How Inmates at Halifax Manage Their Own Call Lists Using *44

At Halifax, inmates manage their own approved call list by dialing *44. They add numbers, remove numbers, and keep the list current. If a number isn't on their list, they simply can't dial it. So a small mistake - like entering one wrong digit - can look from the outside like calls "randomly stopped."

Once your number is active and on the approved list, inmates can use it to call family, friends, and legal aid. On your end, you still have control: you can refuse (deny) collect or debit calls if you don’t want to accept them.

Cell phones and other wireless numbers can be added to the approved call list the same way landlines are. In practice, that means you don’t need a “home phone” to be reachable - your mobile number can be listed and managed through the same *44 call-list setup.

The approved call list has a hard cap: 15 numbers. Once an inmate hits that limit, adding someone new means removing someone else. If you've stopped getting calls, your number may have been bumped when they ran out of slots.

S4

• ✓ The inmate removed your number (or changed it) while managing their list through *44.
• ✓ Your number is still waiting on subscriber consent, or the consent/activation process is still pending and can take several days.
• ✓ The inmate hit the 15-number limit and replaced your number with a different one.

Sometimes the explanation is simpler: you (or someone who answers your phone) declined the collect or debit calls. If calls keep getting refused, the inmate may stop trying your number and focus on ones that go through.

1. Complete the automated consent if prompted - if you receive the consent questions for inmate calls, respond so your number can be activated; then give it a few days to go live.
2. Ask the inmate to double-check what they entered using *44 - have them confirm the exact phone number on the approved list (including area code) and whether they accidentally removed it.
3. Confirm they’re under the 15-number cap - if their list is full, they may need to remove another number before adding yours back.
4. If it still doesn’t add up, contact the phone vendor’s support - once consent is done and the inmate confirms the number is on the list, support can help troubleshoot possible system issues.