How Federal Prison Phone Calls Work: monitoring, time limits, who pays, and prohibited call types
Federal prison phone calls come with rules that can catch families off guard. Here's what BOP policy says about monitoring, time limits, who pays, and which call types aren't allowed.
The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) provides telephone privileges so people in custody can stay connected with family and community contacts. Phone access is a privilege, not a right. It's designed to support relationships while still fitting within the facility's safety and security requirements.
Assume every call is monitored. The BOP posts a notice next to each institutional telephone letting incarcerated people know that calls are subject to monitoring, so this isn't a hidden rule. If you're sharing sensitive family information, keep in mind that someone may be listening or reviewing the recording later.
Note: Unmonitored calls to attorneys are allowed in certain circumstances. If legal calls are a concern, have your loved one ask staff about the proper process at their institution.
Calls aren't unlimited. BOP policy requires each institution to set a maximum call length in its local rules (the Institution Supplement). The standard maximum is ordinarily 15 minutes.
Planning around work, childcare, or time zones? The local Institution Supplement is where you'll find the answer to "how long can we talk?" for that facility. It also covers the exact day-to-day phone procedures and access details.
Generally, the incarcerated person pays for calls. BOP policy does recognize that in some cases the receiving party may pay instead. If you're seeing unexpected charges or blocks on your end, confirm which payment setup applies to your specific call arrangement.
Note: BOP policy covers who ordinarily pays, but it doesn't spell out every billing detail you might see on your phone bill. If costs don't look right, stick to what the institution's rules say and confirm through official channels.
Warning: Third-party or other alternative call arrangements are not permitted. If a setup involves routing the call through someone else, it can create serious problems for your loved one.
- ✓ Calls must be placed through the BOP’s Inmate Telephone System (ITS).
- ✓ Calls cannot be routed around ITS using call forwarding (including automatic electronic forwarding or similar phone functions).
Certain numbers are off-limits entirely. BOP policy prohibits toll-free and credit-card calls, including calls to numbers starting with 1-800, 1-888, 1-877, 1-866, 1-900, and 1-976, as well as credit card access numbers.
- Talk like someone is listening. Calls are monitored, and the phones have posted notices saying so.
- Get to the point early. Call length limits are set locally (ordinarily up to 15 minutes), so don’t save the important stuff for the end.
- Handle legal calls the right way. Unmonitored attorney calls can be permitted in certain circumstances, but they are handled differently than personal calls.
Need the exact rules for a specific BOP facility? Look for that institution's supplement and phone procedures, especially for maximum call length. For billing questions, start from the basic policy (the incarcerated person ordinarily pays, though the receiving party may pay in some cases), then confirm the details that apply to your situation.
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