How to Contact an Inmate at Facility

Inmates at FCI Texarkana do have telephone privileges to stay in touch with family and other approved contacts. That said, calls come with limits and conditions. They're available, but not unlimited, and not necessarily available at all hours.

One exception: unmonitored telephone calls to attorneys are permitted in certain circumstances. If you're trying to set up a privileged attorney call, plan on following the facility's specific process and confirming what qualifies.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Confirm the inmate currently has telephone privileges and ask what limits apply (for example, any restrictions on when or how often calls can happen).

• ✓ Assume calls may be monitored and recorded, and keep the conversation appropriate for a recorded line.
• ✓ If you need to discuss legal strategy, do not use a regular call. Use the attorney-call process for unmonitored calls when it applies.

1. Have the inmate request an unmonitored attorney call. Unmonitored calls are permitted in certain circumstances, and the request typically starts from the inmate side.
2. Confirm the facility’s criteria and procedure. Ask what circumstances qualify and what steps must be followed so the call is treated as legal, unmonitored communication.
3. Follow any scheduling or documentation requirements. Use whatever process the facility requires so the call is set up correctly and does not get handled like a standard monitored call.

Before you count on any plan, verify two things with the facility. First, confirm that the inmate's telephone privileges are active and ask what restrictions apply. Second, ask about the rules for unmonitored attorney calls. These are only allowed in certain circumstances, so you'll want the facility to spell out the eligibility requirements and the exact process to request one.

• ✓ Confirm that calls are monitored and recorded, and that monitoring notices are posted next to the inmate telephones.
• ✓ Ask what the facility requires for privileged legal communications, including how an attorney call is handled differently from a regular call.

The fastest way to get clear answers is to go through official channels: the facility's front office or records staff, the inmate's orientation materials and handbooks, and any official facility communications you can access. If you're arranging an attorney call, the attorney can also confirm the facility's procedure for setting up an unmonitored line.