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
Within the first week of completed orientation
Read morewe can change the forward-to number. please let us know the details and we will make the change immediately... SEND INQUIRY TO: aid@inmateaid.com
Read morethe only "sure way" is a postcard or a letter letting them know the specifics
Read moreThe phone system through InmateAid allows you to "use a local number" inside the United States so that your inmate doesn't have to absorb the high cost of international calls
Read moreYou cannot call an inmate, the inmate MUST initiate the call. If you want to get the conversation started, send them a postcard with your number on it
Read moreBuenos días. Entendemos su confusión y estamos aquí para ayudarle. Hay dos pasos importantes que deben completarse antes de que su familiar pueda llamarle. Primero - comparta el número nuevo con su familiar Cuando se registró en el servicio de llamadas de InmateAid, recibió un número de teléfono nuevo por mensaje de texto y por correo electrónico. Ese número también está disponible en su panel de cuenta en InmateAid. Este es el número que su familiar debe marcar
Read moreMaybe send them a postcard with your number on it
Read moreInmate phone privileges begin after orientation, usually within the first two weeks. They will have to have some money in their inmate account or they could call you collect (THE most expensive prison call). If they have money to call, they can call every day...
Read moreYes
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