A sentence contains both a subject and predicate that form an entire thought.
Incarcerated individuals can send and receive electronic messages using safe, secure kiosks or tablets at their correctional facility. Prison staff review these messages before reviewing any content restrictions that may apply.
Loved ones can leave 3-minute voicemails for friends and family incarcerated in prison that will play back automatically every time they access GettingOut.com.
Send Messages
Many correctional facilities provide inmates with email systems and messaging apps to allow them to stay in contact with loved ones during incarceration. They typically access these services through kiosks or tablets within the facility – providing a cost-effective and more convenient alternative to traditional paper mail delivery methods. Unfortunately, however, these systems may not provide as much privacy than the Internet – plus their features might be restricted due to character or size limits.
The GettingOut app enables users to write and send messages directly to incarcerated loved ones through an online interface. Users can add inmates as contacts by booking number or name and then purchase credits to send messages; inmates may respond using this same process. Available both for iOS and Android devices.
Inmates have access to JPay, a popular email service which enables them to respond electronically. Depending on the facility, inmates may attach photos and video clips as well as write multiple messages – they can even leave 3-minute voicemails!
While JPay offers convenience and efficiency, some inmates may not be eligible to communicate with their approved contacts using electronic messaging or JPay devices due to disciplinary segregation or administrative segregation status or custody classification issues.
Receive Messages
Many jails and prisons allow inmates to communicate electronically using secure messaging systems or kiosks monitored by correctional staff. These terminals can be found within housing units or at the facility front desk to allow access.
Text messages sent through these services come with certain restrictions; for instance, they only support text-only and don’t support bold or italics fonts and foreign symbols aren’t supported either. Sometimes up to 1,500 characters per email string may be permitted per email string and only one previous message from inmates or outside contacts can be replied back to per day; any responses count towards your total character limit per day.
Another way for inmates to communicate with loved ones from jail or prison is via tablets they can use inside, such as pen-pal apps; some are free, while some are provided by private companies who make money when inmates or their loved ones pay for data access for these tablets.
JPay allows family and friends of inmates to securely send them messages, photos, and VideoGrams using either an online portal or app. Each message requires one “stamp,” while more may be necessary if including photo attachments or VideoGrams – the cost varies by state and facility.
View Messages
Advocates and regulators have made great strides over the last two decades to lower prison and jail phone rates, though companies who profited from this industry have found ways to make up their losses by entering less regulated sectors such as electronic messaging which offers lower communication costs than pricey phone calls.
E-messaging, also known as email-like messaging, allows family and friends of those incarcerated in correctional facilities to communicate with them. This process works by purchasing stamps (pricing may differ depending on facility) and sending their messages directly. E-messaging differs from traditional paper mail in that there are no size limitations on messages or attachments sent through it; however messages containing photographs will incur an extra printing supply fee.
Inmates can view messages on either a kiosk or tablet device and print copies as desired. Alternatively, an electronic copy may be requested so as to save on printing and photocopying expenses.
E-messaging offers tremendous promise as a tool to connect individuals to one another and the outside world; however, its potential drawbacks must not be overlooked. High costs and subpar technology among some providers raise serious privacy issues, while the collection of data by these services makes it easy for such information to be subpoenaed in civil litigation or family law proceedings.
Manage Contacts
Correctional facilities often allow inmates to communicate with their families via email and text messaging systems they access from within prison via tablets, while their outside family members pay data usage fees on these messages ($0.25 for each one).
The GettingOut app provides loved ones of an individual incarcerated with an easy way to remain connected. Freely available and compatible with most Android devices, loved ones can use the GettingOut app to post photos on Facebook or Foursquare, send inmate-related messages directly via the app, as well as make deposits into accounts using this platform.
This service delivers messages directly into inmates’ cell phones. Families must register by adding their incarcerated family members as contacts using either scheduling selections or names, and purchase either a monthly subscription plan to allow sending of messages, or credits depending on the facility in which the prisoner resides.
As technology increasingly pervades everyday life, it is vital to understand your options for communicating with an inmate. State laws vary so fortunately there are services that allow people to become pen pals with someone incarcerated; here are some popular choices: