How Inmate Messaging Works: Complete Guide for Families

Inmate messaging is a digital communication service that allows approved contacts to exchange written messages with incarcerated people through a facility-contracted platform. The facility decides which platform to use, and that platform manages all messaging in and out of that location.

You create a free account on the approved platform, search for your loved one using their inmate ID number and facility name, purchase messaging credits or stamps, and send your message. The message enters a review queue before it is delivered to the inmate.

The inmate reads and replies through the same platform using a kiosk, tablet, or shared computer terminal inside the facility. Their reply goes through the same review process before it reaches you. The entire exchange is monitored and stored by both the platform and the facility.

Common platforms include JPay for state prisons, CorrLinks for all federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, ConnectNetwork for a wide range of county jails and state prisons, and GettingOut for many county jails with a focus on mobile access.

Step one is finding out which facility your loved one is housed in and which messaging platform that facility uses. You can search our facility directory to find this information or call the facility directly.

Step two is creating a free account on the correct platform. You will need to provide your name, email address, and a valid government ID in most cases. Some platforms also require a phone number for verification.

Step three is finding your loved one on the platform. You will search by their inmate ID number and facility name. The inmate ID is assigned by the facility and is different from any court case number.

Step four is purchasing message credits or stamps. Most platforms require a minimum deposit before you can send your first message. Step five is writing and submitting your message. Once submitted, the message enters the review queue and is typically delivered within a few hours to one business day.

Costs vary by platform and facility. JPay uses a stamp system where each stamp costs between $0.33 and $0.47 and covers one standard message. Stamps are purchased in bundles and the cost per stamp decreases when you buy larger bundles.

CorrLinks charges a small per-message fee deducted from a prepaid account balance. ConnectNetwork and GettingOut use their own credit-based pricing that varies by facility and message type.

Some facilities offer free incoming messages to the inmate but charge the sender. Others require both sides to purchase credits. There may also be account setup fees or transaction charges when loading funds. Always read the platform fee schedule before making your first deposit.

Photo attachments, when available, are priced separately from text messages and typically cost more per item. Video messages, where offered, are also priced separately.

Every message sent through an inmate messaging platform goes through a review process before it reaches the inmate. This review is conducted by facility staff, an automated content screening system, or both. This process is disclosed in each platform terms of service and is standard at all correctional facilities.

Review times vary by facility. Most messages are delivered within a few hours to one business day. High-volume facilities or facilities with limited staff may take longer. There is no way to expedite the review process.

Messages that fail the content review are blocked or deleted. You may receive a notification that the message was not delivered, but platforms do not always provide a specific reason for rejection. Review the facility content rules and revise the message before attempting to resend.

All inmate messages are monitored. The platform and the facility retain copies of every message, and staff can read them at any time. There is no expectation of privacy in inmate messaging. Never include sensitive legal, financial, or personal information in a message.

Content rules vary by facility but generally prohibit anything involving escape plans, criminal activity, threats, explicit content, or coded language. Messages that reference ongoing legal cases should be limited to factual updates rather than strategy or evidence details.

Repeated violations of content rules can result in suspended messaging privileges for the sender. In serious cases, access to the platform may be permanently revoked at that facility. The inmate may also face disciplinary action for messages that violate facility rules.

One of the most common problems families face is sending a message that never arrives. There are several reasons this can happen and understanding each one helps you resolve the issue faster. The most common cause is content that triggered an automated filter during the review process. Messaging platforms use keyword screening systems that flag messages based on specific words or phrases even when the message does not actually violate any rule.

A red lock icon on your sent message in JPay means the message was flagged and is being held for review or has been blocked. This does not always mean you did something wrong. The automated system can flag innocent messages based on word combinations that appear suspicious to the filter. If you see a red lock, check your account notifications for any explanation and consider revising the message to remove any language that could be misread.

Messages can also fail to deliver if your account has been placed on hold by the facility or the platform. This can happen after multiple flagged messages, a change in your contact approval status, or a facility-wide communication restriction such as a lockdown. Contact the platform customer service and the facility directly to find out which type of hold is in place and what steps are needed to restore communication.

If you recently changed your phone number or email address, your account details may no longer match the approved contact information on file at the facility. Always update your contact information on the platform and notify the facility whenever your details change. The inmate may also need to resubmit your updated information through the facility contact approval process.

CorrLinks users report several recurring issues that are worth knowing before you start. The platform is known to log users out unexpectedly during long sessions. If you are writing a long message, copy the text before attempting to send or save it. This prevents losing your work if the session expires before the message is submitted.

In late 2024, still in effect as of 2026, the Bureau of Prisons limited CorrLinks accounts to a maximum of 10 outside contacts at one time. If an inmate already has 10 approved contacts, they cannot add new ones until an existing contact is removed. If you submitted a contact request and have not received an invitation, this limit may be the reason. Ask your loved one to check their contact list and remove inactive contacts if needed.

CorrLinks outages do occur periodically. The site may be slow or unavailable due to maintenance or technical issues. If you cannot connect to corrlinks.com, wait a few hours and try again. Clear your browser cache and cookies before retrying. If the problem persists for more than 24 hours, check for announcements from the Bureau of Prisons or contact CorrLinks support directly.

If you were previously connected with someone on CorrLinks and they are transferred to a new federal facility, the connection should carry over because CorrLinks is used at all BOP facilities. However, if they are transferred to a state facility, the CorrLinks connection will no longer be active and you will need to set up a new account on whichever platform the state facility uses.

JPay users frequently report confusion about the stamp system and why messages are not going through. If you have stamps in your account but a message is not sending, check that you are using the correct account for the correct inmate. If your loved one has transferred to a new facility in a different JPay state, you may need to update their profile in your account.

JPay tablet outages have affected many facilities. In New York, the state Attorney General reached an agreement with JPay after hundreds of complaints about defective tablets, delayed deliveries, and failure to provide refunds for services not delivered. If you purchased stamps and the messages were not delivered due to a JPay system outage, you may be entitled to a refund or credit. Contact JPay customer service with your transaction confirmation number.

If an inmate has blocked you on JPay, you will not receive any notification. Messages you send will appear to go through on your end but will not be delivered. If you suspect you have been blocked, contact JPay customer service and ask them to verify the delivery status of your recent messages. Resolving a block requires the inmate to take action from inside the facility.

Delivery times vary more than most families expect when they first start using inmate messaging. The platform may show your message as sent immediately, but the actual delivery depends entirely on when facility staff review and approve the message. At busy facilities with high message volumes, this review process can take anywhere from two hours to two business days.

Messages sent late at night or on weekends may not be reviewed until the next business day at facilities with limited weekend staffing. If your message was sent Friday evening and has not been delivered by Monday, this is often the reason rather than a technical problem. Planned facility events such as lockdowns, counts, and inspections also pause message processing until normal operations resume.

Once a message clears the review process it is delivered to the inmate tablet or kiosk almost immediately. The inmate can then read and reply at their next available opportunity to access the messaging terminal. Their reply goes through the same review process before it reaches you, so the total round-trip time for a message and reply can range from a few hours to several days depending on facility operations.