If you’re here, you probably just heard that you can text someone in prison or jail, and you’re trying to figure out how to make it work. The short answer: you sign up for a service like InmateDB, add the inmate, and pay a monthly fee. Then you can send messages from your phone or computer, and they can text you back. But the setup has a few steps that trip people up, so let’s walk through them in order.
Step 1: Check that the facility allows texting at all
Before you download anything or enter a credit card number, confirm that the facility where your person is housed allows digital messaging. Most state and federal prisons in the U.S. have some form of it, and many jails do too. But not all. Some facilities only allow email through a specific vendor, and a few still rely on old-school mail only.
How do you find out? Call the facility’s information line and ask. That sounds obvious, but a lot of people skip it and learn the hard way that their messages went nowhere. You can also check the facility’s official website, though those sites are often outdated. If you call, ask specifically: “Does the facility allow inmates to send and receive text messages through a third-party app?” Write down the name of the vendor they mention, if any. That will save you a headache later.
Step 2: Choose a service that reaches the right phones
Once you know texting is allowed, you need a service. There are several out there, and they don’t all work the same way. The big differences are cost, which phones the inmate can text, and how messages are delivered.
InmateDB, for example, lets inmates text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada. That means your person can text your cell number directly, like a normal text, not just message you inside an app. That’s a big deal if you want to get a text while you’re at work or in a waiting room, without opening a separate app every time.
Other services might only allow messages within their own app, which means you have to keep checking it. Some also limit the inmate to texting only pre-approved numbers, so you’ll need to make sure your number is on the list. Read the fine print on the service’s website before you commit.
Step 3: Create your account and add the inmate
When you’ve picked a service, the setup itself is usually simple. You’ll create an account with your email and a password. Then you’ll need the inmate’s full legal name and their inmate ID number. That number is on their official paperwork, like their sentencing order or the intake sheet they got when they arrived. If you don’t have it, call the facility and ask. Don’t guess—using the wrong ID can delay approval by days.
Once you’ve entered that info, the service will typically send a request to the facility to verify the inmate. This is where patience matters. Some facilities approve these requests in a few hours; others take a week or more. If you don’t hear anything after five business days, call the facility and ask if they’ve received a request from the service. Sometimes the request gets stuck in a queue, and a polite nudge can move it along.
Step 4: Pay the subscription and start messaging
InmateDB charges $19.99 per month, and they give you a 5-day free trial for every new inmate you add. So you can test the service before you pay. That trial is useful—you’ll see how quickly messages get through and whether the inmate is actually responding.
If you decide to continue, the subscription covers unlimited messages, photos, and letters. The inmate also gets access to AI chat, email, news, lessons, trivia, and a private journal through the service. That might sound like a lot, but for families it means the inmate has something to do besides wait, which can make the whole situation a little more bearable.
One thing to watch: some services charge per message or per photo. InmateDB doesn’t, but if you go with another provider, read the pricing page carefully. A “free” app might charge 50 cents per message, and that adds up fast if you’re texting every day.
Why replies feel slow even when they’re not
You send a message, and you wait. An hour passes. Nothing. You check again. Still nothing. You start to wonder if the service is broken or if the inmate is ignoring you.
Here’s the thing: inmates don’t have their phones with them all day. They’re usually only allowed to use the messaging service during designated times, like after meals or in the evening, depending on the facility’s schedule. So a message you send at 9 a.m. might not be read until 6 p.m., and the reply might come even later. That’s normal.
Also, some facilities review messages before they’re delivered. That can add a delay of a few hours up to a day. It’s not your fault, and it’s not the inmate’s fault. It’s just how the system works. Set expectations early: agree that a reply might take up to a day, and don’t panic if it’s not instant.
What usually goes wrong the first time
Most problems fall into three buckets, and they’re all fixable.
- The inmate never got the message. Double-check the ID number and whether the facility actually approved the request. If you used a different service than the facility’s official vendor, the message might be sitting in a queue.
- You’re not getting replies. Confirm that the inmate’s allowed contact list includes your number. Some facilities require them to add you first.
- The trial ended and you didn’t notice. If you’re only using the free trial, mark the day it expires on your calendar. Otherwise, you’ll be charged without warning.
Another common hiccup: the inmate’s tablet might need a software update, or the facility’s Wi-Fi is down. If nothing works after a day, contact the service’s support. They deal with this daily and can often tell you if the facility is having issues.
Where to start
If you’re ready to try, the first step is to check the facility’s policy, then sign up for the free trial at InmateDB. Their site says it plainly: “Send messages, photos, and letters online. Inmates can text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada.” That’s the whole pitch, and for most families it’s enough. You’ll know within five days whether it’s going to work for your situation.
One last piece of honesty: texting won’t fix the hard parts of having someone locked up. But it does make the waiting a little less lonely, for both of you. If the facility allows it, it’s worth trying.
Next step
When you are ready to send messages, photos, or letters online, start with InmateDB. Send messages, photos, and letters online. Inmates can text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada. $19.99 per month with a 5-day free trial for every new inmate.
