How to Text an Inmate A new messaging program lets prisoners communicate with their family and friends inside their jail cell. But it's not without its potential pitfalls. Prisoners are able to use the tablet for sending messages, but they cannot use social media, emojis or other emojis and their messages are monitored. It is possible to search for specific words or phrases. In Jail, texting There are numerous regulations that regulate how prisoners can contact people outside the prison. Most prisons have secure email platforms, such as JPay or CorrLinks which allow prisoners to send emails to family members, however the emails are monitored by staff and may not be as secure as an individual's personal email service. The inmates also have access to electronic messaging through these same institutions. Inmates are charged a fee per text message. The systems that are proprietary to them are managed by private firms. The services offered can cost from 50 cents for each message, up to $1.25 for a single text message, based upon the particular facility as well as the particular messaging platform utilized by that facility. The charge for messages is paid by the person sending it to the prisoner using credit that they have purchased from their ConnectNetwork account, which can be done through debit or credit card. Inmates can view the message via their computer or tablet and react electronically or in writing, depending on the location in which they're living. The cost of sending a message is determined by the facility, and can be found in the Messaging Rates section on their site. You can find the most applicable Messaging Rates by signing to your ConnectNetwork account and navigating to the message page for the person they would like to talk with. The Prisoner Texting It's never been easier to keep in touch via message or email to a family member that is in jail. Sign up now and begin talking to your prisoner! SMS Texting Program only works if the facility you are in allows it, and also if you have an email messaging account. The messages will be sent to your inmate's cell phone or tablet. Prisoners will review them and reply within the 24 hours. The message will be sent to prisoners via an app for inmates or a kiosk they can access from their cell. Note that correctional institutions or authorized personnel can be able to monitor, look up, review electronically-generated messages. Similar rules apply to information which is saved on devices. PPI is worried about privacy, as it is easy to imagine how companies like Securus as well as JPay could make money from electronic messages through the sale of them to lawyers, family members, or the courts. While the jails and prisons might offer various electronic message systems however, there are usually limits on what messages is allowed to be sent. Prisons may have imposed restrictions on communication between inmates as part of the Prisoner Communications Act. Furthermore, the technology usually has limitations on character counts that render the preservation of any form of written communication problematic. Texting to Inmates Prisoners can stay in touch with their friends and family by a myriad of means. Inmates can receive messages from their friends or families on the outside through email and kiosks. Inmates also have the option to get photo cards as well as letters. Some facilities allow inmates to communicate via text messages, but this is usually not allowed by the prison's administration, and messages will likely be being monitored. Many correctional inmate texting facilities have a JPay program, which allows pen pals and loved ones can make payments for photos, messages as well as videograms to imprisoned people. Each message will cost an "stamp", and additional stamps are required for attachments as well as VideoGrams. In select online or retailers Stamps are readily accessible. Other private companies, like GettingOut, have developed apps that allow incarcerated people to communicate with their loved ones with tablets offered by the business. Inmates are glued to their tablets during the day, as teenagers wait to receive DMs from crushes. TikTok is the place where they post ads and pen pals in prison websites provide guidelines on using tablets. Inmates also can receive letters from family members that don't have JPay accounts by using the mail system in their prison. Every electronic mail message has to be reviewed like that of postage, and the individual may opt to not print or read certain emails. Sending texts to family members The use of text messages by inmates is seen as a beneficial facilitator to families. The benefits for families are emotional connection, convenience and ease-of-use. Some users felt that security features were a barrier to family communication, as they made it harder for relatives to be in touch. "Our text messages are great for logistical stuff, but the group can get out of hand sometimes," one participant shared. It isn't easy to stay on top of the messages. ".