Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Phone & Messaging

TRULINCS and Phone Calls at FCI Hazelton: What Gets Monitored, Stored, and How Electronic Messaging Works

Using TRULINCS or phone calls with someone at FCI Hazelton? Expect everything to be monitored. Here's how electronic messaging works, what's off-limits, and what the phone system records.

• 2 min read • bop.gov
TRULINCS and Phone Calls at FCI Hazelton: What Gets Monitored, Stored, and How Electronic Messaging Works

TRULINCS messages are text-only - no attachments, photos, PDFs, or files of any kind. Every message can be screened for content that might threaten safety, security, or facility operations. Write accordingly. Messages max out at 13,000 characters (roughly two pages). Got more to say? Break it into shorter messages so nothing gets cut off.

Monitoring consent is required before anyone can use TRULINCS. Both the inmate and the people they message must agree to monitoring upfront. Don't treat this like private email.

TRULINCS isn't internet access. It's a restricted messaging system - no web browsing, no general computer use. Inmates can only access it through controlled channels.

TRULINCS and related communication services are funded through the Inmate Trust Fund, not taxpayer money. Costs come from inmate-paid fees tied to commissary purchases, telephone services, and TRULINCS use.

Phone calls at FCI Hazelton are monitored. A notice posted next to each inmate telephone makes this clear. If you're on the outside, assume the same: anything said on a regular call can be listened to.

Attorney-call exception: Unmonitored calls to attorneys are permitted in certain circumstances.

The BOP's TRUFONE system collects more than just call logs. It stores the phone numbers on an inmate's calling list, biometric voice verification data, and actual call recordings.

Call recordings stay in TRUFONE for 180 days, then get deleted. The exception: recordings needed for legal or administrative purposes can be kept longer.

TRULINCS and Phone Calls at FCI Hazelton: What Gets Monitored, Stored, and How Electronic Messaging Works

TRULINCS messaging isn't automatic. The inmate needs approval to use the system, and each contact must give permission to receive messages. Both sides also have to consent to monitoring before messaging can begin.

  • ✓ Ask your loved one what you need to do on your side to be added as an approved TRULINCS contact.
  • ✓ Confirm whether you need to sign or acknowledge a monitoring consent before messaging starts.
  • ✓ Double-check what name and contact details the facility expects you to use so the approval doesn’t get delayed.
  • ✓ If messages aren’t going through, have your loved one confirm they’re approved for TRULINCS and that you’re listed correctly as an approved contact.

Find an Inmate at FCI Hazelton

Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.

Exact spelling helps find results faster

Free to search · Used by families nationwide
Woman using phone to connect with loved one

More from FCI Hazelton

Before You Drive to FCI Hazelton: Visiting-Day Checklist (Call First, What to Wear, and What to Expect)

A little prep saves you a wasted drive. Use this checklist to confirm the schedule, dress right, and know what to expect once you're inside.

How to Get Approved for Visiting at FCI Hazelton: A Step‑by‑Step Checklist

Getting approved to visit at FCI Hazelton takes some setup, but it's manageable once you know the steps. Use the sections below to make sure you're on the list, your paperwork is complete, and you don't waste a trip.

How to Send Money to Someone at FCI Hazelton (and Why You Can’t Mail Cash to the Facility)

Trying to put money on someone's account at FCI Hazelton? The biggest mistake people make is sending it to the facility's address. Here's how to avoid delays and get funds posted quickly.