How to send messages, photos, and packages
Electronic messaging at FCI Terminal Island runs through the BOP's TRULINCS system. Before you can exchange messages, both the inmate and each person they want to contact must be approved. TRULINCS messages are text-only—no attachments—and limited to 13,000 characters per message. The service is funded entirely through the Inmate Trust Fund, not taxpayer dollars. Phone privileges follow BOP policy: inmates are ordinarily charged for calls, posted notices advise that calls are monitored, and third-party or alternative calling arrangements aren't allowed. The facility's call platform (TRUFONE) collects calling numbers, voice biometric verification, call recordings, and account balances. Recordings are generally deleted after 180 days unless kept for legal or administrative reasons, and correspondence tracking records are removed under NARA schedules (often around two years). Platforms can change, so confirm the current system before setting up video or electronic messaging.
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TRULINCS is the Bureau of Prisons' internal messaging system. Before you can exchange messages with someone at FCI Terminal Island, you'll need to complete an approval step. Once that's done, follow the system's content limits to make sure your messages go through.
Yes. At FCI Terminal Island, each inmate and each person they want to communicate with must be approved before you can use TRULINCS messaging.
TRULINCS messages are text-only, with no attachments allowed. Each message is limited to 13,000 characters.
TRUFONE call recordings are generally deleted after 180 days unless they’re kept for legal or administrative reasons. CTS correspondence tracking records follow NARA schedules and are generally destroyed or deleted after about two years.
No. Inmates at FCI Terminal Island may not receive packages from home without prior written approval. The only items allowed from home with written permission are release clothing and authorized medical devices.
TRULINCS requires approval for the inmate and for each person they want to message. Messages are text-only and limited to 13,000 characters. The service is funded by the inmate trust fund, not taxpayer dollars.
Yes. Incoming and outgoing mail is screened and inspected for contraband. Legal mail typically receives special handling and is not read during contraband inspections.
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Before you make the trip to FCI Terminal Island, you'll need to be added to the inmate's approved visiting list and cleared by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). That approval is what gets you through the door.
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