Inmate Messaging

Inmate messaging works differently from standard email. Messages are sent through a platform that holds a contract with the correctional facility, not through a regular email inbox. Common platforms include JPay for state prisons, CorrLinks for federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, TextBehind for print-based delivery, and SmartInmate at a smaller network of institutions. Each platform requires an account and uses a stamp or credit system to charge for messages sent.

After you send a message, it goes through a review process before the inmate receives it. Facility staff or an automated system checks the content for prohibited material. This is standard practice across all correctional systems and is disclosed in each platform's terms of service. Delivery typically takes a few hours to one business day. The inmate can reply through the same platform, and their reply goes through the same review process before reaching you.

The platform you need depends on where your loved one is housed. If they are in a state prison, JPay or a similar state-contracted service is most likely the right choice. If they are in a federal Bureau of Prisons facility, CorrLinks is the only approved messaging platform. County jails may use GettingOut or ConnectNetwork. Always confirm the correct platform with the specific facility before creating an account, because accounts are not transferable between platforms.