How Do I Set Up Cheaper Calls From a Far Away Prison?

InmateAid's discount telephone service is exactly what you need, and getting it set up is straightforward.

Here is how it works. InmateAid provides you with a local phone number in the same rate center as your son's facility. Instead of your son dialing a long distance number and triggering expensive long distance rates through the prison's phone carrier, he dials the local InmateAid number instead. That call routes directly to your existing phone. The prison's carrier still handles the call, but because the number is local, the per-minute rate drops significantly. Most families save $10 or more per call.

To get started, create an account on InmateAid if you have not already and navigate to the Discount Telephone section of your account dashboard. Click Add a Local Line and complete the information including the facility name and the phone number you want calls forwarded to. InmateAid will assign a local number and send it to you by email, typically within a few hours.

Once you have the number, your son needs to submit it to his counselor or case manager at the facility to get it added to his approved call list. In the federal system this is done through a telephone request form. In state facilities the process is similar but may vary slightly. Once the number is approved on the facility's end, your son dials it the same way he would any other approved contact.