Rockcastle County Detention Center Emailing An Inmate
Send an Email or Text to an Inmate in the Rockcastle County Detention Center
Sending an Email, Text or Secure Electronic Message to an Inmate
The Rockcastle County Detention Center provides a service which allows secure electronic messaging for their inmates.
The email service they use is called Inmate Sales.
Inmate Sales is not directly connected to the internet like normal email, but instead each correspondence is first intercepted by the jail's servers. This gives the staff an opportunity to review the messages before delivering them to both inmates and the people that the inmates are communicating with.
Electronic messages received by the inmates are read either on kiosks within the inmate's unit, or or on tablets provided by the third party service that oversees the program.
Allowing inmates access to email has many upsides:
- It is less expensive than regular mail.
- It allows for faster turnaround of communication.
- It allows the jail to monitor inmate communication in real time.
- Because the jail receives a portion of the revenue, it brings the jail revenue they wouldn't have otherwise.
- It is an inmate privilege that they don't want to have taken away, and thus can be used as a way to control behavior.
- It keeps unwanted contraband from entering the facility in the physical mail.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Inmate Sales inmate emailing and texting, scroll down for more information about it or call the jail at 606-256-2178.
Rockcastle County Detention Center
Address:
205 East Main Street
Suite 12
Mt. Vernon, KY 40456
Phone:
606-256-2178
How do I Send Texts / Emails to an Inmate at Rockcastle County Detention Center
Rockcastle County Detention Center uses the services of Inmate Sales to allow text messaging communication between inmates and their friends and family.
Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.
This product allows inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.
Here's how it works:
- First you must register, and then funds are added to the inmate's account. If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
- When an inmate gets the device they may send 5 free automated messages each day for the first three days of possession of the chirping device.
- These automated messages will inform the person the inmate Chirped who is sending the Chirps and the facility they are Chirping from.
- It will then ask them to go to a direct link to the inmate's account on the Inmate Sales website.
- The website will then instruct them to use a credit card to put money on the inmate's account.
Cost of Chirping:
- If an inmate has available funds on their chirping device they will be able to chirp any cell phone and that chirp will appear to be a normal text.
- If you wish to stop receiving Chirps from an inmate, reply to the Chirp with STOP.
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Inmate Sales Two-Way Texting allows friends and family members to exchange electronic text messages and digital photo attachments directly with an incarcerated loved one. Messages are delivered electronically to housing unit kiosks and handheld tablets within hours, avoiding the lengthy transit times associated with physical postal mail.
Important: Electronic Messaging Screening Rules Differ
Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls, and traditional postal mail rules differ across correctional agencies. While some facilities still allow regular handwritten letters, many jails have transitioned to digital-only mail scanning or restrict postal delivery, which you can verify by checking facility rules. If you do not register online and purchase messaging credits immediately, your loved one may face lengthy periods without direct written contact from family.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Register and Send Text Messages
- Go to www.inmatesales.com or launch the Inmate Sales mobile app.
- Register your account using your 10-digit telephone number and email address.
- Select Text Messaging / Chirp from your service options.
- Select your state and detention center, then search for the inmate using their full legal name or booking ID.
- Purchase a messaging credit bundle using a debit or credit card.
- Type your message in the composition window and attach approved JPEG photos if permitted by the facility.
- Submit your message to the facility's screening queue.
What the Inmate Needs to Do
All electronic correspondence is screened by facility staff before delivery. Once approved, messages appear in the inmate's inbox on their housing unit terminal or tablet. The inmate opens the message, reads your note, and types an electronic reply using their available credits.
Official Provider: Inmate Sales Official Website
Customer Service Telephone: 1-877-998-5678 or 1-702-829-3001
Support Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM EST; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST
Supported Languages: English and Spanish
Other Services Provided by Inmate Sales (CPC)
In addition to Two-Way Texting, Inmate Sales provides several communication, commissary, and visitation options:
- Remote Video Visitation: Schedule and join live video visits from home using your computer or smartphone.
• Learn more on our website: Video Visitation Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Inmate Sales Video Visits - Prepaid Phone Calling Accounts: Prepay for phone calling credits so your loved one can call your telephone directly.
• Learn more on our website: Prepaid Calling Accounts Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Inmate Sales Calling - Inmate Tablets & Digital Media: Discover educational programs, phone access, and entertainment offered on facility tablets.
• Learn more on our website: Tablet Programs Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Inmate Sales Tablets - Commissary & Care Packages: Order pre-approved snack boxes, food packages, and clothing directly to the jail.
• Learn more on our website: Commissary Orders Guide | • Visit official vendor page: Inmate Sales Commissary
Frequently Asked Questions about Inmate Email and Texting
Can inmates send and receive texts and emails?
How much does it cost for an inmate to use a text or email service?
Can inmates send and receive photos through their messaging system?
Can I send an inmate a link to a video to watch?
What device does an inmate use for texting and emailing?
What is the inmate text and email system used in the Rockcastle County Detention Center?
What are the companies that provide electronic messaging services to jails and prisons?
How do I fund the inmate’s messaging system?
How often can an inmate text and email?
Can inmates text or email any time of the day or night?
Can an inmate email or text inmates in other jails or prisons?
Can inmates send and receive texts and emails?
Almost all jails and prisons have adopted or are adopting a messaging system which allows inmates to communicate with their friends and family using an electronic messaging system. It’s neither email nor text, it’s something in between.
The inmate and their contacts do not use their regular email accounts or phone numbers, but account numbers that are set up with InmateSales the company providing the service.
All communication goes through them. Think of InmateSales as a middleman.
Once a contact of the inmate is approved, like the approval process a visitor goes through, an account is set up, using a credit or debit card to fund the account.
To start, the inmate’s contact can send a message that has a limit of so many characters, usually about one page of text.
The message is then reviewed by a computer that scans the InmateSales message for certain keywords or phrases that are not allowed, almost like a censoring service. If the machine scanner finds problems with the message it sends the message to the Rockcastle County Detention Center staff to review, and if they find no issues, will then forward it to the inmate’s InmateSales account so that they can read it.
If there are problems with the message, it is possible the message will not be sent. The sender will be notified of the decision and will not get a refund.
Once the inmate receives the message, should the account holder have funded the account allowing replies, the inmate can respond with a similar length message.
How much does it cost for an inmate to use a text or email service?
The cost to use the InmateSales electronic messaging service, which is like texting or emailing, costs between $0.50 and $1.00 per page; a page being about 500 characters.
Can inmates send and receive photos through their messaging system?
Photos can be sent by the inmate’s outside contact, but not by the inmate due to security concerns. There is an extra cost, usually about $0.50 for each photo attached.
The photos must go through a security screening where nudity, violence and other things are checked before the photo can be delivered. If the photo is rejected, the sender will be notified, but no refund will be given.
The inmate does not have the ability to print out the photos that make it past the screening, but the photos will stay in their InmateSales account so that they can view them at their leisure.
Can I send an inmate a link to a video to watch?
No. Because InmateSales is a closed system, the Rockcastle County Detention Center inmate has no access to the internet, thus the inmate will have no access to any links that you send them.
Can I send an inmate a video?
Yes, just as you can send text and photos, you can send a InmateSales video message, or if not a message, then a video of your children or yourself. Every company has a limit on the length of the video, usually no more than one minute, and at a cost of approximately $2.00 to $3.00 per video.
The video will first be screened for any nudity, excessive vulgarity, violence, etc. If it is rejected on any of the grounds the sender will not be given a refund.
As with the policy of photos, the inmate cannot reciprocate. They cannot send videos of themselves or anything in jail.
What device does an inmate use for texting and emailing?
The jails that contract with the InmateSales electronic messaging service is given a certain number of kiosks within each unit for inmate use. Inmates can log on as they might with a public computer terminal.
In addition to the public terminal kiosks, inmates are given (or can rent) access to individual InmateSales tablets like a bulky, almost indestructible ipad. These allow an inmate to use them to access your messages, photos and videos in a more private manner.
Should the inmate damage the InmateSales tablet, they will be responsible for replacing it. The money will be deducted from their commissary account.
What is the inmate text and email system used in the Rockcastle County Detention Center?
The InmateSales electronic messaging system used by Rockcastle County Detention Center, if available, can be found at the top of this page. If there is no information about the ability to text or email with an inmate, it is possible that this facility has recently changed companies or does not have this service available. Call 606-256-2178 to confirm.
What are the companies that provide electronic messaging services to jails and prisons?
This is a list of all the companies in the United States that work with jails and prisons, providing text and email messaging between inmates and their friends and families:
Access Corrections
CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Correct Pay
Corrlinks
Ctel
Edevo
Express Account
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
IC Solutions
Inmate Canteen
Inmate Sales
JailATM
J Pay
NCIC
Paytel
Pigeonly
Prodigy Sales
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications
TBE
Visitel
How do I fund the inmate’s messaging system?
You fund the InmateSales messaging service with credit and debit cards. All of them take Visa and MasterCard, most also take Discover, but only a few of them take American Express.
How often can an inmate text and email?
When available, there is no limit to the amount of InmateSales texting and email that an inmate can have with their family and friends.
Can inmates text or email any time of the day or night?
If an inmate has a rented InmateSales tablet, then they can text any time of the day or night. However if they are limited to the use of a wall mounted kiosk terminal in their unit, they can only use it during the hours they are allowed off their bunks or out of their cells; usually 7:00AM to 10:00PM, excluding meals, head counts and shift changes.
Can an inmate email or text inmates in other jails or prisons?
No, inmates in jail are not allowed to communicate with inmates in other institutions. There is always a way to get around it, for example if one of the inmates has illegal access to a phone with an internet connection, but this would be the only way.