Various Ways of Communicating With an Inmate

By nature, humans are social beings. Often, we take it for granted when we can freely communicate with our loved ones without any restrictions. For instance, when you have a rough day at work or facing a tough life situation, all you might need is to make a phone call to someone who will encourage you and make things feel a bit easier. You may even call two or even more people to your liking, which is not the case for an inmate.  

If an inmate can make a phone call to the outside, they may only be able to call one person and talk for a limited time. The struggle comes in when you miss your family member or friend, and getting in contact with has limitations and restrictions. Most inmates, their family members, and friends face isolation due to the expenses attached to the process and the lack of resources.  

Despite communication restrictions, family members of individuals facing incarceration should try to keep close communication with their loved ones. According to NCBI research, inmates in constant communication with their loved ones during jail time tend to function and adapt positively after release. The study also predicted better mental health of the inmate during their first year of release. Also, they are less likely to return to their negative way of life, leading them back into incarceration.  

Methods of Communicating With an Inmate  

Several correctional facilities have authorized communication between family members, friends, and those facing time in jails and prisons. Below are several ways to communicate with an inmate; however, each method has restrictions and expectations. Most of the time, failure to adhere to these rules will result in a punishment of communication suspension for a certain period. Other times it may even lead to jail time.  

1. Calls  

Most correctional facilities prefer phone calls as a method of communication between inmates and their loved ones on the outside, probably because phone calls are easy to trace and monitor. It is the most widely used method of communication.  

However, you may not know how expensive these phone calls are unless you start receiving them too. Often, the cost attached to it may hinder constant communication. To make the phone call process a bit easier and more accessible, correctional facilities have partnered with phone service companies like GTL and ConnectNetwork. Inmates can use several of their service options to communicate with their loved ones. 

For a start, an inmate needs make a list of names and phone numbers. Once the list is approved, the inmate can call you through a collect call, prepaid collect call, or debit call. The number of people an inmate needs to call depends on where the inmate is being held and their rules and regulations.  

• Collect Calls  

Once your phone number has been provided to the correctional facility and approved, you can receive collect calls from that particular facility. However, if the number is approved and you still cannot receive the collect call, then you may be using a cell phone, or the provided number belongs to a hospital or an office.  

Suppose the collect calls always came in without any issues and suddenly stopped; the main reason could be that it has reached a maximum phone bill your local phone company approves of. Often that happens when you receive frequent calls from an inmate or several phone calls from different correctional facilities.  

Make sure to call your phone company to clear the bill and continue receiving phone calls from an inmate.  

• Prepaid Collect Call or AdvancePay account 

A prepaid collect call or advancePay account is a better version of a collect call. It works by creating an account that is activated by funding. You will decide whether to receive or decline an inmate call.  

Whenever you no longer need the account or the inmate that used the account to call you is released, you can always get your refund. There is also a possibility of paying for a one-minute call in case you do not have enough funds for a minimum deposit.  

With such an account, an inmate can call you even when you have provided a hospital number, office number, or using cell phone. All you need to do is get in touch with cell phone service companies like GTL and ConnectNetwork to set up an account for the number.  

The account will allow an inmate to call you using deposited funds. This service is even more interesting because you can create several accounts if you have inmate friends you would like to communicate with from different correctional facilities.  

Second, a new feature allows you to send a free Request2Call notification to an inmate, informing them that you would like to hear from them. Suppose this is the option for communication between you and your loved one, sign up and create an account via their website.  

The prepaid collect call or advancePay account also allows you to sign up for notifications in case you miss a call from an inmate or your balance is running low. It also has an AutoReload option that automatically reloads your account once the balance reaches a certain level; at this point, you can deposit through the ConnectNetwork mobile app or any other available payment options on their website.  

With a prepaid collect call or advancePay account, you are not only in charge of expenses by deciding when to receive and decline an inmate’s phone call, but the funds in your account can not be used to call another phone number.  

• Debit Calls  

Creating a debit call account allows inmates to make phone calls to all the approved phone numbers they have. This is because, with a debit call account, an inmate pays for all the phone calls they make.  

However, the accounts must be credited, and most correctional facilities allow the inmates’ friends and family members to directly deposit into the inmate’s PIN Debit account. The inmates themselves also deposit funds into these accounts from their commissary/trust account. 

When creating an inmate’s debit call account, you will be asked to provide information like the facility where the inmate is being held, their full name, and ID number. The account only becomes active after a deposit. Once the money is in the inmate’s debit account, it automatically belongs to the inmate, and you cannot claim it.  

For those that opt for the website’s automated phone system payment option, you may need to visit the facility page where the inmate is being held and get the facility’s “Site ID” so that you can successfully deposit funds for an inmate in that particular facility.  

The cost to create a debit call account for an inmate varies from one correctional facility to another. However, several payment options are available when paying for the services.  

2. Voice Mail  

Leaving a voice is among the recent ways that you can use to communicate with an inmate. However, not all facilities have embraced the voice mail method of communicating with inmates. You may have to confirm with the correctional facility before opting for the method.  

To receive the voice mail, the inmate needs an active prepaid collect call or advancePay account. The account should also be credited with enough cash to cater for the invoice. The service is also available at any time or day of the week. If you are wondering how voice mail services work, consider following the steps below.  

• Get the voicemail number from the correctional facility the inmate is being held at.  
• Call the number and select the language you are comfortable with( English or Spanish) 
• Enter the inmate ID number 
• Listen to the cost of the voice mail depending on how long the message is.  
• Make a selection depending on how long you can afford or how much the advancePay account has. 
• Record your message as you listen for the beep sound, which will notify you when your time is up.  
• Pay for the voice mail via the prepaid collect call or advancePay account.  

3. Mailing  

The third way you can communicate with an inmate is through mailing. The Crime Museum once shared intel encouraging mailing to an inmate, saying that it reminds them of their previous lives, which gives an inmate a desire to leave the facility as soon as possible and never wish to return.  

Therefore, communication via mailing can be a great way of helping an inmate to reintegrate into the community when they finally get out.  

As much as most correctional facilities accept mailing as a form of communicating with an inmate, certain precautions have to be put in place. For instance, when the mail arrives, it has to be inspected and read. The only exception is mail from lawyers or law officials; it will only be opened before the inmate for inspection but will not be read.  

Such precaution ensures that no criminal activity occurs within the prison walls, like shipping illegal substances. All mail containing pictures of a crime or sexual nature will not be allowed to an inmate. Mail containing maps of a nearby town will be rejected as well. 

Most correctional facilities accept the format illustrated below when sending a mail to an inmate. 

• The first and second name of the inmate  
• ID number of the inmate  
• Location of jail or prison  
• Name of the jail or prison  
• P.O.BOX 
• City, State, zip code 

4. Visiting an Inmate  

When you visit an inmate, you can communicate with them face to face. It is believed that one-on-one communication with an inmate holds a significant advantage in the rehabilitation of the inmate compared to other methods of communication and interactions.  

Most correctional facilities in the US allow visitation under strict supervision, rules, and regulations. For example, suppose your loved one is serving time in one of the correctional facilities in Indiana, for you to visit them, you need to request for visiting application form, which should be filled out and returned to the specific institution.  

Minors must have an ‘Authorization for a minor child to visit’ form. And during the visitation, they should provide the form and a copy of their birth certificate.  

When a visitation request has been approved, you will be provided with rules and regulations you must adhere to on the visitation day. Also, you will be reminded to carry legal identification documents like a valid ID or passport.  

5. Video Visitation  

Apart from physically visiting an inmate for a face to face communication, you may as well arrange for video visitation. Some correction facilities and organizations like GTL and ConnectNetwork have developed ways in which video visitation can happen between an inmate and a loved one.  

For a video visitation to occur, you must create a prepaid collect call or advancePay account for an inmate and credit it. You will also need a strong internet connection, a laptop, a computer, or a mobile phone.  

However, before opting for video visitation as a way of communication, check if the facility the inmate is in offers such services. Suppose the services are accepted; you need to register by providing your details and any other visitor that will be part of the visitation. Select the facility the inmate is in and search for the inmate details.  

When ready, schedule a meeting, and pay for the meeting using a credit card or debit card. On the day of the visitation, sign in to the site at least 15 minutes before time to test your connection. Video visitation cost and the visitation duration varies from one correctional facility to another.   

6. Messaging  

Messaging is not acceptable in most correctional facilities. However, those that have embraced it allow the electronic sending of messages, videos or pictures in just a few steps. The inmate can either view the message, respond, or print it.  

Messaging happens when you sign in to your GTL or ConnectNetwork account. Add the name of the facility offering the massaging service. In the contact section, add the inmate’s details as requested by the system. After composing your message, purchase the service with a credit or debit card. Ensure more funds are in the account if you expect a response from the inmate.  

You may also use the ConnectNetwork mobile app to send photos and videos to an inmate, depending on whether the facility allows it. To know whether the correctional facility an inmate is in offers messaging services, search for their services here.  

The cost to benefit from a messaging service varies from one correctional facility to another, depending on where they are in the US.  

Conclusion 

Ideally, as seen, there are many ways in which you can communicate with an incarcerated loved one. Depending on your budget, you can opt to communicate via phone calls, mails, or even emails. If your schedule allows, you can also visit the facility for in-person communication. 

Whatever method you choose, remember that by constantly communicating with an inmate, you are doing a lot of good to them and helping in their rehabilitation. Show them as much love as you can so that they can feel connected to the outside world.