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
No, inmates cannot receive calls. Inmates may only make outbound calls to phone numbers on their approved calling list. They must have money on their account to connect the call. Inmates may also call you "collect", although this is the most expensive way to receive calls. Click here to set up an account
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, that is the only way an inmate may communicate by phone because they cannot receive an incoming phone call.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Depends on where your inmate is. Federal, the approval is instant. State prisons require a little more time. County there is no approval list, the inmate just dials out if they have money on their books.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Unfortunately no, the inmate must have money on their books for them to make an outbound call to you.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
No. if they have access, they are looking for more charges added to their case.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
It took about a week to get everything approved and set up
Subject: Inmate phone calls
When you order the phone line, the process is automated by software to the utility for procurement. Once the utility issues the phone line, there are no refunds from them, therefore we cannot issue refunds either. The no refund policy is displayed in several places on the site before you sign up so that there are no misunderstandings. We go so far to say, "if you buy the service on Monday and the inmate gets released on Tuesday, there are no...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
The fix depends on how the calls got blocked in the first place, and there are two separate places the block could be sitting.
If you blocked the calls on your personal phone, through your carrier's call blocking feature, a third party app, or your phone's built-in blocking settings, you can unblock them directly on your end without involving the facility at all. Go into your phone settings or call blocking app, find the number associated with the facility's phone carrier,...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
No, inmates cannot receive incoming calls. You can only receive calls from the inmate. Depending on your telephone number, InmateAid might be able to substantially reduce that incoming call. Email us for an honest estimate.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes there is, but the savings are only $0.60 per call. Marshall County Jail uses Telmate. The calls are either $3.75 or $3.15 depending on your phone number. Let us know if you would like our help getting the calls for $3.15.
