Text a Federal Inmate From Your Phone
ContactMeAsap lets you text a federal inmate from your own phone. Your messages are relayed through CorrLinks/TRULINCS — the messaging system the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) uses for inmates — so you can keep in close touch with someone you care about, from the phone you already use.
It’s pay-as-you-go: you add funds to a balance when you choose, and your balance is yours until you use it. Plans start at $20 per month of service, drawn from that balance.
Find the federal inmate you want to text
Free to search — no account needed. Enter a name or BOP register number.
Searches all federal BOP facilities · or add funds directly
How to text a federal inmate
Getting started takes four steps.
- Find your inmate.Search the BOP directory by name or register number — it’s free and no account is needed. Live BOP verification shows your inmate’s name and facility before you pay. Try our federal inmate search.
- Add funds.Click Add Funds and answer a few questions so we can set up your account, then choose the Basic or Premium plan. The plan’s monthly service fee is drawn from the balance you add.
- Follow your setup instructions.Once your payment is approved, we send instructions by text and email that get the service fully operational, including an easy-to-remember email address that goes on your inmate’s TRULINCS computer.
- Get approved, then text.BOP regulations require your inmate to add you to their approved contact list. This “text approve” step takes them just moments. After that, text your inmate from your own phone like you would anyone else.
Contact-list limits and review timelines can vary by facility, so check bop.govfor the specifics at your inmate’s institution. For a longer walk-through, read our guide to how to text a federal inmate, or see how it works and TRULINCS and CorrLinks explained.
Why families choose ContactMeAsap for federal inmate text messaging
Unlimited texting
Both plans include unlimited federal inmate text messages. Once you’re on your inmate’s approved contact list, sending and receiving is unlimited.
Pay-as-you-go
You add funds when you choose, and your balance is yours until you use it.
Verify before you pay
Searching the BOP directory is free and needs no account. Live BOP verification shows your inmate’s name and facility before you pay.
BOP-compliant messaging
Every plan includes BOP-compliant messaging, relayed through CorrLinks/TRULINCS — the system the Bureau of Prisons uses for inmate messaging.
Carrier-backed delivery
We have agreements with telephone companies such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon for high-volume message delivery, so your texts aren’t left waiting in a queue.
Support when you need it
Email support comes with Basic. Premium adds 24/7 federal inmate support and priority CorrLinks processing.
Federal inmate texting pricing: pay as you go
You add funds to your balance when you choose, and each plan’s monthly service fee is drawn from it. We send a notice if your balance runs low.
Basic Federal Plan
- Unlimited federal inmate text messages
- US & Canada CorrLinks integration
- Pay-per-print photo service
- BOP-compliant messaging
- Email support
Premium Federal Plan
- Everything in Basic Federal Plan
- AI assistant “Diamond” for federal inmates
- Puerto Rico & Central/South America
- 25 free federal prison photos
- Priority CorrLinks processing
- 24/7 federal inmate support
Plans and prices as of October 2026. Want every feature side by side? See our federal inmate texting service overview, or add fundswhenever you’re ready.
Send photos to your inmate, too
Photo service is part of every plan: pay-per-print on Basic and Premium, with 25 free federal prison photos included on Premium. Upload photos on our website for higher resolution, or text them to your inmate. Every photo is screened for content the BOP would reject, and prints are as low as $0.52 per photo (depending on the facility and volume), including shipping and screening.
Learn how to send photos to federal inmates, or read our guide to federal prison photo rules.
Federal inmate texting FAQ
Can I really text a federal inmate from my own phone?
Yes. ContactMeAsap relays your texts to your inmate through the CorrLinks/TRULINCS system the Bureau of Prisons uses for inmate messaging, so you text from your regular phone like you would anyone else, and your inmate’s replies come back to you as text messages.
How much does federal inmate texting cost?
ContactMeAsap is pay-as-you-go. The Basic Federal Plan is $20 per month of service and the Premium Federal Plan is $30 per month of service, each drawn from the balance you add. Photos are pay-per-print on every plan, and Premium includes 25 free federal prison photos.
How do I stop service if my inmate is released or no longer needs it?
ContactMeAsap is pay-as-you-go: you add funds when you choose, and your balance is yours until you use it. If your inmate is released or no longer needs the service, you can simply stop adding funds. Service ends automatically without a payment, and we send notices when your balance is low.
Does my inmate have to approve me before I can text?
Yes. BOP regulations require your inmate to add the people they message to an approved contact list. With your setup done, this “text approve” step takes them just moments. Contact-list limits and review timelines can vary by facility, so check bop.gov for the specifics at your inmate’s institution.
Where does the service work?
The Basic Federal Plan includes US & Canada CorrLinks integration, and the Premium Federal Plan adds Puerto Rico & Central/South America. ContactMeAsap is built for federal inmates in Bureau of Prisons facilities.
Can I send photos as well as texts?
Yes. Photo service is included on every plan as pay-per-print, and Premium includes 25 free federal prison photos. Upload photos on our website for higher resolution, or text them to your inmate. We screen all photos for content the BOP would reject.
Find the person you want to contact
Free to search — no account needed. Enter a name or BOP register number.
Searches all federal BOP facilities · or add funds directly
Ready to start? Find your inmate above or add funds directly. Looking for something else? Explore our inmate texting service overview, the federal inmate search, or our full FAQ.
ContactMeAsap is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) or CorrLinks/TRULINCS. Federal institutions may monitor or restrict inmate communications, and availability can vary by facility.