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.
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It depends on a number of factors - What facility is your inmate in? Is it a county, state or federal facility? Where are you (your area code and NXX numbers, which are the second set of three numbers)? Once we area able match the rate center of the prison to your phone number we can determine locality. Local calls are almost always less than long distance except in some states where Securus has the contract; and they are making
Read moreIf the line is set up and operational but calls are not coming through, the most common explanation is that an additional step needs to be completed with the facility's contracted phone carrier before the number can actually be dialed from inside. InmateAid provides the local phone number and confirms it is active on our end. But the number also needs to be registered and approved within the jail's own phone system before your inmate can use it. That
Read moreThe flat rate is $19.95 - tax is included in that figure. To activate your number, we will need good funds in that amount
Read morecard declined a couple times
Read moreIf a monthly payment is declined, your discount phone number is not permanently lost. InmateAid holds the number for you and no one else can be assigned that number while your account is being resolved. Once the payment is made successfully, the number is reinstated and your inmate can continue using it without having to go through the facility approval process again. The number stays yours. If you added funds to your card and believe the payment should
Read moreYes, that is exactly how it works. After you receive your local number, you still need to set up and fund an account with Global Tel Link (GTL). Here is the process: Get your new local number Contact GTL or log into your account Add that number as the approved number for calls Deposit funds into that account Once that is done: Your inmate calls the new number GTL connects the call You are billed at the lower
Read moreThis is a genuinely difficult situation and options are limited, but there are a few things worth trying. Contact the facility's chaplain. Ask specifically whether the facility has an indigent communication program that allows inmates with no funds to make at least one call to notify family. Some jails have provisions for this, particularly for recently arrested individuals who have not yet had any contact with the outside. The chaplain is often the most accessible person to ask.
Read moreNo, inmates are not allowed to have cell phones at Cooper Street Correctional Facility or any other prison. Cell phones are considered contraband, and being caught with one can lead to: Disciplinary action inside the facility Loss of privileges (phone, commissary, visitation) Additional criminal charges and more time added to the sentence How communication actually works: Inmates must use the facility’s approved phone system Calls are monitored and recorded They can only call approved numbers About call costs:
Read moreOur program will bring the cost of each phone call to the lowest possible price - but it depends on the facility, where it is located and who the current provider is that services that facility. A good general range is from $0.50 - $3.00. Most calls are in the $1.25 - $1.75 range. Let us know the details and we will try and give you a more accurate rate.
Read morePhone numbers purchased through InmateAid are processed overnight and assigned by 7am the following morning depending on where your order falls in the processing queue. What Happens After You Purchase Once your order is complete it enters the overnight processing queue. Numbers are assigned and activated in the order they are received. If you purchased early in the day your number will typically be ready by 7am the next morning. If you purchased late in the evening it
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