Ask Gideon

Process

How Ask Gideon Works

Ask Gideon is designed to make useful information more accessible to inmates and their families. The service is built to answer questions, explain issues, identify what may matter, and help users understand what records or general next steps may be needed.

Enroll and activate

Complete enrollment, confirm payment, and activate access in the program records.

Use approved access

Inmates may communicate through CorrLinks once the account is active.

Submit questions

Ask about legal, prison, BOP, reentry, or selected practical issues.

Receive Plain-English Information

Get clear explanations, issue spotting, records organization help, and general next-step information.

For Inmates

Once enrolled and activated, inmates may communicate with Ask Gideon through CorrLinks. Ask Gideon can respond to questions about prison-related issues, legal developments, BOP procedures, and selected practical topics.

For Families

Depending on the selected plan, one approved family contact may also be included. Family users may submit questions under the shared monthly question limit and may use the service to better understand legal and practical issues affecting a loved one.

What Ask Gideon Does

  • Answers general legal and procedural questions.
  • Explains prison, sentencing, post-conviction, and reentry-related issues.
  • Identifies legal or practical issues that may be worth exploring.
  • Helps users understand what records or information may be needed.
  • Helps with selected lower-risk drafting tasks.
  • Keeps users informed about current developments that may affect sentencing, BOP practices, or related legal issues.

What Ask Gideon Does Not Do

  • Ask Gideon is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
  • Use of Ask Gideon does not create an attorney-client relationship.
  • If a matter requires full case review, formal legal drafting, court representation, or individualized legal advice, the user should consult a licensed attorney.

Ask Gideon provides legal information, issue spotting, prison-information support, BOP-related information, post-conviction information, reentry support, and practical assistance only. Ask Gideon is not a law firm, does not provide legal representation, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not rely on Ask Gideon for urgent court deadlines or emergencies.