Federal can call cell phones, I have no idea about skype.

Originally Posted by Downdilly

I'm not sure where I belong. My penpal's at USP Beaumont. That's in the federal system but is there information in this section that can still apply? Or is this section mainly for TDCJ? Am I the only one who thinks that Texas is this whole other world?

Sorry, I'm still very very new...

Getting a call from an inmate in a federal prison is REALLY easy.I bought a number from skype (it took me about 15 minutes), gave it to my pp (through corrlinks) and she called me the next day!

So if I would like to get a call from a TX State prison, I have to have a landline, right? I tried to find something about additional fees but I could not find nothing...

Originally Posted by Leuchtturm

No, I can't already have phonecalls because we just get to know eachother but yet it is like I have known him all my life. I received 7 letters so far and now I start wondering how it would be to hear his voice. In my heart I hear his voice all the time so ... I this is getting really weird....sorry guys, I know that's a little off topic...

You can if you have a registered landline and are on his visitor list - there is no time limit of previously knowing the inmate for either of these things in TDCJ. The info you need is here..

But you don't HAVE to go down the phone call route. I know a lot of penpals here do, but it is not essential.

As for TDCJ changing the rules again, well, I'll just throw the "care package" phrase out there and sit back and wait like Gerri said.

Originally Posted by Leuchtturm

So if I would like to get a call from a TX State prison, I have to have a landline, right? I tried to find something about additional fees but I could not find nothing...

There are 2 options for paying for the calls. You can put money on the inmate's phone account via Jpay, and you can specify whether you want the money attached to your own phone number or just to be used for any phone number. Or the inmate can call you collect. Pre-paid, I believe it is around 21c per minute, and for the collect call I believe it is around 29c per minute. The phone calls are 15 minutes long, and phone access is limited, so if your pal is in Ad Seg or on death row then they cannot call.

Also they can only make changes to their visitation list every six months. My PP had recently taken his ex-gf off his list so that is why we have to wait until October for him to add me.

Originally Posted by sunray's wench

You can if you have a registered landline and are on his visitor list - there is no time limit of previously knowing the inmate for either of these things in TDCJ. The info you need is here..

But you don't HAVE to go down the phone call route. I know a lot of penpals here do, but it is not essential.

As for TDCJ changing the rules again, well, I'll just throw the "care package" phrase out there and sit back and wait like Gerri said.

You're awesome, thank you for sharing the "easy button Link". I don't have a Landline but maybe I should get one. I don't know if he is in Ad Seg, he did not say that he is, and he's not on DR but has LWOP
I have not told him yet that I was thinking about the phone call thing. I always try to remind myself for the reason why I decided to write someone in prison and be somewhat realistic. I start to get really emotional about his letters and him. This is not the route that I wanted to go for my own sake, you know what I mean? How do switch the gear now, or hit the break? What if I don't want to hit the break because I feel like we are Soulmates? Someone tell me to "get real" please, so reality can kick in!?

Originally Posted by mountanddo

Also they can only make changes to their visitation list every six months. My PP had recently taken his ex-gf off his list so that is why we have to wait until October for him to add me.

Well this really sucks, huh!? I hope time will fly by fast for you!

Well, we could all say to you "get real" but is that really going to change anything? I would encourage you to think about that LWOP really does mean they will never get out unless for some reason they are innocent or the laws change. Are you prepared to spend the rest of your life in love with someone you can never be with?

Originally Posted by mountanddo

Well, we could all say to you "get real" but is that really going to change anything? I would encourage you to think about that LWOP really does mean they will never get out unless for some reason they are innocent or the laws change. Are you prepared to spend the rest of your life in love with someone you can never be with?

I don't think you can "prepare" for that