Can inmates in Texas have cell phones?

Friends and Family Requirements. TDCJ Allows Calls to Post-Paid (no pre-paid) Cell Phones in addition to traditional landline phones. To receive calls from an offender at any TDCJ facility, you must register your cell or landline phone number at www.TexasPrisonPhone.com.

Can you get in trouble for talking to an inmate on a cell phone in Texas?

According to an investigation conducted by the Texas Tribune, guards and prisoners are rarely prosecuted for the contraband cell phones found within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ).

Do prisoners get free phone calls?

All inmates will also start getting 15 minutes of free phone calls every two weeks. The calls will be made using a PIN; inmates at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla began setting their personal identification numbers up last week, and all inmates will be set up by March 18, according to CDCR.

How many phone calls do prisoners get a day?

Most prisons will allow them one phone call on arrival, in which case you might hear from them within the first couple of days, but this depends on whether they can remember your phone number, as their mobile phone will have been taken away. Even if you do get a call, your phone number is not yet officially approved.

How often can Inmates make phone calls in Texas?

unlimited minutes per month
Phones are available from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., unless conditions dictate a change. Calls are limited to 30 minutes. You will hear a warning message one minute before being disconnected. Inmates have unlimited minutes per month.

How long can inmates talk on the phone?

Call limitations vary depending on the prison’s house rule, but calls are typically limited to 15 minutes each, and inmates must wait thirty minutes before being allowed to make another call. Calls are recorded and monitored by the prison’s staff. Phone credits are typically accessed via an inmate account card.

How many minutes is the allowable time for an inmate to use the telephone?

All phone and video calls to persons appearing on the approved phone list shall be by schedule and shall not exceed five (5) minutes for each PDL to allow reasonable use of phones or computers by others.

Can prisoners use cell phones in Texas?

Prisons’ phone regulations are not alike. Take a look at a few extremes: On the stricter side, Texas state prisons lay out in their offenders’ handbook that the inmate is not permitted the perk of phone use unless he or she is engaged in full-time work (such as productive maintenance labor), school or treatment.

How often can an inmate make a collect phone call?

Inmates in certain custodies may be allowed one 5-minute collect phone call every 90 days. Calls are monitored and may be made only to approved individuals. These calls are made on the TDCJ owned unit telephones. For more information concerning OTS or to register, click on the link below.

What are the telephone regulations for prisons?

Despite the disparities among prison telephone regulations, most prisons share some common ground rules for their inmates. For instance, prisons maintain that inmates must make only collect calls. Also, prisons may request the inmate submit a list of 10 people he or she can call.

How many people can you call in a prison?

Also, prisons may request the inmate submit a list of 10 people he or she can call. In addition, prisons also will often stipulate that inmates cannot receive incoming calls unless there is an emergency. Prisons’ phone regulations are not alike.