How Inmate Phone Calls Work at FCI Aliceville (And Why They're Monitored)

FCI Aliceville gives inmates phone privileges to help them stay in touch with family and other contacts. But those calls come with strict rules. Third-party or alternative call arrangements aren't allowed. The facility can limit or restrict phone access if needed - the goal is to prevent calls from being used for criminal activity or other inappropriate purposes.

• ✓ In most cases, the inmate pays for phone calls.
• ✓ In some situations, the receiving party pays.
• ✓ Third-party or other alternative call arrangements aren’t permitted.

Wondering if calls are private? For everyday conversations, assume they're not. A notice is posted next to each phone at FCI Aliceville letting inmates know that calls are monitored. That means you should treat any routine call as one that could be listened to.

1. Look for the posted notice - At FCI Aliceville, notices next to the phones advise inmates that calls are monitored.
2. Treat regular calls as monitored - For family and friends, assume the conversation is not private.
3. Handle attorney calls as a special case - Unmonitored calls to attorneys are permitted in certain circumstances, so the process may be different from a normal call.

The Bureau of Prisons has clear legal authority to monitor and record inmate phone calls. They rely on federal statutes - 18 U.S.C. 2510(5)(a)(ii) and 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(c) - along with BOP regulations at 28 C.F.R. §540.100 et seq.

Practical Tips Families

• ✓ Assume your calls with your loved one are monitored, and save sensitive topics for a legally protected setting.
• ✓ Don’t try to use third-party or other alternative call arrangements - FCI Aliceville doesn’t permit them.
• ✓ If cost is a concern, remember that the inmate ordinarily pays for calls, but in some cases the receiving party pays.
• ✓ If your loved one needs to speak with an attorney privately, ask about the process for unmonitored attorney calls, since those are permitted in certain circumstances.

Confused about how calls work? Stick to the basics: phones have posted notices that calls are monitored, and that's the default for personal calls. Attorney calls can be handled differently in certain circumstances. If legal privacy matters, ask about the procedure for unmonitored attorney calls - don't try workarounds on regular lines.