How to Text Someone in Federal Prison (2025 Guide)

You just want to text him. Like a normal person. Like before.

You don’t want to log into a website. You don’t want to check your email constantly. You just want your phone to buzz when he reaches out.

Here’s how to make that happen.

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Quick answer: You can’t text directly—but there are services that convert prison email to texts. You text, it becomes email, it reaches him. He replies, it becomes a text on your phone. Cost is $15-20/month. Setup takes 3-5 days.

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The Short Answer

Federal prisons don’t allow direct texting. But services called “bridge services” let you text normally while messages route through the official prison email system.

How it works:

1. You text from your phone (SMS or Telegram)
2. Service converts it to email
3. Email goes to inmate through CorrLinks
4. They reply by email
5. Service converts to text, sends to your phone

Result: Feels like texting. Inmate sees normal email. All still monitored by BOP.

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Why You Can’t Just Text Directly

It’s not that the technology doesn’t exist. It’s that the system doesn’t allow it.

The Federal Prison Reality

• Inmates don’t have personal phones
• Cell phones are contraband
• All communication goes through official channels
• BOP must be able to monitor messages

What IS Available

Method	How It Works
CorrLinks email	Web-based email, $0.05/message
Phone calls	Collect calls, $0.06/minute
Video visits	Some facilities, scheduled
Physical mail	Traditional letters

The gap: CorrLinks works, but there’s no app, no notifications, and you have to check a website constantly.

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Bridge Services: The Solution

What They Do

Bridge services sit between you and CorrLinks:

YOUR PHONE          BRIDGE SERVICE         PRISON
   |                     |                    |
   |------ Text -------> |                    |
   |                     |---- Email -------> |
   |                     |                    |
   |                     | <---- Email -------|
   | <----- Text --------|                    |

Available Services

Service	Price	SMS	Telegram	AI Features
BridgeInside	$14.99/mo	Yes	Yes	Yes
Parakeet	~$15-20/mo	Yes	No	Yes
Corbot	Varies	Yes	No	Yes
ContactMeASAP	~$20/mo	Yes	No	No

What You Get

The stuff CorrLinks should have offered in the first place:

• Instant notifications when they message
• Reply by text instead of logging into a website
• Unlimited messaging (flat monthly rate, not $0.05 each)
• AI access for inmate (ChatGPT, Wikipedia, etc.)
• Your phone, not a computer

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How to Set Up Text Messaging

Step 1: Choose a Service

Consider:

• Price (range: $15-25/month)
• Features you need (Telegram? AI?)
• Support reputation
• Free trial availability

Step 2: Sign Up

1. Create account on service website
2. Get your unique email address (e.g., yourname@bridgeinside.com)
3. Set up your phone number for SMS
4. Optional: Connect Telegram

Step 3: Inmate Adds Your Email

This is the critical step:

1. Tell inmate your new email address
2. They add it to their CorrLinks contacts
3. Wait 2-3 days for BOP approval
4. They can now email that address

Step 4: Start Texting

Once approved:

• Inmate emails your bridge address
• You get a text on your phone
• Reply to the text
• They see your reply in CorrLinks

Total setup time: 3-5 days (mostly waiting for BOP approval)

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What It Costs

Bridge Service Pricing

Plan Type	Price	What You Get
Basic	$14.99/mo	SMS, Telegram, AI (50/day)
Premium	$19.99/mo	+ Dedicated phone number

Compared to Other Methods

Method	Cost for Daily Contact
Phone calls (15 min/day)	~$27/month
Video visits (1 hr/week)	~$40/month
CorrLinks only	~$3/month
Bridge service	$15-20/month

Value proposition: Unlimited texting for flat rate vs. per-minute calls.

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The AI Bonus

What Inmates Can Access

Most bridge services include AI features:

Inmate types: "AI what is habeas corpus?"
     ↓
AI responds with explanation
     ↓
Response sent back to inmate via email

Common Uses

• GED prep - Study help, practice questions
• Legal research - Case law, procedures
• News - What’s happening outside
• General questions - Anything educational

Why This Matters

• No internet access in prison
• Library resources limited
• AI becomes educational lifeline
• Helps with reentry preparation

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Important: It’s Still Monitored

What the BOP Sees

• All messages still go through CorrLinks
• Monitoring is identical to regular email
• Nothing bypasses security

What to Avoid

Same rules as regular CorrLinks:

• No discussing illegal activity
• No escape planning
• No coded language
• No harassment

Bridge services don’t hide anything from BOP.

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FAQ

Is texting a federal inmate legal?

Yes. Bridge services work within the official CorrLinks system. Messages are monitored by BOP just like regular CorrLinks emails. You’re just adding a convenience layer on top of the approved system.

How fast are messages delivered?

Messages typically deliver within minutes to an hour. However, all messages still pass through BOP monitoring, so occasional delays of 2-24 hours can occur if flagged for review.

Can I send pictures via text?

Most bridge services don’t support picture sending because CorrLinks doesn’t support attachments. Some services offer workarounds through third-party photo mail services.

What happens if the inmate transfers?

During facility transfers, inmates lose CorrLinks access. Your messages will queue until they regain access at the new facility (typically 2-6 weeks).

Do I need a smartphone?

For SMS services, any phone that can receive texts works. For Telegram, you need a smartphone. Most services offer web dashboards as backup.

Can multiple family members use one account?

Most services allow one account per inmate connection. Some offer family plans where multiple family members can message the same inmate.

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Getting Started

Recommended Steps

1. Research services - Check reviews, compare features
2. Start free trial - Most offer 7-14 day trials
3. Get your bridge email - The address inmate will use
4. Tell your inmate - Send via current CorrLinks or phone
5. Wait for approval - 2-3 days typical
6. Start texting - Once connected

What to Tell Your Inmate

“I signed up for a texting service. Add this email to your CorrLinks: [your-email@service.com]

Once you add it, I’ll get your emails as texts on my phone. You can also use AI by typing ‘AI [your question]’.”

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The Bottom Line

You can’t text a federal inmate directly—but you can get pretty close.

For $15-20/month, you get your phone back. Messages arrive as texts. You reply like a normal person. Your loved one gets AI access to help with their questions.

It’s not perfect. Nothing about this situation is. But it’s one less thing between you.

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Last updated: January 2025