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
No, there are no monthly plans from the carrier at the jail/prison. The service is contracted by government bid to about 30 prison phone carriers (GlobalTel*Link, SecurusTech, PayTel, ICSolutions, CityTeleCoin, NCIC, Reliance, Telmate, Encartele, Legacy, Correct Solutions Group to name a few). Only one wins the contract and by definition, they are a monopoly. You now pay their rates whatever they are. Some calls are over $20.00 for 15 minutes.
There are other plans similar to our Discount Phone Plan. You can...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Absolutely! The companies that have the local contracts have varying rates. We find the best number for each unique facility. Sometimes the best rate is a local number, other times it's a number from outside of your state that lowers the call price. Send us the name of the facility and your telephone number, we will give you an honest estimate of the savings, if any.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Either call the facility and speak with a case manager or counselor, they have the power to reinstate your line.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
If you are sent to a prison to serve out a sentence, there are no free calls. The calls are initiated by the inmate, but they must have money in their account or money on a phone plan on the outside. If you are going to speak with him more than once a week, check with our Discount Telephone Service to see if additional savings can be gotten with a new number.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Of course they are. We have served thousands of folks who have an inmate where CityTeleCoin has the contract.
InmateAid's Discount Telephone Service is not a replacement for the phone service at the jail, we provide a number that will make the calls cheaper when you use it. We have found a number that is going to be more beneficial.
If you have received calls from your inmate already, you've seen the 318 area code on the caller ID. To get the lowest priced inmate calls, we get you a telephone number matching the rate center...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
The approval process is based on the actual person, not a phone number. Approved people are allowed to change their number at any time for any reason. If this occurs, the facility staff does not have to relay the new number to the inmate. They might, but the rules are against staff passing notes from the outside. You know inmateAID has two services to do just that. Please let us know if you need further help.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Every new or incoming inmate goes through an orientation period before phone and visitation privileges are activated. This process typically takes about a week, though it can run a little shorter or longer depending on the facility's intake workload and scheduling.
During that window, the inmate is getting classified, processed, and briefed on the facility's rules and programs. Phone access, visiting lists, and commissary access all get set up as part of that orientation, not before it.
If you have not heard...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
It depends on which type of service you purchased, and the two main options work differently when it comes to refunds.
If you purchased phone minutes or deposited money into a calling account and those funds went unused, most carriers will refund some or all of the remaining balance. The specific refund policy varies by carrier, so contacting them directly with your account information is the fastest way to find out what you are entitled to and how to request it.
If...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Three-way calls are dangerous for the inmate. Remember, there is a process to be able to receive a call from an inmate. The "no three-way call" rule is actually a rule worthy of enforcement as it allows for an unapproved call recipient to communicate with the inmate. This is considered dangerous for the staff and for the public at large. The prisons and jails spend a lot of money to stop it from happening. Their is software detection on the...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Our phone service is perfect for folks in your situation. All inmate calls to Puerto Rico are about $1.00/minute or $15.00 per each 15-minute call. We would get you a local state-side phone number that when called would ring to your PR number but only charge the $1.65 local charge per each 15-minute call. You still use the service at the prison or jail, but use the number we give you to arrange the account. There is a $13.00+ savings per call...
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