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
It varies depending on the facility rules. If they are in county, there is no restriction. If they are in state or federal, there is an approval process that could take a couple days or a couple weeks.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
The reception center has more strict guidelines for inmate calling. There is an orientation period (maybe 2 weeks) that has to be completed before the inmates may submit their call list to the administration for approval.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
A transfer within the same state system, from Bledsoe County Correctional Complex to Northwest Correctional Complex, both Tennessee Department of Correction facilities, is significantly smoother than an interstate or county-to-state transfer in terms of how quickly privileges carry over.
Because both facilities operate under the same TDOC system, your boyfriend's existing approvals, account information, and general status transfer with him rather than requiring the full orientation and intake process that a new system entry would trigger. Phone access in this situation...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
The phone carrier is CityTeleCoin. All calls are over $5.00 unless you are in Shreveport LA, then the calls are $1.85. Our Discount Phone Service would get you that Shreveport number, it would ring on your regular number (forwarded). You still have to use CityTeleCoin but set the account up with our number to save over $3.00 per call. If you want to try it for a month, let us know and we will email you a coupon code for...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
For Sterling Correctional Facility in the Colorado Department of Corrections, the answer is straightforward. OffenderConnect.com is the designated provider for CDOC facilities and it is the only platform you need for this situation.
What makes OffenderConnect different from most prison phone carriers is their rate structure. They charge the same flat rate for all calls regardless of whether you are in Colorado or anywhere else in the country. That eliminates the in-state versus out-of-state rate disparity that drives up costs at...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
No, the Sumter County Prison uses Bealls Communication. The calls are $5.45 per 15 minute call. If you are local to Americus Georgia the same call to a local number is only $1.85. If you are not a local call, we can get you an Americus number on a non-contract basis, month-to-month for $19.95. If your inmate calls more than once a week, the savings will pay our fee. If you speak everyday, you will love this service.
If you want to try it,...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
It depends on the facility and how their phone approval system works, and the answer matters practically for why the calls may not be coming through.
Some facilities approve the person as a contact rather than the specific phone number, which means a number change on your end does not require a new approval process. In those systems, updating your number on JPay or the carrier's platform is sufficient and calls should come through to the new number without any additional...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Usually within one hour of purchase. If you haven't seen the email with the new number yet, check your spam folder... sometimes the first email from us ends up there.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
SCI Camp Hill in the Pennsylvania State Prisons Systems - The prison phone provider for setting up prepaid accounts is SecurusTech. You may set up prepaid accounts online at Securus Website. All calls are $0.06 per minute - no matter where that number is to, all calls are the same price.
The InmateAid Discount Telephone Service would not help make the calls any cheaper. All telephone numbers are the same rate so getting a line from us is not beneficial for any of the PA DOC state prisons.
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Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
You do not need the inmate ID number to get a Discount Phone Service account. All you need is the correct facility and we will find the best number for the lowest price, no contracts, no hassle.
