How to Text an Inmate A new texting program allows inmates to stay connected with their families and friends outside of the confines of jail. It's not without dangers. Inmates can make use of the tablet to send messages, but they are not able to access social media, emojis or other features. Their messages are also checked. They can also be searched for certain words or phrases. Texting From Jail There are many regulations that regulate how prisoners may contact outside the prison. Many prisons have secure electronic systems, like JPay or CorrLinks that permit inmates to write emails to their loved ones, but they are supervised by the staff, and might not be as secure as an individual's personal email service. Additionally, inmates are able to use electronic messages through the same institutions. These are systems that are owned by companies which charge inmates and their families a fee for each message they send. These services can range in the price of 50 cents per message, up to $1.25 for one text message, based upon the particular facility as well as the specific system of messaging used by that facility. The charge for the message is borne by the person sending it to the prisoner using credit purchased through the ConnectNetwork account, either by debit or credit card. The person receiving the message then sees 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 particular facility. The cost for a message varies by facility and can be found in the facility's Messaging Rates section on their site. Signing into ConnectNetwork and visiting the message page for the prisoner you want to reach will enable users to check out the latest messaging rates. The Prisoner Texting It's never been easier to maintain contact through messages or emails with a loved one that is in jail. Simply sign up and start talking to your prisoner! SMS Texting Program can only be used in the event that your institution allows it as well as if you already have an existing email Messaging Account. The messages will be sent to the phone number of your mate or tablet. Prisoners will review them and respond within 24 hours. Your message will be distributed to inmates via inmate texting an app designed for prisoners or via a kiosk that they connect to from their phone. Be aware that correctional institutions and authorized personnel may be able to monitor, look up, review electronically-generated messages. The same applies to data saved on the device. It raises privacy issues for PPI as well, and the company points out that it's easy to think of companies such as Securus or JPay that are monetizing messaging services by selling access to incarcerated users' private messages to relatives, lawyers and courts. Prisons and jails provide diverse electronic communication systems. There are often restrictions as to the types of messages that can be shared. For instance, inmate-to-inmate communications which are regulated by certain prisons in accordance with the Prisoner Communications Act. Technology is usually restricted in terms of character limit which makes it hard to preserve any written communication. Texting prisoners Prisoners can use a number of methods for communicating with loved ones, or pen pals. Prisons typically have email systems and kiosks that incarcerated individuals can access messages sent to them by families and friends who live who live outside. Inmates can also receive photographs and letters. Certain prisons allow prisoners to text each other, but this is usually forbidden by the prison authorities and texts are likely being monitored. A lot of correctional facilities offer the JPay system, where pen pals, family members and friends can make payments for photos, messages, and VideoGrams to incarcerated people. Each message requires the recipient must be stamped. Stamps are needed to send attachments or VideoGrams. Stamps can be bought through the web or from select retailers. Private companies, such as GettingOut, have developed apps that allow incarcerated people to communicate with their loved ones using tablets provided by the company. Inmates are glued to their devices during the day, as teens are waiting to receive DMs from friends. TikTok is where they promote and pen pals in prison websites give tips on how to use tablets. Inmates also can receive messages from relatives that don't have JPay accounts by using the mail system in their prison. Every electronic mail message has to undergo a screening process similar to that of incoming postal mail. The inmate may choose not to print or open the emails of certain people. Making Text Messages to Family members Inmate texting is seen by families as a powerful device. Families and friends cited feelings of connection, convenience, and usability as the main benefits. Other users found that the security functions were a hindrance for family communication as they made it harder for family members and loved ones to communicate. "Our family text is great to organize things, however the conversation can get out of hand sometimes," one participant shared. It isn't easy to stay in the loop with all messages. ".