to be opened for them to open their hearts and minds to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I pray that they see their need for saving grace and accept Christ as the true Messiah.

How do people feel when they go to jail?

Incarcerated people report feelings of disconnection, dehumanization, and despair. Some describe struggling to regulate their emotions while feeling helpless and alone, while others speak of withstanding their sentence.

How to give emotional support over text?

Here are some suggestions for language to use to achieve this outcome:
  1. “I'm here for you.”
  2. “What do you need right now?”
  3. “I'm happy to listen any time.”
  4. “I'm sorry you are going through this.”
  5. “That sounds really challenging.”
  6. “I can see how that would be difficult.”

What to say for moral support?

One way to show your moral support to someone is by expressing how grateful you are to have them in your life. Being vocal about what amazes you about this person will help them feel appreciated and supported.

What is an example sentence for emotional support?

The emotional support has been as important as the money. Without emotional or financial support from their dad, they must do without many things. As a result, until well into adulthood she relied for emotional support on the family's nanny.

What are 5 positive quotes?

5 Motivational Quotes to Inspire Every Aspirant
  • 1. “ Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” - ...
  • 2. “ ...
  • Success doesn't come to you, you've got to go to it. ...
  • There's no substitute for hard work. ...
  • You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. ...
  • The expert in anything was once a beginner.

How do I make an inmate feel special?

Plan a surprise visit, send them lengthy letters and pictures of the things you're doing bail bond. Make them feel involved in your life even though they're not physically present with you right now. Something as simple as remembering their birthdays and sending them a thoughtful message speaks volumes.

What psalm is for someone in jail?

Let's continue our study of Psalm 107. “ 10Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.” Second only to God's saving love, the next reason people are in trouble is they've rebelled.

What to say to an inmate?

What to write
  • Introduce yourself — tell them your name, general location, and how you found out about them.
  • Share things about yourself and the outside world. ...
  • Ask questions to get to know them — such as how they're doing, plans they have for the future, and what their interests are.

What is a person in jail called?

Inmate — person incarcerated in a local jail, state or federal prison, or private facility under contract to federal, state, or local authorities.

What is a nicer way to say inmate?

There are better alternatives—alternatives that center a person's humanity first and foremost. These include “person who was convicted of a crime,” “person who is incarcerated,” “person convicted of a felony,” and “person seeking lawful status.” These words and phrases matter.