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Phone & Messaging

What You Need to Know Before Your First Phone Call from an MCC New York Inmate

That first call can catch you off guard if you don't know the ground rules. Here's what to expect from MCC New York phone calls—monitoring, what's off-limits, and how long calls typically last.

• 2 min read • bop.gov
What You Need to Know Before Your First Phone Call from an MCC New York Inmate

BOP phone access exists to help people in custody maintain ties with family and community contacts. It's not a special favor - it's a communication privilege with clear rules. Your loved one can stay connected, but the facility maintains control and safety.

Assume every regular call is monitored. At BOP facilities like MCC New York, a notice is posted next to each telephone warning inmates that calls are recorded. Your loved one sees this reminder every time they pick up the phone.

Legal calls are the main exception. Unmonitored calls to attorneys are permitted under certain circumstances - that's what people mean by "private" attorney calls. But don't assume a personal call is private just because it's urgent or sensitive. Privacy protections only apply to qualifying attorney communications.

Tip: Treat every personal call as monitored. Only attorney calls made under specific qualifying circumstances are unmonitored.

What You Need to Know Before Your First Phone Call from an MCC New York Inmate

MCC New York inmates must place personal calls through the Bureau of Prisons' Inmate Telephone System (ITS). Third-party or alternative call arrangements aren't allowed. The rules are written specifically to prevent workarounds - routing calls through other services or features won't fly.

  • ✓ Call forwarding (including automatic electronic forwarding or similar phone functions)
  • ✓ Toll-free numbers (such as 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, 1-866, 1-900, 1-976)
  • ✓ Credit card calls or dialing credit card access numbers

Warning: Don't try to work around ITS with third-party setups. These arrangements aren't permitted, and pushing past this rule can cost your loved one their phone access.

Calls have time limits. BOP policy sets the ordinary maximum at 15 minutes. If your call cuts off around that mark, it's usually the limit kicking in - not a dropped connection.

Note: The exact call limit is set in the institution supplement. Check the MCC New York supplement for the current maximum if you're trying to plan around calls.

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