Yes, you can text an inmate digitally. It’s not iMessage or WhatsApp, but it works through a third-party service that connects your phone to a tablet inside the facility. Here’s the real process, step by step.
Step 1: Find out what your facility allows
Not every jail or prison lets inmates receive digital messages. Some still only allow old-school postal mail. Others have contracts with specific vendors like GTL, Securus, or JPay. The first thing you need to do is check the facility’s website or call their information line. Ask: “What messaging services are approved for inmates?” If they say you can use a service like InmateDB, you’re good. If they mention a specific vendor, you’ll need to use that one instead.
Step 2: Set up your account
Once you know the service, you create an account on their website or app. You’ll need the inmate’s full name and their inmate ID number. That number is usually on their booking paperwork or the facility’s online roster. The setup takes about five minutes. You’ll also add your payment method — most services require a credit or debit card upfront.
Step 3: Add funds (and understand the real cost)
This is where people get annoyed. You pay a monthly fee, not per message. For example, InmateDB charges $19.99 per month with a 5-day free trial for each new inmate. That covers unlimited messages, photos, and letters you send online. The inmate can also text phone numbers in the U.S. and Canada from their tablet. Some services charge per message or per stamp — check before you commit. The total cost per month is rarely under $10 and can go over $30 depending on the vendor and add-ons.
Step 4: Write your first message
You type your message in a text box, just like email. Most services let you attach photos — keep them appropriate (no nudity, no gang signs, no weapons). The message goes to a review queue. A staff member at the facility reads it before it reaches the inmate. This is called a content review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to two days. If your message violates rules, it gets rejected and you might get a warning. So keep it clean.
Step 5: The inmate replies — if they can
When the inmate receives your message, they can reply from their tablet. They type on a touchscreen keyboard or use voice-to-text. The reply goes through the same review process but usually faster — sometimes minutes. But here’s the thing: inmates have limited tablet time. They might only get an hour a day, and they share tablets with other inmates. So replies can feel slow even when they’re not. Don’t panic if it takes a day. That’s normal.
Why replies feel slow even when they’re not
You send a message at 10 AM. It gets reviewed by noon. The inmate sees it at 1 PM during their tablet time. They reply at 1:05 PM. That reply gets reviewed and lands on your phone at 2 PM. Total elapsed time: 4 hours. That’s actually fast. But if the inmate only gets tablet time at 8 PM, you won’t hear back until the next morning. Plan for a 12- to 24-hour turnaround on most messages.
What about photos and attachments?
You can send photos. The inmate can see them on their tablet. But they usually can’t send photos back — the tablet cameras are often disabled. Some services let them send short video messages or voice recordings. Check the features before you pay. Also, photos are screened manually, so a picture of your kid’s birthday party might take longer to get through than a simple text.
The honest truth about cost and value
Is $20 a month worth it? That depends. If you’re writing one letter a week via postal mail, stamps cost you about $1 a month. Digital messaging is 20 times more expensive. But it’s faster, more convenient, and you can send multiple messages a day. For many families, the speed and the ability to have a back-and-forth conversation — even with delays — is worth the price. The 5-day free trial on InmateDB lets you test it before you commit. Use it.
Where this leaves you
Start by checking your facility’s approved vendor list. If they allow InmateDB, sign up for the free trial. Send one message and see how long the review takes. Then decide if the speed and convenience justify the monthly cost. For most people, it becomes the primary way to stay in touch — faster than mail, more personal than a recorded phone call. But don’t expect instant replies. Treat it like email with a 12-hour time delay. That expectation will save you a lot of frustration.
If you’re ready to try it, go to InmateDB and start the free trial.