With InmateDB, your loved one in federal prison texts your real phone, and you reply like any other text. On Full Access they even get their own phone number you can text first, anytime.
For federal prisons. 3-day free trial, plans from $9.99/mo.
A few minutes of setup for you, and one contact for them to add.
Search their name or BOP register number on InmateDB.
New accounts get 3 days free, then plans start at $9.99 a month.
Your loved one adds the InmateDB contact in TRULINCS. That is their only setup.
They put your number in the subject line. You get a regular text and reply from your phone.
Every federal prison uses CorrLinks, and InmateDB turns it into real texting. State prisons and county jails each use their own provider instead.
Your loved one writes from the CorrLinks inbox they already use. With InmateDB it arrives on your phone as a regular text, and your reply goes straight back to them.
Each state picks a provider. You create an account on that provider’s app or website, buy credits or stamps, and messages stay inside that app. The inmate reads them on a tablet or kiosk.
Jails use the same kinds of providers as state prisons, but rules change county to county. Check the jail’s website for the messaging provider before you sign up for anything.
Not sure where they are? Federal inmates show up in the BOP inmate locator with a register number like 12345‑678, and you can search them by name on InmateDB.
Fresh guides on texting, photos, letters and staying in touch.
Your loved one texts from CorrLinks, you get real texts on your phone. Photos and letters printed and mailed. 3-day free trial, then $9.99, $14.99 or $19.99 a month.
Texting An Inmate is made by the team behind InmateDB.
Yes. With InmateDB, a federal inmate texts your real phone from their CorrLinks inbox and you reply like any other text. On Full Access they get their own phone number, so you can text them first anytime. State prisons and county jails use their own provider apps instead.
Yes, on InmateDB Full Access. Your loved one gets a personal phone number that works like a normal phone, so anyone can text it first. On the Texting and Texting + AI plans, you can reply once they have texted you.
It depends on the system. State and jail providers usually charge per message with prepaid credits or stamps. For federal inmates, InmateDB plans are $9.99, $14.99 or $19.99 a month after a 3-day free trial.
Check the facility's website or call the facility. For federal inmates, search the BOP inmate locator; every federal facility that has messaging uses CorrLinks.
Usually it is access, not your message. Inmates can only check messages when they can get to a kiosk or tablet, and messages can be held for review. Give it a day or two before sending more.
Texting An Inmate is a guide site made by the team behind InmateDB. We recommend InmateDB for federal prisons and explain the other systems honestly.