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, it works perfectly with all carriers, too
Read moreYes, email us (aid@inmateaid.com) your new information and we will make that change for you
Read moreeither by postcard, letter, they can call the old number once more or you can convince someone in the administration to pass the new number to your inmate (unlikely but sometimes it works)
Read moreNo, it can only be changed by the owner of the account... outside of the prison
Read moreThe 23-hour lockdown is real, but some cells have a payphone in them. If that is the case then there are no limits (except the prepaid money on their books).
Read moreYou have to have a Securus account regardless... but the phone number the inmate dials has a wide range of prices for the same call. So, an InmateAid number will make the Securus call price significantly lower
Read moreYou can send a letter or a postcard to give them the information.
Read moreYes, absolutely!
Read moreusually about a week. there is an orientation that they must complete before the phones are open to them
Read moreNot really, the phones are open from 6:30 am to 9:30 pm with a couple of hours blocked off in the middle of the day when the inmates are supposed to be at their work assignment
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