Is There a Free Way to Send Emails to an Inmate?

It depends on where your inmate is held and which platform the facility uses.

In the federal Bureau of Prisons system, the email program is called CorrLinks. On the outside family member's end, CorrLinks is free to use. You create an account, and your inmate invites you to connect from their end. The inmate pays for the service through their commissary account based on usage, but you pay nothing to send or receive messages through CorrLinks.

In state jails and prisons, the situation is different. Platforms like JPay, Securus, and GTL are the most common providers at state and county facilities, and these are paid services on both ends. You typically pay a fee per message or purchase a bundle of electronic message credits. The inmate also pays to receive messages on their end. Neither party gets it for free.

If your inmate is in the federal system, CorrLinks is the most cost-effective option for regular written communication outside of physical letters. If they are in a state or county facility, check which platform is used and review the current pricing before committing to a messaging plan. Costs vary by provider and sometimes by facility.

Physical letters sent through InmateAid remain one of the most affordable ways to maintain regular written contact at any facility type.