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If you have a family member or friend in prison, one of the most common questions is how phone calls work and how you can receive calls from them.
Prisoners in the UK are usually allowed to make phone calls to approved contacts using the prison phone system. However, there are several rules and steps involved before calls can be made.
This guide explains how to receive calls from prison, how numbers are approved, and how families can manage the cost of prison phone calls.
Most prisons allow prisoners to make outgoing calls using secure prison phone systems. These systems are monitored and controlled to ensure calls follow prison regulations.
Prisoners cannot call any number they want. Instead, they must call numbers that have been approved and added to their personal contact list.
You can learn more in our guide explaining how prison phone calls work.
Before a prisoner can call you, your phone number usually needs to be approved by the prison.
The exact process can vary slightly between prisons, but it normally involves:
Once the number has been approved, the prisoner can call it using their prison phone credit.
Yes, prisoners can usually call mobile phones as well as landlines once the number has been approved.
However, calls to mobile numbers can sometimes be more expensive than calls to landline numbers.
You can read more about this in our guide explaining whether prisoners can call mobile phones.
Prison phone systems operate differently from normal telecom networks. Calls must be monitored and controlled for security reasons.
Because of this, call charges can sometimes be higher than standard phone calls.
You can learn more about call pricing in our guide explaining how much prison phone calls cost.
Many families only use mobile phones today and no longer have a traditional landline.
Because calls to landlines are often cheaper than calls to mobile numbers, some families choose to use a landline forwarding service.
This provides a UK landline number that redirects calls directly to your mobile phone.
You can read more about this in our guide on reducing prison phone call costs.
A prison call forwarding service allows prisoners to call a landline number which automatically forwards the call to your mobile phone.
This allows families to receive calls conveniently while helping reduce call costs.
Regular communication can play an important role in supporting someone in prison. Phone calls help families stay connected and maintain relationships during difficult periods.
Understanding how prison phone systems work can make receiving calls easier and help families manage the cost of staying in touch.
