My Loved One Is Staying in Jail: A Family Guide for What Comes Next

Someone you love is staying in jail — and now you’re trying to figure out what happens next.

What happens if they can’t make bond? Why does court keep getting continued? What happens with plea deals or sentencing? How do you stay connected? What should you be keeping track of now?

My Loved One Is Staying in Jail was created for the families, partners, parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends trying to navigate the days, weeks, and sometimes months that can follow when someone they love remains incarcerated.

Created by Deputy Gray from firsthand corrections experience and the questions families asked again and again, this practical guide helps make a confusing process easier to understand — without complicated language.

Inside, you'll find guidance on:

• Understanding bond, court delays, continuances, plea deals, trial, and sentencing

• Staying connected through phone calls, visits, and letters

• Managing commissary and money without losing control of your own finances

• Supporting children and maintaining family routines

• Keeping your own life moving while supporting someone who is incarcerated

• Preparing for what may come next

You didn't plan for this.

You don't have to know all the answers.

But the sooner you understand what questions to ask and what you may need to prepare for, the less you're left trying to figure out everything as it happens.

A bad decision doesn't have to become a bad life.

This moment is only part of the story. It doesn't have to be the whole story.

Part of the Build & Become™ Family Support Collection from Tales from the Jail — Deputy Gray.

Digital download. For educational and informational purposes only. This resource is not legal advice.