To contact an inmate in jail, start by confirming where the person is being held, then use one of the facility’s approved channels: physical mail, a phone call the inmate places to you, electronic messaging through the facility’s contracted provider, an in-person visit, or a video visit. The facility controls which platforms are available, what the schedules look like, and what the rules are, so every step depends on identifying the right institution first. Federal prisons, state prisons, and county jails each run things differently, and following the wrong set of rules gets mail returned, visits denied, and deposits wasted.
Find the Facility First
You cannot write, call, or visit until you know which agency has custody.
Federal Custody
The Federal Bureau of Prisons runs a free Inmate Locator covering everyone in federal custody since 1982. You can search by name with an optional date of birth, or by BOP register number, DC Department of Corrections number, FBI number, or INS number.1Federal Bureau of Prisons. Inmate Locator Results list the facility, its location, and a projected release date.
State Custody
Nearly every state Department of Corrections hosts a public inmate search. Most take a first or last name; some accept a state inmate ID. What you see back varies: some states show the housing facility, release date, and offense; others only confirm the person is in custody. Start on the state DOC website.
Local Jails
County and city jails are run by the sheriff’s office, and many sheriff websites publish a jail roster or search tool keyed to full name and date of birth. If there’s no online tool, call the jail. People booked locally can move fast after sentencing, so an empty result may mean the person has already been transferred to a state or federal facility.
Sending Mail
Physical mail is the one channel every facility accepts. The addressing and content rules are strict, and mail that breaks them is returned or confiscated.
Addressing the Envelope
Write out the inmate’s full legal name as committed (not a nickname), their inmate ID number, the full name of the facility, and the facility’s mailing address.2U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons. Mail Management Manual Missing any of those four pieces delays or blocks delivery. Include your own full first and last name as the return address; mail without one is typically rejected. Check the facility’s website for the exact mailing address, which can differ from the physical address.
What You Cannot Send
Every piece of incoming mail is screened. Federal prisons reject letters containing staples or paper clips, anything written in code, sexually explicit photographs, and content that threatens security or encourages illegal activity.3Federal Bureau of Prisons. Program Statement 5265.11 – Correspondence Cash, personal checks, stamps, and blank envelopes are almost universally prohibited. Local jails add their own rules on top: some require white paper only, some ban greeting cards, some cap the number of photos per envelope. Read the specific facility’s mail guidelines before sending.
Digital Mail Scanning
A growing number of facilities scan incoming mail at a central processing site and deliver a digital copy to the inmate through a tablet or kiosk. You still write and mail a physical letter; the original gets stored for a set period and then destroyed. Legal mail, official government correspondence, and packages are usually exempt and still delivered in hard copy. Facilities on this system use a different mailing address than the facility’s physical address, so verify before sending.
Phone Calls
Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. Every call has to be placed by the inmate to a number already on their approved contact list, which means you need to be set up before they can reach you.
Getting Set Up to Receive Calls
Each facility contracts with one telephone provider. When the call comes through, an automated recording announces it is from a correctional facility and asks whether you accept. Most systems require you to create a prepaid account with that provider, add funds, and register the phone numbers that should be authorized. Some facilities still use collect calling that bills your phone, but prepaid is more common now. The facility or its website will tell you which provider it uses and how to register.
What Calls Cost
Calls from jails and prisons used to run over a dollar per minute. The FCC’s implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act changed that. As of April 6, 2026, federal rate caps limit per-minute charges for audio calls from any correctional facility in the country, whether local, long-distance, or international.4Federal Communications Commission. Incarcerated People’s Communications Services The caps vary by facility size:
- Prisons of any size: $0.09 per minute
- Large jails (1,000+ inmates): $0.08 per minute
- Medium jails (350–999): $0.10 per minute
- Small jails (100–349): $0.11 per minute
- Very small jails (50–99): $0.13 per minute
- Extremely small jails (under 50): $0.17 per minute
Facilities may add up to $0.02 per minute on top of these caps for infrastructure costs.5Federal Register. Incarcerated Peoples Communication Services – Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act Most facilities cut calls off at 15 or 30 minutes. Some states have eliminated charges entirely for certain calls.
Monitoring
Every call from a correctional facility is subject to recording and monitoring. Federal regulations require the warden to notify inmates that their calls may be monitored, with the purpose being institutional security.6eCFR. 28 CFR 540.102 – Monitoring of Inmate Telephone Calls The one exception is a properly placed call between an inmate and their attorney. Treat every other call as if someone is listening, because someone might be, and anything said can be used as evidence.
Electronic Messaging
Many facilities now offer a form of electronic messaging that resembles email but with staff review built in. The federal Bureau of Prisons uses TRULINCS (Trust Fund Limited Inmate Computer System), which lets inmates exchange messages with registered contacts.7Federal Bureau of Prisons. Communications State prisons and local jails use third-party platforms; GTL, Securus, and JPay are among the most common.
To send messages, you create an account with the facility’s provider, add funds, and pay a small fee per message. Messages have character limits and are screened before delivery, which can add anywhere from a few hours to several days of delay. Content rules mirror those for physical mail: no explicit material, no coded language, no relaying contact information for third parties. Some platforms let you attach photos for an extra fee.
Sending Money
Inmates draw on commissary accounts for toiletries, snacks, phone time, and messaging credits. Keeping that account funded is often the most practical form of support.
Federal Deposits
The BOP accepts deposits through MoneyGram and Western Union. Both require the inmate’s eight-digit register number immediately followed by their last name with no spaces or dashes (for example, 12345678DOE). You can send cash at a physical MoneyGram or Western Union location, pay online with a credit or debit card, use the mobile app, or send by phone.7Federal Bureau of Prisons. Communications Funds sent between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern typically post within two to four hours. Wait until the inmate has physically arrived at the facility before sending anything.
State and Local Deposits
State prisons and local jails contract with services like JPay, TouchPay, or Access Corrections. You’ll need the inmate’s name, ID number, and facility name. Most providers accept payment online, through an app, at a retail kiosk, or by mailed money order. Fees range from a few dollars to nearly $10 per transaction, with online transfers generally the cheapest option. The facility’s website identifies the service it uses.
In-Person Visits
Visiting has the most rules of any channel. Showing up unprepared is the quickest way to be turned away.
Approved Visitor List
You have to be on the inmate’s approved visitor list first. In the federal system, the inmate submits proposed visitors and staff investigate each one. Immediate family are generally approved absent specific security concerns. Other relatives and friends can be approved, though friends usually need to show a relationship that predates the incarceration.8eCFR. 28 CFR Part 540 Subpart D – Visiting Regulations A criminal record doesn’t automatically disqualify you, but staff weigh the nature and recency of any convictions. Many state and local jails run their own background checks. Common denial reasons include pending charges, a history of smuggling contraband, and certain drug convictions. If you’re denied, the facility will usually tell you why and whether you can reapply after a waiting period.
ID, Clothing, and Children
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID: driver’s license, state ID, military ID, or passport. Most facilities enforce a dress code that bars revealing clothing, anything resembling inmate uniforms, and gang imagery. Leave phones, bags, and valuables in your car or a locker. Children under 16 generally have to be accompanied by a responsible adult, and some facilities require a birth certificate for minors.8eCFR. 28 CFR Part 540 Subpart D – Visiting Regulations
Scheduling and the Visit Itself
Visits must be scheduled in advance, usually through an online portal or by phone. Facilities set specific visiting days and hours, and visits typically run 15 minutes to an hour. On arrival you’ll go through metal detectors and possibly a pat-down. Depending on the inmate’s classification, the visit may be contact (same table) or non-contact (separated by glass with a handset). Breaking rules during a visit can end it on the spot and suspend your visiting privileges.
Video Visits
Many facilities offer remote video visitation, letting you connect from home through a computer or smartphone app instead of traveling. Sessions are scheduled in advance through the facility’s contracted platform and run on a timer, often 15 to 20 minutes. The FCC’s 2026 caps also apply to video, with per-minute rates ranging from $0.17 at large jails to $0.42 at the smallest facilities, and $0.23 per minute at prisons.5Federal Register. Incarcerated Peoples Communication Services – Implementation of the Martha Wright-Reed Act Video visits are monitored and recorded. Some facilities have replaced in-person visits entirely with video, so at certain jails this may be your only real-time option.
What Breaking the Rules Costs
Consequences run from minor to severe. A letter with a staple or an unapproved photo usually just gets returned. Sending actual contraband into a federal prison is a felony. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1791, providing prohibited items to a federal inmate carries penalties that scale with the item:9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 1791 – Providing or Possessing Contraband in Prison
- Methamphetamine, LSD, or PCP: up to 20 years
- Firearms or most controlled substances: up to 10 years
- Marijuana, other weapons, or escape tools: up to 5 years
- Cell phones, currency, or alcohol: up to 1 year
- Other items that threaten facility security: up to 6 months
State laws impose their own penalties, and a contraband conviction will almost certainly get you permanently banned from visiting. Even an accident, like forgetting something in a pocket, can trigger a search and suspend your privileges. Follow the facility’s rules exactly, ask when you’re unsure, and never agree to carry anything inside for anyone.