Offender Phone Services

Communication with family, friends and others is important to those who are incarcerated. Phone calls can be made by offenders with good behavior. The following information explains how and when phones may be used.

Offenders can make phone calls

While offenders cannot receive phone calls, phones are available throughout the institution for offender use if the offender is not on restricted status. Through an established vendor, Securus Technologies, Inc., all phones are programmed to process collect calls, debit calls or prepaid calls. Use of the phone is a privilege and misuse may result in a conduct violation or phone restrictions. Offenders cannot place toll-free or three-way calls. Detection of three-way calls may result in disconnection, a block placed on that number or the offender receiving a conduct violation.

How calls are made

Offenders may place a collect call; Securus collect call (Direct-Bill), debit call, or pre-paid call (Advanced Connect). Offenders making calls will be required to use a personal identification number (PIN) via an automated security system. Collect calls give an individual an option to accept the charges, which will show up on their monthly regular phone bill. Securus Collect calls (Direct-Bill) can be set up to accept the charges which will show up on a monthly bill sent by Securus. This option can be set up through phone, email, online or mail with Securus, after a credit check. Cellphones can have a Securus Collect/Direct-Bill account set up to receive calls. Pre-paid time (Advanced Connect) can be purchased by a family member or friend to fund calls to a specific BTN (bill to number), and is set up by phone, email, online or mail with Securus. Cellphones can have a Pre-paid/Advanced Connect account set up to receive calls. Debit minutes can be purchased by an offender in the institution’s canteen or from a kiosk located inside the institution. Debit time can be used for making calls to cellphones as well.

For more information about the phone plans offered by Securus, please visit the company’s website at www.securustech.net. You may also call the company at 800-844-6591 or reach the company by email at customerservice@securustech.net.

When you answer the phone you will receive an automated message that asks if you wish to accept the offenders call. If you wish to speak to the offender, you should follow the instructions provided. If not, you can hang up and the call will be terminated or you can follow the prompts and block future calls to your residence from a correctional facility. It is important to note that offender phone calls are monitored and recorded for security purposes. Also, for your protection, a recorded message is played throughout the phone conversation that alerts you to the fact that the call is originating from a correctional facility. This message is not intended to annoy, rather, to alert outside parties to the fact that an offender initiated the call.

What should you do if you have problems with billing?

The offender phone service provider is Securus Technologies, Inc. If you have questions about this service or problems with your bill, please contact Securus at 800-844-6591 or by visiting their website at www.securustech.net.

What should you do if you receive unwanted phone calls?

If you receive unwanted phone calls from an offender, you can follow the prompts on the phone to block future calls to your residence. If you still receive calls, you should immediately contact the institution, providing as much information as is available to you. If the offender can be identified through his or her PIN number, the offender will be directed to stop contacting you. If it continues, the offender may face disciplinary action. If you do not wish to receive calls from an offender, you may also initiate a block by listening to the recording and following the instructions provided or by contacting Securus Technologies, Inc. 800-844-6591.