Canadian Prison Communication Guide: How to Contact Someone in a Canadian Prison

Federal sentences in Canada are two years or more and are served in CSC penitentiaries. Provincial sentences are under two years and are served in provincial jails or remand centers. This distinction is critical because the phone systems, email options, and rules are completely different between the two levels.

If you are not sure which system your loved one is in, use the CSC offender locator at csc-scc.gc.ca. If they appear in the CSC database, they are in the federal system. If they do not appear, they are likely in a provincial jail. Contact the provincial corrections ministry or the local jail directly for provincial inmates.

Canadian federal inmates use the Inmate Telephone System (ITS) to make outgoing calls. Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. Before an inmate can call you, your phone number must be added to their authorized call list. The institution verifies and approves all numbers before they can be called.

Inmates use a Smart Card or PIN to access the phone system and link to their authorized call list. The Smart Card stays with the inmate if they transfer to another CSC facility. Calls are typically charged to the inmate's canteen account or placed as collect calls.

The biggest challenge for Canadian families is that most inmates call from payphones using the local call rate, which is typically $0.40 per call. If you have a cell phone or a number outside the local calling area, you may receive expensive long distance charges. FedPhoneLine solves this problem by providing you a local phone number that the inmate can call at the local rate.

FedPhoneLine is a service that provides families with a local phone number that federal inmates can call at the local call rate. Instead of calling your cell phone long distance, the inmate calls the FedPhoneLine number which then connects to your actual phone. FedPhoneLine has been helping Canadian families for over 10 years.

To use FedPhoneLine, create an account at fedphoneline.com, select the institution where your loved one is held, and choose a plan. FedPhoneLine will provide you a local number by email. Give this number to your loved one and have them add it to their authorized call list at the institution. Once approved the inmate can call the FedPhoneLine number which connects directly to your phone.

The Correctional Service Canada maintains a free public offender locator at csc-scc.gc.ca. Search by the person's full name to find their current CSC institution, security level, and expected release date. The locator shows whether the person is eligible for parole and their current location within the federal system.

For provincial inmates, there is no single national database. Each province manages its own jail system. Contact the provincial corrections ministry or the local jail directly. Ontario does not have an online locator and requires a direct phone call to the specific facility.

Email availability at CSC federal institutions varies by facility. Some institutions offer email programs while others do not. Contact the specific institution directly to find out whether email is available and how to register as an approved contact.

Physical mail is accepted at all CSC federal institutions. Write the inmate's full name and CSC number on the envelope along with the institution mailing address. All non-legal mail is inspected before delivery. Legal mail from lawyers is treated as privileged correspondence and is not read by staff.

Provincial jails across Canada each have their own phone systems and rules. Some provinces have standardized systems while others vary by facility. Ontario provincial jails often use Telmate or similar providers. British Columbia provincial jails have their own communication systems.

For provincial jail phone calls, contact the specific facility directly to find out which phone provider they use, how to add your number to the approved list, and whether collect calls or prepaid accounts are required. Rules change by province and by facility.