How to Text an Inmate A new texting program lets prisoners communicate with family and friends from inside their cell. However, it's not without pitfalls. Prisoners are allowed to utilize the tablet to send messages but cannot access the internet, social media, or other features. The messages they send are watched. It is also possible to search for certain words or phrases. Texting Jail from the Cell There are a variety of regulations that regulate how prisoners are able to communicate with people outside of the prison. The majority of prisons have secure email system, such as JPay or CorrLinks, that allow inmates to send emails to family members, however the emails are monitored by the staff, and might not be as private as an individual's personal mail service. Those same facilities also offer electronic messages to prisoners. These are systems that are owned by companies who require inmates as well as their families to pay an text inmate amount for every message sent. The price of these services range from 50 cents for each message, up to $1.25 per text, contingent on the institution you're using and what messaging system they are using. The fee for the message is borne by the person who sends it to the prisoner using credit bought through the ConnectNetwork account, which can be done through debit or credit card. The inmate then views the message on a laptop or tablet and can respond electronically to the person who sent the message or via writing a letter, depending on the facility. Costs for sending a message differ by the facility. The costs are posted in the site's messaging rates section. You can find the most applicable Messaging Rates by signing to their ConnectNetwork account and then going to the message page of the inmate they wish to contact. The Prisoner Texts It's never been easier to maintain contact through messaging or email with a loved one in prison. Register now to communicate with the inmate. SMS Texting Program is only available when your facilities allow it as well as if you already are already a member of an email messaging Account. Your inmate will receive the messages you send on his mobile phone. Inmates will read them and reply within 24-hours. Inmates will receive your message through an inmate-specific messaging application or via kiosks that can be accessed from their prison cell. It is important to note that correctional facilities or authorized personnel can monitor, search, examine electronically-generated messages. This is also true for data which is saved on a device. Privacy concerns are raised by PPI, who points out that it's easy to envision companies like Securus or JPay that are monetizing messaging services by selling access to imprisoned people's messages to family members, lawyers and courts. The jails and prisons offer different electronic messaging systems. However, there are usually restrictions on which messages are allowed to be transmitted. This includes inmate-to-inmate messages, that are prohibited by certain prisons as per the Prisoner Communications Act. Additionally, this technology usually has restrictions on the number of characters that hinder the preservation of any kind of written communication a challenge. Texting Inmates Prisoners are able to communicate with family members and pen pals via a range of ways. Inmates are able to receive messages from their friends and families on the outside through email and kiosks. Inmates also have the option to get photo cards as well as letters. In some prisons, inmates are allowed to communicate via text messages, but this is usually prohibited by prison's administration, and messages will likely be being monitored. A lot of correctional facilities offer the JPay system, where pen pals and loved ones can make payments for photos, messages, and VideoGrams to incarcerated individuals. Each message will cost the equivalent of a "stamp", and additional stamps are required for attachments as well as VideoGrams. Stamps can be bought through the web or from select retailers. GettingOut and a few other companies have designed apps that permit people in prison to contact their family members using tablets offered by these businesses. Like teens, incarcerated individuals constantly check their devices every day. Their profiles are advertised on TikTok as well as prison penpal websites feature tips about the best way to use tablets. Inmates can also receive messages from relatives who don't possess JPay accounts using the mail system in their prison. Inmates can decide to not print specific messages or even open them. Every electronic message is reviewed in the same way as incoming mail. Making Text Messages to Family members Inmate texting is seen by families as an excellent tool. The benefits for families are emotional connection, convenience and ease-of-use. Others found that the security features were a barrier in family communications, since they made it more difficult for family members and family members to talk. One participant said "Our group texting system works great for logistics but can sometimes get out of control." It can be a challenge to keep up to date with messages. ".