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This video introduces you to the Telmate Phone System.

Telmate provides a variety of ways to communicate with your loved one, including phone calls.

You can get it touch with your inmate by phone in one of two ways:

  1. The first way is to set up an account in advance, so you can receive calls.
  2. Or you can wait until you receive your first phone call from an inmate and deposit funds when prompted to continue the call. Then you can set up an account later, after the call.

The easiest way to set up an account is to do it in advance at gettingout.com. You can also set up an account in advance by calling Customer Service or at the kiosk in the facility lobby.

Follow these steps to set up your account in advance:

  1. From gettingout.com, click Create Account and continue as a new user.
  2. Find your facility. In the account section, choose the type of account that’s right for you.
  3. If you want the inmate to call only you, deposit funds into a Friends and Family Account. Just choose the phone number you’d like to use. You can check your balance at anytime by logging in to your gettingout account. If you want to receive calls at an additional number, simply add that number to your account and select it when making a deposit.
  4.  If you want the inmate to be able to call anyone else, deposit funds into an Inmate Account. This allows the inmate to control their funds, and the ability to call any approved contact. If you want to know what the inmate’s account balance is, leave a voicemail asking them to call you back with that information.
  5. Once you make a deposit, all the inmate needs to do is check their voicemail, and once they know you’ve made a deposit, then they can call you. Your deposit is immediately available for the inmate to use.
  6. After you make a deposit, you’ll be asked to create a username and password. Use this information to log back into your account and make future deposits.

What to do when an inmate calls:

  1. When you receive a call from an inmate, you may be asked to complete some verification questions to confirm your identity. This is a simple process that only takes a moment, and helps prevent fraud. You can rest assured that your communication is safe and secure.
  2.  If you haven’t set up an account when you receive a call, you’ll be asked to provide credit card information to continue the call. Afterwards, you can go to gettingout.com and create your account.

More information:

  • You can also leave a voicemail for your inmate by calling Customer Service. The next time your inmate picks up the phone, they’ll hear your voicemail.
  • If you make a deposit that’s over $50, you’ll receive free voicemails that you can use for up to 60 days after your purchase.
  • If your call is dropped, your inmate will have 2 days to report the issue. If approved, a credit is immediately applied to your account.
  • If your inmate is transferred to another facility that uses Telmate, the funds on your account can still be used.