How Inmate Phone Calls Work at FMC Lexington (And Why They're Monitored)
When your loved one calls from FMC Lexington, those calls go through the Bureau of Prisons' TRUFONE system. The system logs detailed call records, and most calls are monitored and recorded under federal authority.
Inmates at FMC Lexington can't use third-party or
Assume every call is monitored. The BOP posts a notice next to each telephone letting inmates know their calls are recorded - it's not hidden or a surprise.
Attorney calls work differently. In certain circumstances, inmates can make unmonitored calls to their attorneys. This protects legal communications while letting the facility run its regular phone system securely.
TRUFONE is the BOP's system for processing inmate phone data. It stores information about each call - who called, when, and for how long - along with contact details.
- ✓ Telephone numbers associated with an inmate calling list
- ✓ Biometric information (voice verification)
- ✓ Inmate call recordings
- ✓ Inmate TRUFONE account balance
Federal law authorizes this monitoring and recording. Under Title III provisions - specifically 18 U.S.C. 2510(5)(a)(ii) and 18 U.S.C. 2511(2)(c) - the BOP can monitor and record inmate calls under "law enforcement" and "consent" provisions. Related regulations appear at 28 C.F.R. § 540.100 and following.
Why does the BOP do this? According to the agency, TRUFONE data helps monitor and control communications between federal inmates and the public, and gathers law enforcement intelligence. That's the core reason monitoring rules apply to routine calls.
Recordings don't stay in TRUFONE forever. By default, call recordings are deleted after 180 days - unless they're needed for legal or administrative purposes.
Other call records stick around longer. TRUFONE call data and transaction records are archived annually, then deleted 10 years after archiving.
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