What to Expect When Your Loved One Calls from Maricopa County Jail: Hours, Call Length, and Recording

Inmate telephones at Maricopa County Jail are typically available from about 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. That said, phone access can be restricted during security concerns or disciplinary issues. A missed call doesn't always mean your loved one isn't trying to reach you.

Calling access also depends on housing location. Times vary by facility and unit - some allow 24-hour phone access. If the calls you're receiving don't match the typical window, the housing-unit schedule is usually why.

Each call has a hard cap of 20 minutes. If you get cut off right at the limit, that's normal - not a glitch. Plan to cover the most important updates first.

Assume personal calls aren't private. All personal outgoing inmate calls are recorded and monitored. Keep the conversation focused on family matters and day-to-day updates - nothing you wouldn't want reviewed later.

Legal calls work differently. Calls to attorney phone numbers recognized through the State Bar of Arizona are not recorded or monitored. For that confidentiality to apply, the call must go to an attorney number the system recognizes.

1. Know who runs the phone system - Global Tel*Link (GTL) manages the inmate telephone system, and in most cases GTL is who you’ll work with to initiate calling services.
2. Set up billing so you can accept calls - For personal calls, family and friends choose between Collect and Prepaid (AdvancePay), and both options require setting up an account with GTL.
3. If you use a cell phone, plan on prepaid - Calls can’t be placed to cell phone numbers without an AdvancePay (prepaid) account.
4. Watch for number blocks - Some phone numbers can be blocked from receiving collect calls, either by the number owner or by the telephone service provider.
5. Understand the first-time “courtesy call” prompt - If your loved one calls a number for the first time and that number won’t accept collect calls, you may hear a voice prompt offering a connection to GTL’s account center and a one-time, 60-second courtesy call.
6. Contact GTL if you’re stuck - You can reach GTL at 1-877-650-4249, and they also offer account setup and call services through their ConnectNetwork web portal.