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
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes he will, but he might have an issue if the new carrier has higher rates for a different set of numbers. It is best to check with us so that we can match rate center with the new carrier. If there is a better option with a different number than the one we've provided, there is no charge for us to switch the number for you. Please send us the new facility carrier and we will check it for...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Yes there is. It depends on where you are and where your inmate is incarcerated. There are over ten-thousand jails and prisons and they all do things differently. The best thing for you to do is email us (aid@inmateaid.com) your phone number with the name of the jail/prison, we will respond with an honest estimate of the savings. Sometimes the savings are as much as $12-13 per call and sometimes we cannot save you anything. We will let you know...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Prepaid phones are no problem when you have an InmateAid Discount Phone line, we provide a land line that will forward to any kind of phone. If you have questions or concerns email aid@inmateaid.com. Send us your telephone number and the name of the jail, we will send you an honest estimate of the savings and benefits.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
This is a situation InmateAid was designed to help with, and there is a workable solution even from South Korea.
The fundamental rule does not change regardless of where you are stationed. Inmates initiate all calls; they cannot receive incoming calls. Your inmate dials out through the facility's phone system and the call routes to whatever number is on their approved list.
The solution for overseas situations is to set up a local phone number near the facility that forwards to a...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
A lot is happening in this situation and breaking it down piece by piece gives the clearest picture of what to expect.
DVI Tracy is a reception center, which means your husband is still being processed and classified before getting a permanent housing assignment. The mentions of Folsom or Corcoran are significant because both are high-security Level 4 facilities and that designation reflects the validated gang status and current SHU placement.
In California, the term validated means the California Department of Corrections...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Yes you can do this all on the website. As long as you have the information and a valid credit or debit card, the new phone lines are emailed to you 24/7/365 - If you are having any problems, please call our offices to set this up 866-966-7100
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, in most cases depending on the institutions
Subject: Inmate phone calls
GlobalTel*Link (GTL) or connectnetwork.com is a real prison phone company. Globaltel.com is a company that uses the name of that prison phone company to trick you into thinking you are using the real GTL. They are not!
InmateAid is not a replacement for the real GTL, we get you numbers that you use with GTL to make the calls less expensive. If you are long distance from a prison or jail, the cost of a 15-minute GTL call is about $6.00....
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Is paying $14.99 per call to the phone service at the jail a scam? The discount phone service gets a telephone number (forwarded onto your current line) that reduces what the prison phone service can charge you. All it does is save money, the phone companies hate it and will tell you it's a scam while they are taking your money in big piles for simple 15 minute phone calls because they have a monopoly on the service to your...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
This is controled at the facility level and the calls are usually 15 minutes. There are exceptions but 15-minute calls are the standard,
Subject: Inmate phone calls
No, inmates may not receive incoming calls.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
The most logical way is the InmateAid Discount Telephone Service which will bring the price of those calls to about $2.00. For us to give you an accurate estimate we would need to know the name of the facility and your telephone number. We will do a rate center match with the phone company software are give you an honest quote.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Contact us, we know for 100% certainty we can get the call down to $3.00. Before you sign up, send us your number and the name and state of the jail and we will give you an honest estimate of the savings
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Our service is not a replacement for NCIC; we make using them less expensive by getting you a number that is in a better rate category. The phone service at the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center is set up through a bid process. NCIC has the only contract for all inmate outbound calling and to tape record the calls. Therefore, you have to use them to receive calls. The choice is whether you pay NCIC for a long-distance call or a...
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