How Does An Inmate Make A Phone Call From Allegheny County Jail?

Global Tel* Link

Global Tel* Link provides prepaid accounts, which give you the opportunity to accept calls from inmates on any phone that you attach to the account. Before you can accept the first call, you must open an account using the following steps.

To Open a My Account

Click here to register for an account.

Read and agree to the company’s terms of service.

Fill in required information including a valid email address.

Add the jail/prison to your account with the following steps.

Select a state from the drop down menu.

Click on the desired facility and hit next.  (You cannot complete your registration until this is done).

Hit the submit button. An activation email will be sent to the email you provided.

Go to email and click on activation link. You will be taken to the site again. Log in from there.

Click the sign up button and then add the phone number you wish to have associated with the account. This is the phone number that will receive calls from the inmate.

Choose whether to associate the address used for registration or a different address and input that address.

Choose which facility you wish the above entered phone number to be attached to. The next page will show you the phone number and facility that go together. You can repeat these steps to add additional phone numbers or facilities as needed.

To Add Funds

Click here to log in.

Click on the blue “Make a payment” link.

Select the phone number and facility from the drop down menu that you wish the money to be applied to.

Click add card and enter debit or credit card information-then press the close button. There is a $25 minimum deposit each time you fund the account. A service fee of $6.95 is deducted from each deposit you make.

On the page where you add your card information, you will be given the opportunity to sign up for automatic funding. If you choose this option, whenever your balance gets below $7.00 your credit/debit card will automatically be billed $25 or $50 depending on the amount you chose at sign-up. If you don’t wish to choose this option, simply add your credit card for a onetime payment at the top half of the page.

OFFENDER PHONE ACCOUNT

This is an account that you can fund for a specific inmate. Once it is funded, the inmate can use it to call anyone on the approved phone list, instead of being limited to one phone on the account. If you fund an Offender Phone Account, the inmate then owns the funding and you cannot retrieve it or limit his calls to any specific phone.

Click here to log in.

Choose “Offender Phone Account” on left side of page.

Choose the inmate from your offender list for whom you wish to fund an Offender Phone Account.

Only those housed at facilities that allow offender phone accounts to be funded through family and friends will appear on this list.

If no names appear, the facility does not allow family/friend Offender Phone Accounts. You can still set up a My Phone Account and have the inmate call you on a specified phone.

Input credit/debit card information and amount. There is a $25 minimum deposit required. A $7.95 service fee is deducted from each deposit you make.

Check information and amount and if correct, click submit. The funds will be available to the offender within minutes of your deposit going through.

Click here to view the Global Tel Link/Connect Network contact information.

Emailing and Photo Sharing with your Inmate

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} also contracts with GettingOut, the same service that handles its Inmate Phone System and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.

If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:

   1.  Select this facility,

   2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,

   3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works

Watch this video on how to send a message.

  1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  

  2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works

Watch this video on how to upload a photo.

 1.  Select the Photos Tab.

 2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.

 3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.

 4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.

 5. Select the "Share" button.

 6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".

 7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions

'Online' Contact Form, or

Call   866-516-0115

Important Tips About Jail Phone Calls

Remember that all calls are recorded and randomly listened to by security staff. If you discuss something about your inmate’s case, it can be used against the inmate in court. In addition, if you discuss anything that threatens the security of the jail, other inmates or the public you could lose your privileges to receive calls from the jail.

If your inmate does not call you during the time you both have scheduled, don't panic. There are often long lines for phone use. When a jail is on lockdown due to a fight or other security issue they do not allow the phones to be used.

Phones are the only way for an inmate to hear your voice and temporarily 'escape' the loneliness of incarceration, so use your time well. Arguing about anything will leave you both feeling empty and guilty, so avoid it at all costs.

All phone conversations are recorded. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!

Click here to view the jail website for additional information.