Inmate Phone Calls in Indiana: Rules, Costs, and Restrictions
Understand how Indiana regulates inmate phone use, including access rules, call limits, and financial responsibilities for families.
Phone calls offer a vital link for incarcerated individuals in Indiana, connecting them with family, legal counsel, and support networks essential for rehabilitation and well-being. However, this communication is governed by strict regulations and costs that impact both inmates and those they call. Navigating the rules, payment systems, and limitations of the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) phone system is crucial for maintaining these connections.
Eligibility and Registration
Receiving calls from an inmate in an Indiana state prison requires the incarcerated person to first place the recipient’s phone number on an approved list. The inmate initiates this by completing an “Offender Telephone List” form, identifying up to twenty individuals they wish to contact. Each person counts toward this limit, even if sharing a phone number.
Facility staff review this list, typically within ten business days, according to IDOC Policy 02-01-105 (updated Nov. 1, 2023).1Indiana Department of Correction. Policy 02-01-105: Telephones (Effective Nov 1, 2023) The Warden or a designee can deny a number if it poses a security risk, threatens public safety, or if the person at that number submits a written request not to receive calls from the inmate.
While individuals receiving calls generally do not need to pre-register simply to be eligible, their number must be on the inmate’s approved list. Practical registration steps may arise for the recipient when dealing with payment methods. For instance, if a phone carrier blocks collect calls or reaches billing limits, or to use prepaid services, the recipient must interact with the state’s contracted phone vendor, currently ViaPath Technologies. This usually involves setting up an account through ViaPath’s ConnectNetwork platform or by phone, enabling specific payment options like prepaid accounts, which are necessary for calls to cell phones or to bypass carrier restrictions.
Payment Arrangements
Several payment options exist for calls from IDOC facilities, managed through the vendor ViaPath Technologies and its ConnectNetwork service.2Indiana Department of Correction. IDOC: Phone Calls The traditional method is the collect call, where the recipient accepts the charges billed by their local phone company. This option is often unavailable for calls to cell phones, office numbers, or hospitals, and some carriers may block collect calls due to billing limits or policy.
To address these limitations, prepaid accounts offer greater flexibility. Friends and family can establish an “AdvancePay” account linked to their phone number via ConnectNetwork. Funds deposited into this account cover the cost of accepted calls from an inmate to that specific number. AdvancePay works for various phone types, including cell phones, and funds can be added online, via app, phone, facility kiosks, or mail.
Inmates can also pay for calls directly using funds in their “PIN Debit” account. Money can be deposited into this account by friends and family through ConnectNetwork or transferred from the inmate’s general trust fund.3Indiana Department of Correction. IDOC: Money Accounts This allows inmates to call any number on their approved list. As of July 1, 2022, Indiana law caps the per-minute rate for calls from state facilities at $0.12, regardless of the payment method. Recent Federal Communications Commission actions aim to further regulate interstate call rates and video communication costs in correctional settings nationwide, potentially affecting future pricing.
Duration and Frequency
The Indiana Department of Correction sets guidelines for call length and frequency, balancing communication needs with facility operations. Policy 02-01-105 grants facilities the authority to limit call duration and total phone time, though it doesn’t mandate a specific system-wide time limit for regular calls, suggesting potential variation between institutions.
Facilities are expected to provide reasonable phone access, considering security levels and operational schedules. While specific daily or weekly call limits for general communication are not set by IDOC policy, individual facilities may manage frequency. Some county jails, for example, define specific hours for phone availability.
Special considerations apply to legal calls. Facilities generally should not limit the frequency of calls between inmates and their attorneys if other communication methods are inadequate, and these calls typically do not count against regular limits. Even inmates under restrictions, such as those in administrative segregation, are usually permitted minimal access, often at least one call per week, though potentially shorter or less frequent than for the general population, as outlined in policies like 02-01-111 regarding segregation.
Prohibited Conduct
Using the prison phone system requires strict adherence to rules designed for safety and security. IDOC Policy 02-01-105 forbids any misuse or attempt to bypass the system’s proper function.
Connecting unauthorized third parties through methods like three-way calling or call forwarding is prohibited. These rules prevent inmates from contacting individuals not on their approved list or circumventing monitoring. Using the phone for any unlawful activity is also strictly forbidden.
While the policy doesn’t list every forbidden topic, the system’s monitoring aims to prevent illegal activities and ensure safety. Discussions involving crime planning, threats, harassment, or actions compromising facility security constitute prohibited conduct. Except for properly arranged legal calls, all conversations are subject to monitoring and recording, with notices posted near phones and recorded messages informing recipients.
Attempting to call numbers restricted by the facility or at the recipient’s request is also prohibited. Inmates are notified if a number is restricted but not why. Persisting in calling restricted numbers can lead to disciplinary measures. Possessing unauthorized devices like cell phones is a separate, serious offense under Indiana law, bypassing the regulated system entirely. Using approved phones to facilitate other prohibited activities, such as running a business or unauthorized financial transactions, also violates institutional rules.
Penalties
Violating telephone rules within an Indiana Department of Correction facility subjects an inmate to the disciplinary process. Phone use is a privilege that, according to IDOC Policy 02-01-105, can be restricted or revoked as a disciplinary sanction.
Penalties vary based on the violation’s severity, following the framework of IDOC Policy 02-04-101, “The Disciplinary Code for Adult Offenders.” Misuse like attempting three-way calls or using phones for illegal purposes can lead to formal charges and a hearing.
If found guilty, sanctions, authorized under Indiana Code section 11-11-5-3, can range from suspension of phone privileges to extra work, loss of other privileges like commissary access, restitution, security level changes, or facility transfer. Serious violations may result in disciplinary segregation.
Significant disciplinary issues, potentially including severe phone misuse, can also affect an inmate’s sentence length. A guilty finding for certain offenses can lead to a reduction in earned credit time under Indiana Code sections 35-50-6-4 and 35-50-6-5, extending incarceration. Disciplinary records can negatively impact parole decisions, program participation, and placement considerations.
