An incarcerated individual is able to place outgoing phone calls, but only after funds have been added to their inmate account (often referred to as their “books”). Money can typically be deposited in person at a facility kiosk or through approved payment methods, depending on the correctional facility’s policies.

Once funds are available, the incarcerated person may call approved phone numbers, as long as they remember the number they wish to dial. When they place a call, the recipient will usually see an incoming number with an area code beginning with (727).

After answering the call, an automated operator will announce that the call is coming from a correctional facility and will identify the incarcerated individual. The recipient will then be asked whether they wish to accept the call. To accept, you are typically required to press 3 on your phone keypad.

Phone calls are generally limited to 15 minutes per call, although calls may occasionally end earlier due to facility rules, technical issues, or other circumstances. The incarcerated individual may place multiple calls throughout the day, as long as they have sufficient funds and access.

Calls can be made using either a facility-installed pay phone or a tablet-based calling system. Tablet calls may have lower audio quality, and background noise from the housing unit can make it difficult to hear clearly. For better call quality, using the facility’s pay phones is recommended, though availability may be limited due to the number of phones accessible to inmates.