How Does an Inmate Know When Money Has Been Added to Their Phone Account

Once money has been added to your inmate's phone account, the facility notifies them through their internal communication system. How your inmate receives that notification depends on the facility.

At most prisons and jails, inmates are alerted through the housing unit phones — they will see the updated balance when they next attempt to make a call. Some facilities also have internal computer terminals or kiosks on the housing unit where inmates can check their account balance directly.

The notification is not always immediate. Processing times vary by facility and by the money transfer provider used. In most cases your inmate will be aware of the new balance within 24 to 48 hours of the deposit being made.

If your inmate is not seeing the funds after 48 hours, the best first step is to contact the facility directly and confirm the deposit was applied to the correct account number.