Can inmates make long distance calls cheaper

Yes, inmates can effectively make long distance calls at much lower rates by using a service like InmateAid’s discount telephone system.

At Creek County Jail, calls to you in Arizona would normally be billed as long distance. Those rates can range anywhere from about $0.23 to over $1.00 per minute depending on the provider, which adds up quickly.

Here is how the discount service helps:

• You are assigned a local phone number that matches the area near the jail
• Your boyfriend calls that number as a local call instead of long distance
• The call is then routed to you, reducing the per-minute cost significantly

Typical comparison:

• Long distance: around $0.23 per minute or higher
• Local rate: around $0.05 to $0.06 per minute

That means:

• 300 minutes could cost about $69 at long distance rates
• The same usage could be closer to $18 using a local number

There is a monthly fee for the line, but the savings usually outweigh the cost, especially if you talk frequently. Higher usage, like 1000 minutes per month, can lead to even bigger savings.

The key point is that the inmate is still making the call and paying for it, but by dialing a local number instead of a long distance one, the cost per minute drops significantly.