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Frequently Asked Questions: Inmate Telephone Access:: SD Dept. of Corr...
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How does an inmate get access to telephones while in prison?
Frequent Questions
During Admissions and Orientation (A&O), inmates are provided with information on how to obtain a Personal
Identification Number (PIN) and how to establish a calling list. Inmates are allowed to have twenty (20) numbers on
their approved calling list. Inmates are not allowed to use another inmate's PIN or share their PIN with another
inmate. Violators are subject to disciplinary action.
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Inmates can access telephones at the facility they are housed to make calls, subject to the rules of that facility. In
some cases, pay phones are available in the inmate housing units. These phones may only be used for purposes
designated by Unit Staff.
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Access to telephones is a privilege. Inmates must abide by institutional rules on phone usage or their privilege may
be withdrawn at any time. Restrictions on phone use will be imposed on inmates whose status would make it
contrary to the disciplined operation of the institution.
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Inmates typically have access to pay phones in their housing units and in other designated areas of the facility.
Staff Memorial
What type of calls are inmates allowed/not allowed to make?
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Inmates may place local and long distance collect calls or debit calls. Debit calling capability was activated in
September 2002.
Third party phone calls are not permitted.
How do I know if an inmate is calling me?
A recorded message may be inserted to let the person being called know that they are receiving a call from an
inmate. Periodic recorded messages may be inserted during the call advising the receiving party they are talking to
an inmate.
Who pays for the calls?
If the inmate makes a debit call, his phone account is debited for the cost of the call.
If an inmate makes a collect call, the person accepting a collect call from an inmate will pay for the cost of the call.
The recipient must accept the collect call charges.
If a family member or friend on the inmate's approved calling list sets up an account specific to his phone number,
then that account will be charged for the calls at the debit call rates.
What if I don't want an inmate to call me?
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Contact the institution where the inmate is being housed and request that a block be put on your phone number.
Are inmate phone calls monitored?
Yes. Outgoing phone calls from inmates may be monitored and recorded, unless the call is to an attorney or an
organization known to provide legal services. Notices are posted near inmate telephones advising the inmate that
their call may be monitored and/or recorded. It is the responsibility of an inmate to request or arrange for the use of
a non-monitored phone for confidential attorney/client matters.
Can inmates receive incoming calls?
No. Inmates are not allowed to receive phone calls unless it is an emergency situation and/or permission has been
granted by the Warden.
What is a debit phone account and how is it different than the collect only system?
Beginning in September 2002, a debit phone account was added for each inmate. Previously, inmates only had the
option of making collect calls to family and friends.
With the inmate debit phone account, family and friends can pre-pay for phone calls from inmates.
Family and friends can send in money to GTL AdvancePay Service via options noted below for deposit in the
inmate's debit phone account.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Inmate Telephone Access:: SD Dept. of Corr...
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http://doc.sd.gov/about/faq/telephone.aspx
When an inmate places a debit call using their Personal Identification Number (PIN), a message will inform the
inmate of how much money is available in their phone account. The call will be made with the inmate’s phone
account debited for the cost of the call. The call recipient will not be charged for a call on their monthly phone bill
under the debit system.
Is the cost of a debit call cheaper than that of a collect call?
Yes. The Department of Corrections negotiated for a lower cost for both collect and debit calls prior to the debit
system being established and again in 2008, 2009 and 2012. The price of a debit call is significantly less than the
price of a collect call. See the chart below to compare the cost of a collect call versus the cost of a debit call.
Inmate Calling Rate Schedule for State of South Dakota
as of February 12, 2014
Type of Call
Set-Up
Charge
Cost Per Minute
Collect
Local
$2.70
IntraLATA
$2.52
$0.00
$0.23
InterLATA
$3.15
$0.00
InterSTATE
$3.75
$0.00
Local
$0.90
$0.00
IntraLATA
$1.13
$0.09
InterLATA
$1.35
$0.09
InterSTATE
$1.35
$0.09
International
$4.00
$1.00
*US Territories
$0.00
$0.95
Local
$1.00
$0.00
IntraLATA
$1.13
$0.09
InterLATA
$1.35
$0.09
InterSTATE
$1.35
$0.09
International
$4.00
$1.00
*US Territories
$0.00
$0.95
Prepaid Collect
Debit Calls
*US Virgin Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico
Cost does not include tax
How do I send in payments for an inmate to make telephone calls?
The South Dakota Department of Corrections will not accept deposits for the inmate telephone accounts at the
adult facilities. Any deposits received marked "Phone Account" will be deposited in to the inmate's account and
subject to the inmate accounts policy. GTL AdvancePay Service will be handling the deposits. In order to place
deposits in an inmate account, you must contact AdvancePay Service with the inmate name and ID number to
deposit in the inmate's debit account. If you wish to set up an account specific to your phone number, you may do
so by contacting AdvancePay Service.
Deposits to inmate accounts can be made in several ways:
By mailing a postal money order to:
AdvancePay Service
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722
Include your name and telephone number, the inmate's name and the name of the facility with your deposit.
Online at www.offenderconnect.com
By phone at 1-800-483-8314
©2014 All rights reserved. Department of Corrections State of South Dakota.
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