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.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
How do I speak with an inmate besides putting money on the account? How do he know I’m reaching out?
There are limited ways to "speak to an inmate". The obvious ways are with the telephone, but the inmate must initiate the call. For them to do that, there needs to be an account set up somewhere. Visitation is another way. Writing letters is another way to communicate. All of these methods are going to have some costs associated, unfortunately. Getting locked up is more expensive to the friends and family on the outside than for the inmate on the inside....
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Your husband adds the LOCAL number to his Trulincs account inside the prison. They have computer terminals inside the rec room which is also where they send emails via Coorlinks. There is nothing for you to do but answer the phone!!
Subject: Inmate phone calls
InmateAid is not replacing the phone service inside the jail. InmateAid makes the calls cheaper by identifying the carriers and their published rates then applying an algorithm to determine the price of a 15-minute call with their current number or a number that makes the same call less expensive. We can save money on calls in 75% of the cases. For instance, in all federal prisons, a local call is $0.06/minute vs $0.21/minute for long-distance calls. If your inmate uses all...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Via email, text message and it is displayed in your Account Dashboard
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You would have to be on Jodi Arias' visitor list. She would have to initiate any phone calls, you cannot call the prison to talk to her.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes an inmate can use their commissary money to make phone calls (to any number), and no... on your prepaid account add only your number and that is the only one they can call
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You cannot call an inmate, they must initiate the call.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You shouldn't visit, but him calling you shouldn't raise any red flags
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, during the pandemic, inmate calls were free. They are no longer free and if you are paying more than $3 per 15 minutes, get an InmateAid Discount Phone line
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Not unless they have a smuggled, illegal cellphone in their cell
