Michigan has two separate phone systems. The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) operates all state prisons under a statewide contract with GTL (now operating as ViaPath Technologies through ConnectNetwork). Michigan's 83 counties each operate their own jails and contract phone services independently.
Michigan DOC uses "prisoners" throughout its official materials.
PART 1 - MICHIGAN STATE PRISONS (MDOC)
Phone vendor: Global Tel*Link Corporation (GTL) / ViaPath Technologies / ConnectNetwork
How MDOC phone calls work
Prisoners place outgoing calls only. Prisoners cannot receive incoming calls. The prisoner calls from a facility phone to numbers on their approved Personal Allowed Numbers (PAN) list.
PAN list: Each prisoner can call up to 20 personal telephone numbers. The PAN list automatically resets each quarter - January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 - giving each prisoner the opportunity to update their calling numbers. Your number must be on the list before you can receive calls.
All calls are monitored and recorded. Three-way calling, call forwarding, and other call bypasses are prohibited.
Setting up a GTL/ConnectNetwork account
Online: connectnetwork.com (web.connectnetwork.com)
Phone: 855-466-2832 (GTL customer service, 24/7)
Lobby kiosks: GTL kiosks are installed at 18 MDOC facilities and can fund any Michigan GTL prepaid account (not limited to that specific facility)
Three account types:
Collect: Charges appear on your monthly phone bill. Standard collect calls cannot be made to cell phones, office phones, hospital phones, or commercial numbers. Your local phone carrier may set a maximum dollar limit for collect calls.
AdvancePay (prepaid collect): You fund an account tied to your phone number. Every time the prisoner calls that number, charges are deducted from your balance. Works for all phone types including cell phones. Set up at connectnetwork.com or call 855-466-2832.
Multi-account funding: You can fund up to three prepaid AdvancePay accounts (three different phone numbers) with a single transaction and a single fee when processed through a customer service agent at 855-466-2832. This is useful if multiple family members want to receive calls without setting up separate transactions.
Debit: The prisoner controls this account. They purchase debit minutes through the institutional disbursement process and can call any approved number. Debit works for all phone types including cell phones.
Funding by mail: Send a cashier's check or money order (no personal checks) to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
Include your name, the name of the correctional facility, and your phone number. $25 minimum. No fee. Allow up to 5 business days from receipt for funds to be added.
Calling rates - MDOC statewide (GTL/ViaPath contract)
Effective October 1, 2023: $0.0735 per minute for all domestic calls.
A 20-minute call costs $1.47. This rate is below the FCC 2025 IPCS Order ceiling of $0.12/min for large state prisons.
Rates do not include applicable Federal, State, or Local taxes, or Federal Universal Service Fees.
International calls: $0.0735/min plus the country-specific termination rate. Current international rates at gtl.net/legal-and-privacy/federal-tariffs-and-price-lists/
Blocking and unblocking calls
To refuse a single call: hang up or press "1" when prompted.
To permanently block all calls from MDOC facilities: press "6" when prompted. A 4-digit PIN is required to confirm the block. Keep this PIN - you will need it to remove the block.
To unblock: call GTL customer service at 855-466-2832.
Other blocking reasons: Your number may be blocked if your carrier does not offer collect call billing, you have reached your carrier's collect call dollar limit, or you are trying to receive collect calls on a cell phone or office phone.
If receiving unwanted calls: Contact the Warden at the prisoner's facility. A call restriction may be placed on the prisoner.
MDOC facilities and lobby kiosks
Michigan operates approximately 30 state correctional facilities. Lobby kiosks for funding GTL accounts are installed at these facilities:
Bellamy Creek CF (IBC), Carson City CF (DRF), Central Michigan CF (STF), Cooper Street CF (JCS), Detroit Re-Entry Center (PRF), Earnest C. Brooks CF (LRF), G. Robert Cotton CF (JCF), Gus Harrison CF (ARF), Kinross CF (KCF), Lakeland CF (LCF), Macomb CF (MRF), Muskegon CF (MCF), Parnall CF (SMT), Richard A. Handlon CF (MTU), Saginaw CF (SRF), St. Louis CF (SLF), Thumb CF (TCF), Women's Huron Valley CF (WHV)
Full facility list: michigan.gov/corrections/prisons
Prisoner locator (OTIS - Offender Tracking Information System): mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.html
MDOC general contact: mdocweb.state.mi.us/edoc/contact.aspx
PART 2 - MICHIGAN COUNTY JAILS (83 counties)
Michigan has 83 counties, each operating its own jail. County jails contract phone services independently from MDOC. The vendor, rates, and setup process at a county jail are completely separate from the GTL/ConnectNetwork state prison accounts. A GTL account funded for MDOC state prisons does not automatically work at a county jail, even if that jail also uses GTL.
How to find the current vendor for a county jail
Go to the county sheriff's official website and look for pages labeled "Inmate Telephone," "Jail Services," or "Inmate Services." The vendor name, website, and customer service number will be listed. If not found online, call the jail directly.
Common vendors at Michigan county jails
GTL/ViaPath (ConnectNetwork): Used at some Michigan county jails. Setup at connectnetwork.com; 855-466-2832 or 877-650-4249.
Securus Technologies: Used at some Michigan county jails. Setup at securustech.net; 1-800-844-6591.
ICSolutions: Used at some Michigan county jails. Setup at icsolutions.com; 888-506-8407.
Notable examples (verify before relying on this information)
Wayne County Jail (Detroit): Michigan's largest county jail. Verify current vendor at the Wayne County Sheriff's website or call directly.
Kent County Correctional Facility (Grand Rapids): Verify current vendor at the Kent County Sheriff's website.
Oakland County Jail (Pontiac): Verify current vendor at the Oakland County Sheriff's website.
All other counties: Contact each county jail directly or check its official website for current vendor and setup instructions.
What to do before the first call
For an MDOC state prison:
1. Find the prisoner's number and current facility at mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.html
2. Ask the prisoner to add your phone number to their PAN list (up to 20 numbers; list resets quarterly)
3. Set up a GTL AdvancePay account at connectnetwork.com or call 855-466-2832
4. Fund the account (no minimum online; $25 minimum by mail)
5. Wait for the prisoner to initiate the call
For a Michigan county jail:
1. Find the individual through the county jail's inmate search or the county sheriff's website
2. Identify the current phone vendor from the jail's official website
3. Create an account with that vendor
4. Add funds
5. Wait for the individual to call
Frequently asked questions
Who provides phone calls at Michigan state prisons?
Global Tel*Link Corporation (GTL), now ViaPath/ConnectNetwork. Setup at connectnetwork.com or call 855-466-2832.
What does a call cost?
$0.0735 per minute for domestic calls, effective October 1, 2023. A 20-minute call costs $1.47 before taxes and fees.
What is the PAN list?
The Personal Allowed Numbers list - up to 20 phone numbers the prisoner is authorized to call. It resets quarterly (Jan 1, Apr 1, Jul 1, Oct 1), giving the prisoner a chance to update it. Your number must be on the list.
Can I fund multiple phone number accounts in one transaction?
Yes. Through a GTL customer service agent (855-466-2832), you can fund up to three different prepaid AdvancePay accounts in a single transaction with a single fee.
Can I receive calls on a cell phone?
Yes, through AdvancePay (prepaid collect) or Debit. Standard collect calls only work on landlines.
What are the lobby kiosks for?
GTL kiosks in MDOC facility lobbies let you fund any Michigan GTL prepaid account in person. You don't have to be at the specific facility where your loved one is housed.
Do county jails use GTL/ConnectNetwork?
Some do; not all. Wayne, Kent, Oakland, and other major counties may use different vendors. Always verify the specific county jail before setting up an account. ====================================================================
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