How phone calls, tablets, and messaging work in North Dakota facilities

How you stay in touch depends on whether your loved one is in a county jail or a state DOCR facility. At some county facilities, phone time must be purchased through Reliance. You can buy it by calling Reliance, using their website, or by putting cash into the person's account so they can purchase phone time themselves. Some facilities also have a separate inmate message line where you can call to leave a message.

Some North Dakota facilities also offer video visitation and tablet-style messaging platforms. HomeWAV, for example, supports jail calls and a messaging suite (including text and media) on tablets. At ND DOCR facilities, new residents get two initial five-minute phone calls when they arrive. Before family or friends can be added to a resident's calling list, a completed and signed Telephone Application is required. For video visits, ND DOCR offers free onsite visits, while remote visits may have a fee shown when you schedule. County facilities often follow a similar model: onsite video is typically free, but offsite visitation costs the visitor.