Setting Up TRULINCS Email and Phone Basics for Families of Inmates at Forest City

TRULINCS is the Bureau of Prisons' electronic messaging system. Think of it like email, but more restricted: you and your loved one can exchange written messages, though they're text-only with a firm size limit. Each message maxes out at 13,000 characters - roughly two pages of text. Shorter, clearer notes tend to work best.

TRULINCS and related communication services are paid for through the Inmate Trust Fund, not taxpayer dollars. That funding comes from profits on inmate purchases (like commissary items), telephone services, and the fees inmates pay for using TRULINCS.

Phone calls in the federal system are monitored. A notice is posted next to each inmate telephone making this clear, so assume any conversation can be listened to. The one exception: attorney calls may be unmonitored in certain circumstances.

• ✓ Third-party or other alternative telephone call arrangements are not permitted.
• ✓ Ordinarily, the inmate pays for phone calls; in some cases, the receiving party pays.

TRULINCS access requires permission on both ends. Your loved one needs approval to use the system, and every person they want to contact must also give consent. Before messaging can begin, both parties agree to monitoring. Messages are screened for anything that could jeopardize public safety or facility security.

1. Expect to consent to monitoring - TRULINCS requires agreement from both the inmate and the outside contact before messaging is allowed.
2. Have your loved one request you as a contact - each inmate must be approved to use the system, and they can only message people who have given permission.
3. Give your permission and keep messages appropriate - messages are monitored and screened, so write with the understanding that the content is reviewed for safety and security concerns.