Connecticut is one of the simplest states in this series and one of the most important to get right, because it made history.
On June 16, 2021, Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 972 into law. Connecticut became the first state in the nation to make all prison communications free, covering voice calls, email, and video. Calls became free on July 1, 2022 for adult facilities (fully effective by October 2022). The state now pays Securus Technologies directly for the service.
There are also no county jails in Connecticut. The state abolished county government in 1960. Every facility in Connecticut - whether it holds pretrial detainees or sentenced inmates - is operated by the Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC). One agency, one set of rules, one vendor.
CT DOC uses "inmates," "offenders," and "incarcerated individuals" across its materials.
THE CONNECTICUT DOC PHONE SYSTEM
Phone calls, emails, and video calls from all Connecticut DOC facilities are free to both the incarcerated person and the people they contact.
Connecticut contracted with Securus Technologies at a state-paid rate of $30 per incarcerated person per month for phone calls and $15 per person per month for emails, under a three-year contract running through August 2026. The cost to the state runs approximately $9.5 million per year, funded through the general fund. Families pay nothing for voice calls, emails, or video calls.
What SB 972 guarantees
The law specifies that communications services "shall be free of charge to the person initiating or receiving the communication." Key provisions:
- All voice calls are free
- Email (e-messaging) is free
- Video calls and video visits are free
- Inmates are guaranteed a minimum of 90 minutes of free calls per day
- In-person visits cannot be replaced or supplanted by video visits
- The state may not receive commission revenue from phone services
Call rules
While calls are free, the rules governing them remain in force under Administrative Directive 10.7 (Inmate Communication):
- Each inmate may have up to 10 phone numbers on their approved call list
- Calls are limited to 15 minutes in length
- Calling hours: 6:00am to 11:00pm; there is no required waiting period between calls
- All calls are recorded and may be monitored, except calls to verified attorneys
- Attorney calls (privileged calls) are not recorded
- Credit card calls, third-party billing, call forwarding, transfers, and any method that circumvents the billing system are prohibited
- Inmates may update their phone list once every 30 days
- Inmates in restricted status: limited to one 15-minute call per week plus attorney calls, or only approved-cause calls depending on the restriction type
Inmates place all outgoing calls. Families cannot call into the facility.
Setting up a Securus account
Even though calls are free, families may still need to set up a Securus account to receive calls and to access paid optional services like premium tablet content.
Online: securustech.net
Phone: 1-800-844-6591 (landline/international) or 972-734-1111 (mobile)
The CT DOC Inmate Phone System page at portal.ct.gov/DOC/Miscellaneous/Inmate-Phone-System links to the Securus information pamphlet in English and Spanish, and the Personal Account Number (PAN) feature.
Emergency calls
An inmate may request an emergency call with approval from the shift commander or unit manager. Emergency calls are monitored and documented in the facility log book. If indigent, the cost is waived; otherwise it is at the inmate's expense.
Removing your number from an inmate's call list
Call the facility and ask to speak to the Lieutenant's Office. Provide the inmate's name and DOC number, your name and relationship, and your phone number. Staff will remove the number.
Tablets
All Connecticut DOC inmates received individual tablets starting in 2021. The tablets run on the JPay/Securus platform and can be used to make calls, send emails, and access educational materials - all free under SB 972. Some premium content such as movies, games, and other media is available for purchase on the tablet at extra cost.
Securus maintains the tablet infrastructure; tablet issues and account questions go through Securus customer service.
CT DOC facilities
Connecticut operates 13 active correctional facilities (five additional facilities are currently closed due to a multi-decade low in the population). All use the same Securus phone system and the same free-call policy:
MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution (Suffield)
Garner Correctional Institution (Newtown)
Cheshire Correctional Institution (Cheshire)
Northern Correctional Institution (Somers)
New Haven Correctional Center (New Haven)
Osborn Correctional Institution (Somers)
Manson Youth Institution (Cheshire)
York Correctional Institution (Niantic) - women's facility
Brooklyn Correctional Institution (Brooklyn)
Corrigan-Radgowski Correctional Center (Uncasville)
Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution (Enfield)
Hartford Correctional Center, 177 Weston St., Hartford CT 06120 | 959-200-3000
Bridgeport Correctional Center, 1106 North Ave., Bridgeport CT 06604 | 475-225-8000
Find an inmate (DOC number, name, and date of birth): ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us/searchop.asp
No county jails
Connecticut abolished county government in 1960. There are no county sheriffs operating separate jails. All pretrial detention, remand, and incarceration happens within the CT DOC system under the same rules and the same free-call policy. Families of people held at any Connecticut DOC facility - whether sentenced or awaiting trial - can receive calls free of charge.
Note on the Securus contract
The current Securus contract runs through August 2026. As of June 2026, no announcement of a new contract or vendor change has been found. Verify before publishing whether the contract has been renewed, extended, or rebid - and whether any service or policy changes accompany a new contract.
What to do
1. Find the inmate's DOC number and facility at ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us/searchop.asp
2. Set up a Securus account at securustech.net or by calling 1-800-844-6591
3. Calls, emails, and video are free - no payment required to receive a call
4. Wait for the inmate to call from a facility phone or tablet during calling hours (6:00am to 11:00pm)
Frequently asked questions
Are calls from Connecticut DOC facilities really free?
Yes. Since July 2022, the state pays for all voice calls, emails, and video calls under SB 972. Families pay nothing.
Do I need a Securus account to receive calls?
Setting up a Securus account is recommended even though calls are free, to manage your connection and access any optional paid services.
What is the call limit?
15 minutes per call. Calling hours are 6:00am to 11:00pm, and there is no mandatory wait between calls. Inmates are guaranteed a minimum of 90 minutes of free calls per day.
How many numbers can an inmate have on their list?
Up to 10 phone numbers. The list can be updated once every 30 days.
Are there county jails in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut abolished county government in 1960. All facilities - pretrial and sentenced - are operated by the CT DOC under the same rules.
Are attorney calls recorded?
No. Calls to verified attorneys are privileged and not recorded.
What about tablets and email?
Tablets are provided to all inmates. Email (e-messaging) and video calls through the tablet are also free under SB 972.
Is video visitation separate from in-person visits?
SB 972 explicitly protects in-person visits from being replaced by video visits. Both remain available. ====================================================================
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