Inmate Phone Calls — Ask the Inmate
Prison phone calls are one of the most important lifelines between an incarcerated person and their family, and one of the most expensive. The prison phone industry has historically operated as a near-monopoly charging rates that few other consumer services would get away with. This section covers how the prison phone system works, why rates are so high and what has changed in recent years, how debit calling accounts function, how to get a number approved on an inmate's call list, how InmateAid's local number service reduces call costs by up to 70 percent, and what international callers need to know about reaching a US facility from another country. The questions answered here come from families who are paying too much for calls and from inmates trying to navigate phone access from inside. Understanding how the system works is the first step toward getting the most contact for the least cost. See also our sections on Money Transfer and Commissary.
Related InmateAid Services
If you think you are paying too much for the calls, you should definitely look into an InmateAid Discount Line. If we cannot save you money, we refund the fee - no questions asked. Or, email us your phone number and the prison or jail where your loved one is incarcerated and we will give you an honest estimate before you buy.
Read moreYes, per line for the county, state and ICE facilities ($19.95), and only $5.00 for a federal line (300 minutes)
Read moreNo, inmates cannot receive incoming calls - they must call you
Read moreYou have to know who the phone carrier is at the facility. You set up an "advance pay" account. IF your calls are more than $3.00 for 15 minutes, InmateAid's Discount Phone Service might be worth checking out. If we cannot save you money, we refund the transaction.
Read moreFederal inmates are allowed 300 minutes per month (400 mins Nov & Dec) - outbound calling only. They are 15-minutes each and are paid for from their Trulincs account (which can be funded by outside people or through the job they have inside). The calls are either SIX cents per minute (local) or TWENTY-ONE cents per minute (long-distance). InmateAid can get you a local line for almost all federal facilities for only $5.00. You save $45 per month!!
Read moreLet us know the name of the facility and your phone number - we will give you an honest estimate of the savings before you buy
Read moreYou will have to let them know. We offer a free letter to notify the inmate of their new number, email us and request a coupon code.
Read moreThe staff will not normally pass a phone number to an inmate but we know that it happens sometimes if you get an empathetic guard. Otherwise, you can send a postcard or letter to the jail and they will know for sure
Read moreYes for all of the months except November and December when they allow 400 "holiday minutes". The federal facilities have computers for inmates to check their commissary, phone and Corrlinks accounts.
Read moreThe 300 minutes that the inmate gets to use on a per month basis resets the same day every month by the BOP, however, that date is different for each inmate. The Service from InmateAid recharges every 30 days for only $5.
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