How Prison Phone Calls Work
Understand how inmates make phone calls, how to set up an account to receive calls, which providers are used, and what calls cost.
Introduction
Prison phone calls work differently from regular calls. The inmate places the call from an approved phone inside the facility, and the call goes through a third-party provider that charges per-minute rates. You can accept the call by setting up a prepaid account.
This guide explains the full process, from setting up your phone number to receiving calls, and covers the costs and providers involved.
Guide Content
How Inmates Place Phone Calls
Inmates use phones located in common areas of the facility. Each call is placed through a system managed by the facility's contracted phone provider. The inmate dials a number from their approved contact list. You cannot receive a call from an inmate unless your number has been added to their list.
Adding a number to the approved list is done by the inmate through the facility's phone system or by submitting a form to facility staff. The approval process can take a few days.
How to Set Up Your Account
Most prison phone providers offer two ways to accept calls. You can accept collect calls and be billed after the fact, or you can set up a prepaid account with the provider and have calls billed against your balance.
Prepaid accounts are recommended. They let you control spending, often have lower per-minute rates, and avoid unexpected phone bills. Create an account on the provider's website, link it to the phone number the inmate will be calling, and add funds before the first call.
Common providers include Securus Technologies, Global Tel Link (GTL), ICSolutions, and Telmate. The provider depends entirely on which company holds the contract with that facility.
Call Monitoring and Recording
All prison phone calls are recorded and monitored by facility staff. Calls to attorneys are generally protected and may not be recorded, but this depends on how the attorney number is registered. All other calls should be treated as if they are being reviewed.
Do not discuss legal strategy, financial transactions, or any activity that could be problematic if heard by a third party. This applies to every call regardless of how casual the conversation seems.
What Phone Calls Cost
Per-minute rates for prison calls have been significantly reduced under FCC regulations in recent years. Interstate calls are now capped at $0.21 per minute for prisons and $0.12 per minute for jails. Intrastate rates vary by state but most are in the $0.05 to $0.25 per-minute range.
Fees can add significantly to the base rate. Connection fees, account maintenance fees, and payment processing fees are common. A 15-minute call at $0.21 per minute costs $3.15 in base rate but may total $5 to $7 after fees depending on the provider.
Key Takeaways
The most important things to remember from this guide.
- Inmates call out through a facility-contracted phone provider. You cannot call in.
- Your phone number must be on the inmate's approved contact list before they can call you.
- Setting up a prepaid account gives you lower rates and better cost control than collect calls.
- All calls are recorded and monitored unless specifically exempted.
- FCC-capped rates are $0.21 per minute for prisons and $0.12 per minute for jails.
- Extra fees from providers can double the actual cost of a call.
Related Glossary Terms
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about How Prison Phone Calls Work, answered in plain language.
Can I call the inmate directly?
How do I get my number added to an inmate's call list?
What is the difference between collect and prepaid?
What happens if I miss a call?
Are calls to attorneys recorded?
People Also Ask
Related questions families often search for alongside this topic.
What is Inmate Phone Calls?
Inmate phone calls are outgoing calls placed by an incarcerated person from a facility phone system to approved contacts, using a prepaid account managed through a contracted provider such as ConnectNetwork or GettingOut.
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