Watauga County Jail Inmate Tablet Rental

Watauga County Jail

Address:
184 Hodges Gap Road
Boone, NC 28607

Phone:

828-265-7614

Does Watauga County Jail have tablets for the inmates to use?

You can find information about the Watauga County Jail’s tablet program at the top of this page. If there is no information about it, it is because they either have recently changed companies or are not yet providing this service for inmates. Call 828-265-7614 to confirm.

What can the inmates use the tablets for?

Inmates in jails and prisons are using tablets for all the communication services available such as video visitation, video phone calls, regular phone calls, and electronic messaging – which is like texting and email.

Tablets are also used for entertainment, such as watching movies, television shows, listening to music and reading e-books. It is also used for education, self-help information, and legal research.

Are the jail’s tablets connected to the internet?

No, they are not connected to the internet. All the messages, visits and programming goes through a system controlled by the company that provides the tablets, and through the jail. They control what each inmate sees. All messages are carefully screened and not delivered if the sender or the inmate violates jail policy.

How much do the tablets cost to use?

For accessing visits and messages, the tablets are free to us. Each unit has many of them, all provided by the company that has contracted with the jail. Of course, the video visits and messages have a fee and those are paid for by the inmate’s family and friends who use the service.

If inmates are supposedly being punished, why do they get access to tablets?

That’s the question a lot of people ask and don’t fully understand.

The way the jail staff looks at it, is that if they can keep the inmates busy and distracted, it makes it safer for them. 

Tablets also give them a certain power over controller an inmate’s behavior. For example, if an inmate knows that they will lose the privilege of having access to a tablet if they get into a fight or violate another rule or policy, they will be better behaved. 

Tablets are one of the few things that make an inmate feel as though they are free, and they don’t want to lose the privilege of having access to one.

What companies have tablets for jail and inmate use?

CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
IC Solutions
Inmate Sales
JailATM
J Pay
NCIC
Oasis
Paytel
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications

What if an inmate breaks a tablet, do they have to pay for it?

Yes, if an inmate breaks a tablet, then they are responsible for paying for it. The money will come out of their commissary funds, so not only do they lose access to having a tablet as punishment, but they also won’t be able to purchase snacks on commissary.
 

How to Email an Inmate at Watauga County Jail

Using Jail ATM Digital Messaging with an Inmate at Watauga County Jail - Sending and Receiving Messages.



How It Works:

Once you sign up with Jail ATM instant Messaging you can you can send texts from the cell phone associated with the mobile number you provided at sign-up, and receive text messages from the inmate on the same cell phone. You can only use the phone number you signed up with or it won't work.

To learn more about this email service, check out our full instructions, including fees at our emailing and texting page.


 

How an Inmate Makes a Phone Call to You or Others from Watauga County Jail

To set up a phone account so that your inmate can call you from Watauga County do the following:

1. Enroll in an account with Securus Technologies.

2. Choose one of three account types, Securus Debit, Advance Connect or Direct Bill.
3. Choose [facility_name_1}, then connect with your inmate.
4. If you have any questions, call Securus: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591.

To find out fees, how to's, calling times, limits on phone calls and other systems Securus has do that you can communicate with your Watauga County inmate, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your inmate's phone calls are recorded and stored. It is advised not to discuss their pending case.


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Watauga County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Watauga County Jail follow these steps:

  • Go to JailATM, choose North Carolina, then choose Watauga County Jail
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate, and then you will be prompted to Register with them to open an account.
  • Select the products you want shipped to them at Watauga County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Watauga County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages or sending money to an inmate in Watauga County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Watauga County.


 

How Do You Send Text or Email Messages to an Inmate in the Watauga County Jail?

To send messages to a Watauga County inmate follow these instructions:

Since Watauga County Jail contracts with JailATM / Prodigy Telephone Solutions. they either already or will soon provide you and your inmate the ability to use their Messaging Service to send and receive electronic messages. Try both Jail ATM & Prodigy. They are in the midst of a merger and one or the other will be handling the Watauga County Jail account.
 
Pay for the Prodigy Inmate Messaging Service at Watauga County Jail.
- Online,
- Over the Phone by calling 866-700-4545,
- Using a Kiosk at Watauga County Jail.
Pay for the JailATM Inmate Messaging Service at Watauga County Jail.
- Online,
- Using a Kiosk at Watauga County Jail.
- Over the phone 877-810-0914.

For all the information you need regarding messaging a Watauga County inmate at the jail, including how it's done, how much it costs, rules and regulations and more, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with an inmate is recorded. Use discretion in what you discuss.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Watauga County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Watauga County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Watauga County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose North Carolina, then choose Watauga County Jail
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Watauga County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Watauga County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Watauga County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Watauga County.