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
When you order the phone line, the process is automated by software to the utility for procurement. Once the utility issues the phone line, there are no refunds from them, therefore we cannot issue refunds either. The no refund policy is displayed in several places on the site before you sign up so that there are no misunderstandings. We go so far to say, "if you buy the service on Monday and the inmate gets released on Tuesday, there are no
Read moreYou have to call the institution and speak to the "case manager" or "counselor" that oversees your inmate's programming. They can unblock the line for you.
Read moreNo, inmates cannot receive incoming calls. You can only receive calls from the inmate. Depending on your telephone number, InmateAid might be able to substantially reduce that incoming call. Email us for an honest estimate.
Read moreYes there is, but the savings are only $0.60 per call. Marshall County Jail uses Telmate. The calls are either $3.75 or $3.15 depending on your phone number. Let us know if you would like our help getting the calls for $3.15.
Read moreYou pay for the line and it is our knowledge of the system that allocates a phone number that you use with the prison phone company to save money. Sometimes there are no savings (we refund the deposit), other times there is a savings of $2-$4 per call, and the best we do is where some county jails are getting $15-25 per 15-minute call... our fee of $20 is covered by the savings. If you talk a lot, this is
Read morethere are no limits as long as they have money on their phone account or someone on the other end accepts the call as "collect".
Read moreNormally there would be no phone use during a lockdown. However, if the inmate has a phone in their cell, they can still use it, unless the lockdown was so serious they cut the phones off entirely.
Read moreFirst and foremost, know that there is only one option for a phone provider at ALL the facilities in the US. The one that has the contract, sets the rates and terms... essentially a monopoly at the prison. We are not replacing them, we are using their pricing to find the best possible phone number to make the calls the cheapest possible price. If we can save you money, we will get the line, if not we refund the money... immediately.
Read moreThe system has a keyword checker much like a search engine. If it hears one of those words, it'll cause a violation. If there is a third voice on the line, it'll trigger a violation. There are also live correction officers listening in real time (not always, just spot checking from time-to-time), the inmate may not have any conversation about "business dealings", so if the guard hears talk of money or business directions that could trigger a violation. One thing is
Read moreThe inmate determines who they want on their call list, and unless there is something within the offender's file that would obviate a candidate, anyone can be a visitor. Unless the visitor is a felon, then it would require permission from the warden.
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