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
Phone access during quarantine is extremely limited. The quarantine period functions similarly to the SHU in terms of communication restrictions, meaning phone privileges are reduced to roughly one call per week rather than the standard schedule. Do not count on regular contact during those first two weeks.
There is also the orientation piece to consider. Even after quarantine ends, most facilities require inmates to complete an Admissions and Orientation process before full phone privileges are activated. If those two things overlap,...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, the service follows your partner wherever they go. The forwarding number InmateAid provides routes calls to your phone regardless of which facility your partner is calling from.
The one thing to be aware of is that different facilities use different phone carriers, and the carrier determines the rate structure. A number that produces the lowest rate at a county jail may not be the optimal number for the prison he moves to. When the transfer happens, let InmateAid know the...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, the inmate initiates the calls. If there is money on their books, they can call anyone.
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, that is exactly how it works. Give the InmateAid forwarding number to your inmate and have him add it to his approved call list at the facility. When he calls that number, it routes through to your phone while triggering the lower rate that InmateAid's number was chosen to produce.
InmateAid does not replace the prison phone system. Your inmate still calls through whatever carrier the facility uses, whether that is Securus, GTL, or another provider. What InmateAid does is...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
yes, it works perfectly with all carriers, too
Subject: Inmate phone calls
Yes, email us (aid@inmateaid.com) your new information and we will make that change for you
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You have a few options, and which one works fastest depends on your situation.
The most reliable method is sending a letter or postcard with the new number written clearly in the body of the message. InmateAid's letter and postcard service works well for exactly this kind of thing, and your personal address stays private in the process. Allow the usual 6 to 7 days for it to clear the mailroom and reach your inmate.
If timing is tight and your old...
Read moreSubject: Inmate phone calls
No, it can only be changed by the owner of the account... outside of the prison
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You have to have a Securus account regardless... but the phone number the inmate dials has a wide range of prices for the same call. So, an InmateAid number will make the Securus call price significantly lower
Subject: Inmate phone calls
You can send a letter or a postcard to give them the information.
