You cannot call your inmate directly. This is one of the most important things to understand about staying in contact with someone who is incarcerated. All calls must be initiated by the inmate from inside the facility. There is no number you can dial to reach them directly. The phone system in correctional facilities is outbound only for inmates. When your inmate can call depends on several factors. First they must have money on their phone account.

Hi Theresa. Yes, InmateAid's discount phone service may be able to help you reduce the cost of calls from your stepson at the Lexington facility. Here is how it works. The rate you pay per minute depends on the relationship between your current phone number and the number your stepson calls from inside the facility. If your number is already local to the Lexington area you may already be paying the lower rate of around $0.06 per minute.

The cost of calls from jail or prison depends on several factors including the facility, the phone carrier contracted by that facility, and the distance between the facility and the number being called. Most facilities use contracted phone carriers such as Securus, GTL, or ICSolutions. Rates vary by carrier and by facility but typically fall somewhere between $0.06 and $0.21 per minute for domestic calls. Historically, the biggest factor affecting your rate was distance. Local numbers cost less

This is a common misunderstanding and the short answer is that the facility is mistaken about what InmateAid actually does. InmateAid has no direct relationship with any jail, prison, or correctional facility in the United States. We are not a service that operates inside facilities, interfaces with their phone systems, or requires their approval or cooperation. The facility cannot block InmateAid because InmateAid does not interact with them in any way. Here is what InmateAid's discount phone service

Being transferred to a new facility always creates a temporary communication gap and it is one of the most stressful periods for families waiting to hear from their loved one. After transfer the inmate goes through an intake and processing period at the new facility before phone access is restored. During this time they are being assessed, assigned to a housing unit, and set up in the new facility's systems including their phone account. The approved call list

Receiving your new InmateAid discount phone number means your account is set up and ready. That is great news. However there is one more step before your inmate can actually call you on it. Your inmate needs to add the new number to their approved call list at the facility before any calls can go through. Until that number is approved by the facility it will not connect even if your inmate tries to dial it. Here is

You will receive it in two ways simultaneously. A text message to the mobile number you provided during signup and an email to the address on your account. The number is also placed automatically in your Account Dashboard under your phone lines section so you always have access to it in one place. If two hours have passed and you have not received your number here is what to check. Look in your spam or junk folder. Automated

Making a phone call from inside a correctional facility is a straightforward process once everything is set up correctly. Here is how it works. Your inmate goes to the phone designated for inmate use in their housing unit. These are typically wall mounted phones in a common area accessible during specific times of day set by the facility. Phone access is not available around the clock. Your inmate will know their unit's designated phone hours once they are settled

Losing your phone when you are expecting calls from an incarcerated loved one is stressful but there are steps you can take right now to stay connected. First, if you have access to another phone, a friend's phone, a family member's phone, or a temporary replacement, contact InmateAid immediately at aid@inmateaid.com. We can update the forwarding number on your discount phone line to point to whatever number you currently have access to. Your inmate keeps calling the same number

Unfortunately there is no way to call your inmate directly to let them know. All calls must be initiated by the inmate from inside the facility. You cannot reach them by phone from the outside. The fastest way to get a message to them is through a letter. A letter sent through InmateAid typically arrives within 2 to 3 business days via USPS. Write clearly that their phone account has been funded and that you are ready and waiting