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, you still have to go through GTL. The discount phone service does not replace the prison phone company, it works with it to lower the cost.
Here is how to set it up correctly:
1. Set up your GTL account
Go to the GTL system and create your account as you normally would.
2. Use the number provided to you
When registering, use the local number you were given, not your personal phone number.
That is the number your inmate will call.
3. How it works together
Your...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
You can access the number through your My Account area of the website after you have logged in. Click on "Discount Telephone" and go to the red button that says "Add Local Line". Then add your inmate's state, prison name, their name and ID number and the telephone number you want the new line to ring to.
Then select the Monthly (300 minutes) or Quarterly (1000 minutes) Plan and then go to the "Pay Now" page. Once you have completed the transaction,...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Yes. Correctional facilities are required under the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide deaf and hard of hearing inmates with reasonable accommodations for communication, and that includes telephone access.
The most common solution at facilities that serve deaf inmates is a TTY machine, also called a TDD, which allows typed text communication over a phone line. Facilities are required to have TTY equipment available for inmates who need it, and family members on the outside need a compatible TTY device or...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Your inmate can call home by calling collect but AT&T does not have the contract with the jail, you will be paying GTL for this collect call. Please be mindful that this is the most expensive way of receiving and inmate call, it will cost at least $14.99 per 15 minutes. GTL has a prepaid option through their website. The cost of the calls vary depending upon where the call connects. If you are inter-state long distance, the cost of...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
The phone service at a particular correctional center is set
up through bid process. In this case, Global Tel*Link has the contract for all
inmate outbound calling and to tape record the calls - essentially a monopoly.
Therefore, you have to use them to receive any calls. The choice is whether you
pay GTL for a long distance call (to your number) or a local call (to a number
that we get you). If you are already local, we cannot save you money.
We get you...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
There is no single cheapest solution that applies to every jail or prison because the phone service at each facility is controlled by a contracted provider that sets its own pricing. Companies like Securus, GTL, and ICSolutions operate under exclusive contracts with individual facilities, which means the rate you pay is largely dictated by whichever company holds the contract at that specific location. Shopping around between providers is not an option the way it would be for a regular phone...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
You will need to get that number to him either by mail, in-person or on the telephone. the jail personnel will not forward the message.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
If your inmate calls are routing through a long distance number to you, the VERY best way is to get a line that is matched to the rate center of the prison. The prison phone companies normally charge much higher rates for long distance calls versus local calls. We can get a better rate through this matching process. Our fee is $19.95 which is covered by the savings in about 4-5 calls in most cases. Depending on the number of...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Unfortunately you will have to get the number to your inmate as the prisons will not relay messages of any kind from the outside into an inmate. We have a reliable letter service that you may use - ask us and we will provide a coupon code to send the new local number to your inmate.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
The service starts working very quickly, usually within about an hour after you sign up.
Here is how it works step by step:
1. You sign up and complete payment
Once your order is processed, a new local phone number is created for you that matches the area of the facility.
2. You receive your new number
This is typically sent to you by email within about an hour. At that point, the number is active and ready to use.
3. You must give the number...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
The phone service at
the all of the jails and prisons are set up through bid process. Whoever has the contract for
all inmate outbound calling and to tape record the calls has a monopoly contract.
Therefore, you have to use them to receive calls. The choice is whether you pay
them for a long distance call or a local call. The price is usually a pretty sizable difference
Here is how it
works... We get you a local line matching the rate center of town...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
All inmates must go through the Admission and Orientation Program which is designed to help them understand their responsibilities and the rules of the institution. Each inmate will typically be interviewed by their Case Manager and Correctional Counselor within the first seven days after commitment to the institution. During their orientation, they will also participate in various lectures, examinations, tests, and interviews. This means that numerous staff members, at one time or another, will participate directly or indirectly in the inmate's...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
No, the inmate will not automatically know to call you just because you signed up for the discount phone service.
When you sign up, you will be given a new local number, but it is up to you to get that number to the inmate. Facilities do not pass along phone numbers or messages on your behalf.
Here is what you need to do:
Send the new number to the inmate in a letter
Make sure they clearly understand that this is the number...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
If he got moved, you might need another number. If you do, we will get it for you at no additional charge. If they are both in the TDCJ, the carrier is going to remain Securus but we will check to see if you need another number. The Texas number you have would be the same price you've been paying, but we found another number that would carve another $0.75 off the per-call price. Would you like that number?
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Here is how the discount phone service works for a federal facility like FCI Allenwood:
Step 1: Sign up for the service
Go into your InmateAid account and select the Discount Telephone Service. You will enter:
State: Pennsylvania
Facility: FCI Allenwood
Your phone number
Your inmate’s name
Then choose the monthly plan and complete payment.
Step 2: Receive your local number
After you sign up, you will be given a new local phone number that is matched to the Allenwood area. This usually happens pretty quickly after your order...
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