Does commissary money cover inmate phone calls

Putting money on an inmate’s commissary account can allow them to make phone calls, but it depends on how that facility’s phone system is set up.

There are two common ways calls are paid for:

1. Inmate pays from commissary funds:

• Money you send goes into their account
• They can use it to buy phone time or calling cards
• Downside: they can also spend it on other items, not just calls

2. You set up a phone account:

• You create and fund an account with the facility’s phone provider
• Calls are billed to that account when you accept them

How to put money on your phone account:

• Find out which phone company the facility uses
• Create an account with that provider
• Add funds using a debit or credit card

Important cost tip:

• Calls are much more expensive if they are long distance
• Using a local number setup can reduce costs by a large amount

Bottom line:

• Commissary money may cover calls, but not always reliably
• A dedicated phone account gives more control
• Combining a phone account with a local number is usually the most cost-effective option