Can inmates send and receive texts and emails?
Almost all jails and prisons have adopted a messaging system which allows inmates to communicate with their friends and family using an electronic messaging system. It’s neither email nor text, it’s something in between.
The inmate and their contacts do not use their regular email accounts or phone numbers, but account numbers that are set up with the company providing the service.
All communication goes through them. Think of them as a middleman.
Once a contact of the inmate is approved, like the approval process a visitor goes through, an account is set up, using a credit or debit card to fund the account.
To start, the inmate’s contact can send a message that has a limit of so many characters, usually about one page of text.
The message is then reviewed by a computer that scans the message for certain keywords or phrases that are not allowed, almost like a censoring service. If the machine scanner finds problems with the message it sends the message to the Bingham County Detention Center staff to review, and if they find no issues, will then forward it to the inmate’s account so that they can read it.
If there are problems with the message, it is possible the message will not be sent. The sender will be notified of the decision and will not get a refund.
Once the inmate receives the message, should the account holder have funded the account allowing replies, the inmate can respond with a similar length message.
How much does it cost for an inmate to use a text or email service?
The cost to use the electronic messaging service, which is like texting or emailing, costs between $0.50 and $1.00 per page; a page being about 500 characters.
Can inmates send and receive photos through their messaging system?
Photos can be sent by the inmate’s contact that is not incarcerated, but not by the inmate due to security concerns. There is an extra cost, usually about $0.50 for each photo attached.
The photos must go through a security screening where nudity, violence and other things are checked before the photo can be delivered. If the photo is rejected, the sender will be notified, but no refund will be given.
The inmate does not have the ability to print out the photos that make it past the screening, but the photos will stay in their account so that they can view them at their leisure.
Can I send an inmate a link to a video to watch?
No. Because this is a closed system, the inmate has no access to the internet, thus the inmate will have no access to any links that you send them.
Can I send the inmate a video?
Yes, just as you can send text and photos, you can send a video message, or if not a message, then a video of your children or yourself. Every company has a limit on the length of the video, usually no more than one minute, and at a cost of approximately $2.00 to $3.00 per video.
The video will first be screened for any nudity, excessive vulgarity, violence, etc. If it is rejected on any of the grounds the sender will not be given a refund.
As with the policy of photos, the inmate cannot reciprocate. They cannot send videos of themselves or anything in jail.
What device does an inmate use for texting and emailing?
The jails that contract with the electronic messaging service is given a certain number of kiosks within each unit for inmate use. Inmates can log on as they might with a public computer terminal.
In addition to the public terminal kiosks, inmates are given (or can rent) access to individual tablets like a bulky, almost indestructible ipad. These allow an inmate to use them to access your messages, photos and videos in a more private manner.
Should the inmate damage the tablet, they will be responsible for replacing it. The money will be deducted from their commissary account.
What is the inmate text and email system in Bingham County Detention Center?
The electronic messaging system used by Bingham County Detention Center, if there is one, can be found at the top of this page. If there is no information about the ability to text or email with an inmate, it is possible that the facility has recently changed companies or does not have this service available. Call 208-782-3076 to confirm.
What are the companies that provide inmate electronic messaging services?
This is a list of all the companies in the United States that work with jails and prisons, providing text and email messaging between inmates and their friends and families:
Access Corrections
CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Correct Pay
Corrlinks
Ctel
Edevo
Express Account
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
IC Solutions
Inmate Canteen
Inmate Sales
JailATM
J Pay
NCIC
Paytel
Pigeonly
Prodigy Sales
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications
TBE
Visitel
How do I fund the inmate’s messaging system?
You fund the messaging service with credit and debit cards. All of them take Visa and MasterCard, most also take Discover, and just some take America Express.
How often can an inmate text and email?
There is no limit to the amount of texting and email that an inmate can have with their family and friends.
Can inmates’ text any time of the day or night?
If an inmate has their own tablet, then they can text any time of the day or night, however if the must use the wall mounted kiosk terminal in their unit, they are limited to using it only during the hours they are allowed off their bunks; usually 7:00AM to 10:00PM, excluding meals, head counts and shift changes.
Can inmates email other inmates in other jails or prisons?
No, inmates are not allowed to communicate with each other, nor with inmates in other institutions. There is always a way to get around it, for example if one of the inmates has access to a phone with an internet connection, but this would be the only way.
Bingham County Detention Center Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?
For inmates receiving mail in the Bingham County Detention Center there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.
All mail is to be shipped to the Bingham County Detention Center:
501 N. Maple
Blackfoot, ID 83221
For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmateand what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.
How to Bail out an Inmate in Bingham County
To Bail out or Post Bond for an Inmate in Bingham County Detention Center follow these steps:
- Log in, Register or sign in as a Guest.
- Select Bingham County Detention Center
- Select the Deposit 'type'... Inmate Account or Friends and Family Account.
- Follow the Instructions.
For complete Instructions on How to Bail or Bond an Inmate in Bingham County Detention Center, check out ourInmate Bailpage.
Depositing Money for Communicating with an Inmate
How to Make a Deposit for Phone, Email or Visitation using GettingOut.com
Bingham County Detention Center uses GettingOut for some or all of its communication services with an inmate.
If you want to deposit money using this company for your use or your inmate's account, there are four ways to do it:
- Online- They accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
- At the Bingham County Detention Centerusing the kiosk in the jail lobby - (cash, debit or credit card) NOTE - Bingham County Detention Center mayrequire identity verification so bring your driver’s license or some other form of ID.
- By phone by calling866-516-0115- They havebi-lingual operators are standing by 24 hours 7 days a week to assist you with your deposit. Major credit cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
- By using their app, either Android or iphone. - All credit cards mentioned above are accepted.
For all the information you need to know, including tips, guidelines and warnings about depositing money in a Bingham County Detention Centerinmate's account for communication services, check out ourSend Moneypage.
How Inmates Can Use aTablet to Access Services at Bingham County Detention Center
To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:
1. First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL
2. Purchase the services you want for your Bingham County Detention Center inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.
To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out ourTablet RentalPage.
How to Communicate with an Bingham County Detention Center Inmate by Mail and by Email
To mail or email an inmate in Bingham County follow these steps:
When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:
- All mail sent to an inmate at the Bingham County Detention Center must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
- All mail must include the facility's address, as well as the inmate's name and assigned number.
- Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
- The Bingham County Detention Center has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations.
- All the information you need to understand mail and email policies can be found on ourInmate MailPage and ourText/Email an InmatePage.
Emailing Messages & Photos
Facility_name_1} contracts with GTLGettingOut, the same servicethat handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, forsending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Bingham County Detention Center,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
- Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.
- After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
- You can also send your Bingham County inmate photos and videos.
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.
All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Bingham County can be found on ourInmate Mail Page and ourText/Email an InmatePage.
How Do You Visit an Inmatein Bingham County Detention Center?
To visit an inmate in Bingham County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:
Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate, which is explained and outlined in detail on ourVisit InmatePage, Bingham County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of GettingOut.
There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate in Bingham County Detention Center:
1.Using the GettingOutKiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOutapps.
To remotely visit an inmatein Bingham County follow these steps:
1. Start by confirming that Bingham County Detention Center's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up Bingham County here.
2. The next step is tocreate an account here for GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account.
4. Last, select Bingham County Detention Center, and then theinmate you wish to communicate with.
Other Bingham County Services provided by GettingOut:
- Phone Calls &Voicemail
- Email, Photo & Video Sharing
- Inmate Tablet Rental
- Deposits
Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Bingham County Detention Center Visitation Servicesyou can call them at 866-516-0115.
Frequently Asked Questions
* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers andclergyvisitation in Bingham County, can be found on ourVisit InmatePage. Bingham County Detention Center Phone: 208-782-3076
How Do Inmates in Bingham County Detention Center Make or Receive Phone Calls?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Bingham County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
1. Start by confirming that Bingham County Detention Center has the phone service you need to communicate with your inmate by the facility lookup here.
2. In the meantime, you cancreate an account here for GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account. This account can be controlled by just you, or by both you and your inmate.
4. Last, select Bingham County Detention Center, and then theinmate you wish to communicate with.
Bingham County Services that are provided by GettingOut, a GTL company:
- Phone Calls &Voicemail
- Video Visits (from home orjail lobby)
- Email & Photo Sharing
- Tablet Rental
-Deposits
Phone & VoicemailFees
1. GettingOut charges $0.25 per minute for all phone calls, prepaid or collect, within Idaho.
2. Prepaid calls between Idaho and other states costs $0.21 per minute. International calls are $0.95 per minute.
3. There is a fee of $3.00 every time you add money to your account online, and it costs $5.95 if you add funds over the phone with a live agent.
4. You can also leave an inmate a short voice message for a flat fee of $1.25.
Note: Rates are subject to change.
Types of Phone Calls
Collect Calls
Collect calls allow you to accept and pay for calls to your land line (only) phone account. This means that if you accept your call from your inmate, all the charges for that call will then be billed to your land line phone account and will show up and be listed on your next local phone bill. Additional fees, costs, restrictions may apply.
Prepaid calls (Direct Calls)
With Prepaid Calls you can set up your account so that the inmate can only call you and/or you can just deposit money in their account and they can purchase prepaid phone cards through their commissary and call whoever they choose, provided the Bingham County Detention Center approves of the phone number.
Quick Connect
Quick connect is an alternative to collect calls. It allows you to quickly pay for a phone call with your credit card.When your inmate calls you, follow the instructions from the automated voice system to pay for that one phone call, directly billed to your card.
Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Bingham County Detention Center GettingOut phone services, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
* All the information you need to understand making and receiving phone calls with inmatesin Bingham County, can be found on ourInmate Phone Page.
