Inmates in prisons often have limited access to making phone calls. However, some prisons block calls to prevent inmates from contacting certain numbers or to prevent harassment. If you're having trouble receiving calls from an inmate, here are some steps to help you unblock a prison call:
The vast majority of prison calls in the U.S. are managed by a few major telecom providers (e.g., Securus, GTL/ViaPath, IC Solutions, PayTel ). Here’s how to unblock: how to unblock a prison call
Contact the prison or correctional facility to confirm the inmate's phone account status. You can: Inmates in prisons often have limited access to
: Go to Settings > Messages > Blocked Contacts (or Phone > Blocked Contacts) and swipe left on the number to delete it. are managed by a few major telecom providers (e
However, the stakes change when a call is blocked for security reasons. Correctional facilities retain the right to block numbers for a variety of reasons, including suspected harassment, three-way calling violations, or contact with victims or co-conspirators. If a number is blocked due to a security flag, the process to unblock it shifts from a financial transaction to an administrative appeal. The recipient must contact the facility’s administration or the specific prison mail and phone supervisor. This process often requires proving identity and demonstrating a legitimate reason for contact, such as a familial relationship or legal necessity. It is a gatekeeping measure that requires the free citizen to submit to the scrutiny of the carceral institution simply to speak to a loved one.
