How to Set Up TRULINCS Email with Your Loved One at Petersburg Low FCI

Getting TRULINCS set up at Petersburg Low FCI requires two approvals: your loved one needs access to the system, and you need to be added as a contact. This guide covers what TRULINCS is, how the approval process works, and which BOP form you'll need to know about.

TRULINCS is the Bureau of Prisons' electronic messaging system for people in custody to communicate with approved contacts. Here's something that catches many families off guard: the program runs entirely on funds from the BOP's Inmate Trust Fund, not taxpayer dollars.

Your loved one can't just log in and start emailing. At Petersburg Low FCI, each inmate must be approved to use TRULINCS first. Until that approval comes through, messaging isn't an option.

Approval works both ways. Your loved one needs to add you as a contact through the proper process, and you'll need to give your consent before any messages can be exchanged.

• ✓ Ask your loved one whether they are approved to use TRULINCS
• ✓ Confirm whether they have already submitted or initiated the request to add you as a TRULINCS contact
• ✓ Make sure they have your correct identifying information, so your contact request doesn’t get delayed
• ✓ Watch for anything you need to sign or approve to give permission to communicate

Wondering which form you need? The TRULINCS Contact Request Form is BP‑A1054. If staff or your loved one mentions a contact request, that's the form number to remember when asking what needs to be submitted.

1. Confirm your loved one has TRULINCS approval - They must be approved to use the system before any messaging can happen.
2. Have them start the contact add process - Your loved one has to request you as a TRULINCS contact, and you’ll need to give permission.
3. Use the right form name when asking questions - If you’re told a contact request form is required, ask about the BP‑A1054 TRULINCS Contact Request Form.
4. Plan for costs to come from the Trust Fund side - TRULINCS is funded through the Inmate Trust Fund, so your loved one’s account and the facility’s procedures will matter.
5. Confirm any Petersburg Low FCI-specific instructions - Local procedures can affect how requests are submitted and processed.

Quick note: TRULINCS setup is completely separate from getting approved for in-person visits. If you're also working on visitation, you'll encounter a different form (BP‑A0629) for that process. One doesn't replace the other.

Stuck? Start by checking the basics with your loved one: Are they approved for TRULINCS? Have they requested you as a contact? Have you given permission? Keep the BP‑A1054 form name handy when asking questions, and confirm Petersburg Low FCI's current procedures before waiting on a request that may not have been submitted correctly.