9 Things to know about making phone calls in custody
- Kate Mitchell
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- Federal inmates are assigned a PIN and phone card, and they can only make phone calls to those who are approved. Some numbers are automatically on the phone card though (e.g. the police).
- Federal inmates need to make a request to get somebody added to a call list. The approval process can take up to 15 days, so federal inmates might not be able to call family, friends, or their lawyers for the first few days or weeks of incarceration. Typically, offenders get one phone call within the first 24 hours after arrival.
- Federal inmates can call collect or pay using the money on their phone cards. Note that funds can only be uploaded to inmate phone cards once every four weeks.
- Federal inmates’ phone cards travel with them if they are transferred.
- Provincial inmates can call any 10-digit North American number capable of accepting collect calls. Collect calls cannot be made to mobile numbers. If the call cannot be made collect, the offender can make a request to compete the call.
- Correctional authorities and/or law enforcement may monitor or record inmates’ calls, subject to certain restrictions.
- Telephone access varies across institutions. Each institution has particular rules and practices about making calls, plus inmates might have unofficial rules regarding phone use.
- Phone calls are considered a privilege, and restrictions can be placed on phone privileges if they are abused.
- Inmates cannot generally receive calls. If an emergency occurs and an inmate needs to be reached, call the institution and leave a message for the officer in charge.