Why Your Phone Call From Snohomish County Jail Keeps Getting Disconnected — and how to block unwanted calls
When calls from Snohomish County Jail keep dropping, it's usually the phone system doing its job — not someone hanging up on you. Here are the most common disconnect triggers, how calling accounts work, and what to do if you need to block unwanted inmate calls.
Calls from Snohomish County Jail come through as either collect calls or pre-paid debit calls. You may need to set up a pre-pay account to receive calls - especially if you're using a cell phone, or if your home phone runs through cable or other digital service that can't be billed directly by the jail's phone provider.
Each call is capped at 15 minutes, so a clean cutoff right around that mark is normal. Inmates can't receive incoming calls - calling the jail won't connect you to them. You'll also need a touch-tone phone that makes audible tones when you press buttons, since the system relies on those tones to work.
The most common reason calls disconnect? 3-way call protection. The inmate phone system at Snohomish County Jail is programmed to block 3-way calls, and it actively scans for signals that suggest someone's trying to add another line.
- ✓ Trying to add a third person to the call (3-way calling)
- ✓ Transferring the call to another number
- ✓ Putting the call on hold
- ✓ Using or answering call waiting during the call
- ✓ Pressing numbers on the keypad during the call
- ✓ Leaving a long stretch of silence (stopping the conversation for any length of time)
Tip: Keep the call simple to avoid disconnects. Don't try to 3-way, transfer, or put the caller on hold. Disable call waiting before you answer if you can, and keep talking - long silences can trigger a disconnect.
Smart Communications handles inmate phone services for Snohomish County. If you're troubleshooting repeated problems or setting up an account, they're the company you'll work with.
You may need a pre-pay account if you use a cell phone, or if your home phone provider uses cable or digital service that Smart Communications can't bill directly. If calls aren't coming through - or you can't accept them as collect - check Smart Communications' account setup options and review the costs for your situation.
- Decide whether you want the calls blocked - blocking stops your number from receiving inmate calls from this facility.
- Contact Smart Communications to request the block - call 1-727-349-1561 or send a message using their “contact us” form.
- Confirm the block is in place - once processed, your phone should stop receiving inmate calls from Snohomish County Jail.
Changed your mind about blocking? The unblock request has to come from the person whose name is on the phone account. This matters for shared family plans and household lines - make sure the account holder is the one who asks to remove the block.
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