Retaining strong family ties during incarceration strengthens bonds between inmates and loved ones, as well as increasing their chances of successful community reentry upon release. Text messaging systems offer an easy way for family and friends to stay in contact with their federal loved ones.
Messaging rates depend on your facility of choice; once an inmate is added as a Contact in your Messaging account, their individual rate will become visible.
What is TextBehind?
TextBehind is a private company that scans and digitizes physical mail sent to people incarcerated across the U.S. This service enables loved ones of the incarcerated to send texts, photos, greeting cards and drawings nationwide to them while inmates themselves can reply through this app. TextBehind provides these services through its partnership with ICS (Inmate Correspondence Services), an outsourced mail management provider.
TextBehind has revealed to The Daily Tarheel that prison administrators now have access to digital archives of all scanned physical mail sent to offenders over seven years – this allows them to quickly search for specific items like medical records.
This company has come under scrutiny for prioritizing profits over the welfare of incarcerated populations. Wang states that it could be argued that storing physical mail on servers of private corporations may violate federal law requiring consent prior to having any personal information stored by third parties.
TextBehind’s Terms of Service state that they “will never share your personal data (email addresses, phone numbers, names, addresses, inmate information, communications photos or financial transactions) with any third parties.” However, when creating an account they must accept these Terms & Conditions of service as stated below.
How do I get a TextBehind account?
Through our secure nationwide communication service, inmates can enjoy receiving text letters with photos, personalized greeting cards and electronic money orders at absolutely no cost or limit – eliminating envelopes, stamps and paper usage as well as handwritten correspondence that may be read by enemies. Furthermore, our system provides offsite mail scanning and management services at NO COST; eliminating contraband while dramatically decreasing operational costs through intelligent automation and process efficiencies in mailroom operations.
Only need a computer, tablet or smartphone with internet access and the prison ID number of an inmate to start communicating with them! After registering on our website or mobile app you can begin creating communications plans to keep inmates at bay informed and connected to family. Note that your user name and password are solely your responsibility; never share these with anyone. Fraudulent third party account use constitutes fraud and can result in an unauthorized chargeback with your bank, incurring additional fees both to you and TextBehind. Our support team is available to quickly resolve any transactional issues you might be experiencing within an acceptable timeframe, for more details please refer to our Terms of Service or visit the HELP CENTER for answers to questions regarding online or mobile app communications services provided by us.
How do I send a letter to an inmate?
Letter writing can be an effective form of pen pal communication that shows your care. Prisoners often feel isolated from society outside prison walls; therefore it’s essential that regular correspondence takes place between you and them to keep them feeling connected to life outside. Furthermore, you could ask them questions about life behind bars as well as discuss local or world news with them.
Be sure to use plain white envelopes and papers when writing to individuals incarcerated in jails and prisons as contraband can be an issue in these facilities. Handwritten letters will likely be more appreciated. Keep in mind that any correspondence with law enforcement or corrections staff could read your correspondence, so sensitive topics like sexual activity, drug possession or legal proceedings should be avoided when writing letters.
Set clear expectations with your recipient regarding how often you’re available to write, and meet those obligations. Being misleading with promises then breaking them can be upsetting for incarcerated individuals; be transparent about any problems which prevent regular correspondence – it is better to be upfront rather than lead them on with false hope! Include your name and booking number on every envelope sent – many facilities reject mail that doesn’t contain these details, saving both time and money by not returning it directly back to you at their expense.
How do I get a reply from an inmate?
When receiving a response from an inmate, it usually doesn’t happen via email; rather, they might respond using snail mail between their home address and yours or messaging services like JPay or Corrlinks (if applicable).
Use the GettingOut Android app to keep in touch with loved ones and friends who are currently incarcerated. Send messages and pictures, check-in on Foursquare, edit photos with filter effects, and more – it’s free download available in select correctional facilities.
If your inmate is communicating with you through JPay or another similar program, they’ll be able to write back via email, attach photos, and record a VideoGram. Each email sent may not exceed 13,000 characters – which equates to approximately 2,000 words; as they compose each message they will see a countdown showing remaining characters remaining for writing their message.
To email an inmate, begin by searching their inmate number, first or last name. Once found, click’select’ to be taken through to purchasing credits (pricing may differ depending on facility) before clicking “continue” and writing your message. If an inmate rejects your message you’ll receive an alert notifying of additional charges incurred as well as rejection notifications in your account.