Penmate Inmate Support Guides
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Inmate Phone Calls at WTRJ: Hours, Time Limits, Monitoring, and Emergency Incoming Calls

Waiting for a call from someone at WTRJ can feel stressful, especially when you're not sure how the system works. Here's what you need to know about phone hours, call limits, monitoring, and what to do in an emergency.

• 2 min read • wtrj.org
Inmate Phone Calls at WTRJ: Hours, Time Limits, Monitoring, and Emergency Incoming Calls

Phones at WTRJ aren't available around the clock. Calls can only happen between 10:00 a.m. and 10:45 p.m. daily - outside that window, the phones are off.

Each outgoing call is capped at 15 minutes. This limit exists so everyone in the housing area gets fair access to the phones. If your call cuts off right at the 15-minute mark, that's the system working as designed.

Note: Inmates may have telephone privileges terminated for disciplinary reasons, which can affect whether they’re able to place calls at all.

The phone system at WTRJ handles outgoing calls only - debit and collect. All calls are monitored and may be recorded, so assume anything said could be reviewed later.

Attorney calls work a bit differently. Inmates can call their attorneys or legal representatives on a collect basis using the housing area phones.

  1. Place the emergency call to the jail - all incoming emergency phone calls are forwarded to the Shift Commander for scrutiny.
  2. Wait for verification - the Shift Commander reviews the situation to verify the emergency.
  3. Inmate is notified if it’s valid - if the call is determined to be a valid emergency, the inmate will be notified.
  4. A return call is allowed to the verified party/number - the inmate is given the opportunity to call the party and phone number provided to the Shift Commander.
Inmate Phone Calls at WTRJ: Hours, Time Limits, Monitoring, and Emergency Incoming Calls

If calls aren't going through, check the funding first. Viapath offers an online option to add money for phone calls. You can also use the Viapath/Connect Network kiosk in the jail lobby to deposit funds. Money added to an inmate's Canteen Fund through the lobby kiosk works for debit calls too.

Quick recap: phones are available from 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., calls max out at 15 minutes, and everything is monitored. You can add funds through Viapath online or the lobby kiosk. If you've checked the basics and still have issues, use the support numbers listed above.

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