Most federal institutions oversee and restrict an inmate’s telephone communications, with ITS staff required to inform those on an inmate’s call list why their presence has been requested.
Many prisons and camps impose 30-minute or one-hour time limits for public messaging, and emails are limited to 13,000 characters (about 2,000 words), including letters, numbers, punctuation marks, etc.
TRULINCS
TRULINCS (Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System) allows federal inmates to stay in touch with family and friends while imprisoned, fostering familial ties that strengthen familial ties during incarceration and helping reduce recidivism upon release. TRULINCS and Corrlinks systems also provide prisoners access to musical files they can download onto MP3 players purchased from commissary; its operation is funded through profits generated from commissary purchases as well as fees collected by BOP for email services provided to inmates while its operation costs – funded from profits made from commissary purchases as well as fees collected by BOP for each incoming and outgoing email transaction.
Families may communicate with inmates via the TRULINCS and Corrlinks email systems any time, though calls to them are limited to 300 minutes per month. Correspondents of inmates must be approved to correspond with them by institution staff, while content must not compromise public or facility safety and security; messages cannot exceed 13,000 characters without attachments and there must be a countdown indicator displayed on message composition screen to remind inmates how many more characters remain to type before reaching an inmate’s computer keyboard.
As with hardcopy incoming mail, TRULINCS and Corrlinks messages may be reviewed by institution staff for any content that could compromise the safety or security of either the facility or inmates. Any correspondence that falls outside these guidelines is promptly rejected; prior to enrolling in either program, inmates are made aware of such restrictions and must sign an acknowledgement form stating their correspondence will be reviewed.
Personal Electronic Message Board System
BOP institutions enable inmates to use TRULINCS email communication system to maintain relationships with loved ones outside incarceration. While this service can be convenient and affordable for families, it also poses security concerns; contracting companies profit from providing this service by charging commission on each message sent out – thus decreasing its value to both inmates and families during incarceration.
TRULINCS allows inmates to communicate with family and friends while also taking academic courses and pursuing interests. While phone calls may only allow for 300 minutes each month, email communication remains unrestricted for both inmates and outside contacts; however messages must not exceed 13,000 characters in length and may not contain photos or attachments; any violations could incur disciplinary sanctions such as restriction of email access for an indeterminate period of time.
Prisoners must also sign a statement agreeing not to forward emails to others and that the content of their messages won’t be used illegally, such as drug dealing and escape plans. These policies help lower risks associated with inmates using these communications channels for illicit activity; additionally, staff are advised to use intelligence analysis and population profiling tools in monitoring inmates who might engage in criminal behavior while in custody.
Corrlinks
Corrlinks facilitates email exchange between federal prisoners and their external contacts in an organized fashion. Families no longer need to write and mail letters – making the system much simpler for all involved parties. Unfortunately, it does have certain restrictions such as not allowing families to send photos or attachments and having limits placed upon message length.
To use the system, an outsider must first secure an inmate’s permission before communicating with them. This can be accomplished via sending an email requesting approval, after which an activation code will be sent directly to their email address and used to create an account and complete connection process; once created, notifications are then sent whenever any new messages arrive at an inmate’s cell.
Although this system allows family members to communicate with their loved ones via email, it should never replace in-person visits. Furthermore, using it could even result in disciplinary incidents; any inmates with histories of cyberstalking or soliciting minors for sexual activity could face administrative restrictions and be banned from using this service altogether.
Other than these restrictions, the system is extremely user-friendly. You can access it from a web browser on any computer and smartphone applications for those with smartphones; push notifications can notify you whenever a new message has arrived – eliminating frequent logins while keeping track of messages without the need for passwords or IDs.
Telephone System
Federal Prison inmates have access to a telephone system that enables them to contact family and friends as approved contacts, with calls monitored by BOP SIS staff in order to ensure legality and nonviolation of institutional rules and policies. Corrlinks for email may also be utilized, which will also be monitored by BOP SIS employees.
Prior to ITS, inmates could only make collect phone calls at great financial strain on families paying for them. With this system in place, inmates are now able to place direct or three-way telephonic calls directly or three-way with anyone on their contact list who agrees to pay for the call, with an associate warden reviewing all contact lists as necessary to ensure no threat exists for institutional security or good order.
Some institutions employ remote monitoring locations where an associate warden monitors inmate calls on an irregular basis during day shift shift hours, in addition to performing their other duties.
BOP regulations direct wardens to notify law enforcement of serious or ongoing telephone “misuse”. Any inmate found using the telephone system for illegal activities could lose their privileges and face additional disciplinary measures, while inmates using attorney calls must submit a list of approved recipients and pay any associated costs associated with their calls.