Phone, CorrLinks, and Mail: Staying Connected

Staying connected across prison walls costs money, requires patience, and follows rules you cannot control. Phone time comes on the facility’s schedule, not yours. Email is monitored. Letters take time. Understanding how each form of communication actually works helps you stay connected without running up costs you cannot afford or missing a call because you did not know when it would come.

This page walks through federal prison phones, email, mail, and how to manage the practical and emotional reality of keeping in touch.

Federal prison phones: how they work

Inmates in federal prisons can make collect calls or prepaid calls from designated phone lines. The system is managed by a contracted vendor (various companies manage different facilities). Calls go out during scheduled “phone time,” which varies by facility and by housing unit. You do not get to choose when your inmate can call; the facility does.

To receive calls:

1. Set up an account with the phone vendor (you will know which vendor once your inmate is designated to a facility).
2. Add money to your account (usually at least $25 minimum).
3. Provide your phone number(s).
4. Your inmate gets your number and can call during their scheduled phone time.

Call costs: Federal phone calls are expensive but much cheaper than the predatory rates county jails charge. Typical rates:

• Intrastate (within-state) calls: $1-$3 per minute.
• Interstate calls: $3-$5 per minute (sometimes more).
• International calls: variable, sometimes $10+ per minute.

A 15-minute call can cost $45-$75. A 30-minute call, $90-$150. Over the course of a year, families easily spend thousands of dollars on phone calls. This is one of the true costs of incarceration that families carry.

How to manage phone costs:

• Set expectations about call frequency with your inmate. You may be able to afford two calls a week, not daily.
• Use CorrLinks email for day-to-day updates so you are not depleting your phone account.
• Consider which numbers you give: work, personal, partner. Multiple numbers mean multiple accounts to fund.
• Some families rotate: if three people are in your inmate’s life, you take turns funding the account month by month.

Call security and monitoring

All federal prison calls are recorded. Assume nothing is private. Do not discuss:

• Illegal activities
• Drug use
• Escape plans
• Ways to smuggle contraband
• Anything you would not want prison staff to hear

You can have normal conversations: “I love you,” “the kids are fine,” “I will be visiting on Saturday,” “your mom sends love,” “your favorite book arrived.” Normal family connection is fine. Illegal planning is not.

One more note: calls may be cut off abruptly if time runs out, or if the system detects you are discussing prohibited subjects. Stay aware of what you are saying.

CorrLinks email: the cheaper alternative

CorrLinks is the federal Bureau of Prisons’ email system. Inmates can send and receive email from approved addresses (family, pre-approved friends). Email is monitored by the prison, just like phone calls, but it is much cheaper and more flexible than phone time.

How CorrLinks works:

1. You create an account on the CorrLinks website.
2. You provide your email address and contact information.
3. Your inmate adds your email address to her contact list (once approved by the facility).
4. You can exchange email messages.

CorrLinks costs: Usually a few cents per message (less than a dollar for a typical email exchange). Some facilities charge a small monthly fee for the account. Compared to phone calls at $3-$5 per minute, email is a bargain.

CorrLinks limitations:

• Access is scheduled. Your inmate may only be able to access CorrLinks on certain days/times, not whenever she wants.
• Messages are limited in length (usually a few hundred words).
• Only pre-approved email addresses can communicate. You cannot give her your email and have her just add it; she has to submit your address for approval.
• Some facilities have intermittent technical problems.

CorrLinks is ideal for:

• Daily check-ins
• Updates from family
• Practical information
• Comfort and connection between phone calls

Postal mail: the slowest but freest option

You can mail letters to your inmate. Mail is free (except postage) and is not monitored in real-time the way phone and email are, though it is read by facility staff. Mail rules:

What can be mailed:

• Letters and cards
• Approved photographs (in color or black-and-white, depends on facility)
• Approved books and magazines (must be sent directly from the publisher in many facilities)
• Legal mail (from attorneys; these are handled specially)

What cannot be mailed:

• Items with staples, tape, or bindings (can be removed and rebound)
• Money (send it through the commissary system instead)
• Packages of clothing or commissary items (these must go through the BOP commissary catalog or be purchased and mailed directly from approved vendors)
• Anything with writing or images that seems to contain codes or hidden messages
• Anything sticky, scented, or suspicious

Mail takes time. A letter you mail Monday may not arrive until Friday or later. Plan for delays. If you need urgent communication, use the phone or email.

Mail address format: Your inmate’s name, her BOP register number, her housing unit, the facility name and address. Get the exact format from the facility’s website or visiting information.

Mailing things to do:

• Write regularly. A letter from someone who cares matters immensely.
• Use photographs. Seeing faces of people you love is powerful. Many inmates keep photos in their bunk.
• Send encouragement. A letter saying “I believe in you” or “I am proud of how you are handling this” lands differently than a phone call.
• Include family updates. What are the kids doing? How is work? What is happening at home? Connection is not just about her; it is about the outside world she is still part of.

Managing the isolation trap

One risk of expensive phone communication: isolation and guilt. If you cannot afford calls, or if you forget to fund your account, your inmate has no way to reach you. This can create shame (“I cannot afford to talk to my family”) or resentment (“they forgot me”).

Prevent this by:

• Being clear about what you can afford and what your limits are.
• Using email and mail for the gaps between phone calls.
• Setting expectations together about frequency.
• Not disappearing. Even a letter or an email says “I am here; you are not alone.”

Communication does not require money every time. Email and mail are free or cheap. Use all three: phone for real-time connection, email for daily updates, mail for things that take time to matter.

A note for supporters on the outside

The person supporting someone in prison often pays for communication while also carrying the emotional load of the relationship. If you are that person, you are not alone. That weight is real. Some families hire a consultant or work with a support group like the White Collar Support Group to share the load. You do not have to carry this by yourself.

Bringing it together: a communication plan

Before your inmate reports, set up a plan:

• Phone: decide on a realistic frequency (two calls a week? one?) and budget accordingly.
• CorrLinks: set up an account so email is ready immediately.
• Mail: plan to write at least once a week.
• Visitation: plan your first visit for after approval (usually 6-8 weeks).

Post the facility’s phone vendor website and CorrLinks login somewhere visible so you do not forget. Set a calendar reminder to renew your phone account before it expires.

Connection sustained over months and years takes planning. It takes money. It takes intention. It also keeps someone on the inside connected to the world and the people who love them. That connection changes everything.

Frequently asked questions

How does the federal prison phone system work?

Inmates can make collect calls or prepaid calls from designated phone lines in their housing unit. The system is managed by a contracted vendor. Calls are expensive (typically $3-$5 per minute for interstate calls). To receive a call, you set up an account with the phone vendor, deposit money, and provide your phone number. Your inmate can call when their unit is scheduled for phone time.

What is CorrLinks?

CorrLinks is the federal prison's email system. Inmates can send and receive email messages, but only with approved email addresses (family, approved friends). Messages are monitored by the prison. Email is cheaper than phone calls and can be accessed on a schedule set by the facility. You need to set up an account with CorrLinks to exchange messages.

Can I call my inmate directly, or do they have to call me?

Inmates can make calls to you (usually as collect calls), but they cannot receive incoming calls on the prison phone system. You cannot call them directly. This is a major source of frustration for families. If your inmate needs to reach you on a particular day, they have to call during their unit's scheduled phone time.

Are phone calls monitored?

Yes. Federal prison phone calls are recorded and monitored for security reasons. Assume anything you say can be heard by prison staff. Do not discuss criminal activity, illegal drugs, escape plans, or ways to smuggle contraband. You can have normal conversations about family, love, and life, but assume they are not private.

How much does it cost to stay in touch?

Phone calls are expensive (typically $3-$5 per minute for interstate, more for international). A 15-minute call can cost $45-$75. Email via CorrLinks is cheaper (usually a few cents per message). The cost of staying in touch over a year or years can be substantial. Budget for it and plan when you can afford calls.