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
Yes, but they cannot make one call after another. The is a bank of phones that are for use by all of the inmates. Inmates might have to wait 30 minutes or more to get a phone to use. After their call, the system will not allow for another call for 30 minutes or more (giving others the opportunity to make calls).
Read moreThe facility uses GlobalTel*Link, website offenderconnect.com to get signed up. If you are in Philadelphia, the calls are actually the most expensive and InmateAid can and will get the calls to the lowest price GTL offers for that facility because it is all about the phone number you are using.
Read moreCorrect, they must first go through Admissions and Orientation. Once they have completed that successfully, they will be allowed to make phone calls and have visitation.
Read moreThe Discount Phone line is for one number at a time. You can register multiple lines (multiple lines are discounted) but they must be set up with separate forward-to numbers.
Read moreThere is no limit, it's up to the amount of money available on the inmate's phone account.
Read moreyes, in most cases
Read moreThe inmate either needs money on their books to make an outbound call, or they can make a collect call (the MOST expensive way to the recipient) OR someone on the outside can arrange to place money at the phone carrier (called Advance Pay). The third option normally has two pricing tiers and this is where InmateAid can make a substantial difference. Some pre-paid calls are as much as $15-20 per 15-minutes, InmateAid can get the same call for $3.00
Read moreIt only takes a minute, if you talk a lot it'll be worth it. When your inmate gets moved after the hurricane to another facility, we will change the number to the new location at no charge.
Read moreThere is only one company that services that facility - Securus Technologies. Depending on your location, an InmateAid number will get the calls at the cheapest rate Securus charges. It's the phone number that saves you money.
Read moreThe inmate cannot receive calls, they have to initiate them. If you are out of the country, the inmate will have to pay the international rates for the company that has the service contract at the facility to call you.
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