How to receive calls from someone in an Idaho county jail or IDOC state prison. Step-by-step guide to prepaid accounts, call costs, which providers Idaho jails use, and how to set up communication quickly.
Idaho jails and prisons do not allow incoming calls to inmates. Every inmate phone in Idaho's county jails and IDOC facilities operates on an outbound-only basis. The inmate uses the jail phone system to dial your number, and the call connects only if you have a funded prepaid account or accept a collect call charge.
This one-way system exists for security reasons. Every call from an Idaho jail phone is recorded (with the exception of calls to verified attorney phone numbers, which are legally protected). Recordings are available to law enforcement and prosecutors. Inmates and their contacts are warned that calls may be monitored, so conversations from jail phones should never include discussion of pending legal matters, case details, or anything that could be construed as evidence.
Jail phone systems in Idaho are managed by contracted third-party providers. Each county jail selects its own provider through a competitive bidding process. This means the phone system at Ada County Jail may be completely different from the one at Canyon County Jail or Bannock County Jail. You must use the provider that matches the specific facility where the inmate is held.
The most common phone providers in Idaho county jails include ICSolutions, Telmate (now part of ViaPath/GTL), and Securus Technologies. IDOC state prisons use Access Corrections for financial deposits but may use separate providers for phone calls. Call the jail or check their website to confirm which phone provider they use before setting up an account.
Phone call rates from Idaho jails are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Following FCC rulemaking that took effect in 2023 and 2024, interstate (out-of-state) jail phone calls are capped at lower rates. For in-state calls within Idaho, state-level regulation and FCC oversight have pushed rates significantly lower than they were historically.
Typical in-state calling rates from Idaho county jails range from approximately $0.06 to $0.21 per minute depending on the facility, contract, and call type. A standard 15-minute call within Idaho typically costs between $1.00 and $3.15. Many providers also add a connection fee per call ranging from $0.00 to $0.25. There may also be account setup fees or monthly maintenance fees for inactive accounts.
There are two main billing structures for Idaho jail calls: Collect calls, where the per-minute charge is billed directly to the receiving phone number (most major phone carriers accept collect calls from jails), and Prepaid accounts, where you deposit money into an account in advance and calls draw from that balance. Prepaid accounts are generally cheaper per minute than collect calls and offer more control over spending.
Most cell phone carriers do not accept collect calls. If the inmate tries to call your cell phone as a collect call and you have not set up a prepaid account, the call will fail. Setting up a prepaid account is almost always necessary for receiving calls on a mobile number.
Call the jail directly or check their website. Ask: "What phone company handles inmate calls?" Common Idaho providers are ICSolutions (icsolutions.com), Telmate/ViaPath (telmate.com), and Securus (securustech.com). For IDOC state facilities, check the IDOC website. Do not set up an account with the wrong provider - it will not work for that facility.
Go to the provider's website and create a free account. You will need your name, email address, phone number that will be receiving calls, and a payment method. Most providers accept major credit and debit cards. Some accept PayPal. Verify your phone number when prompted - this is the number that must be registered to receive the inmate's calls.
Add money to your prepaid account. Most providers have minimum deposit amounts ranging from $5 to $25. The funds are drawn down at the per-minute rate as calls occur. You can typically set up auto-refill so your account automatically tops up when it drops below a threshold, preventing missed calls due to a depleted balance.
Let the inmate know through mail or a message that your account is active and they can call your number. Inmates must typically select approved numbers to call from their phone account - they may need to add your number through the jail's phone kiosk or with the help of jail staff. Once your number is in their approved list and your account is funded, they can call you during approved calling hours.
All calls are recorded and monitored. Every phone call made from an Idaho county jail or IDOC facility is recorded, with the sole exception of calls made to an attorney's registered legal phone number. These recordings are available to law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges. Do not discuss the criminal case, potential evidence, or anything that could be harmful in court during jail phone calls.
Calls have time limits. Most Idaho jails limit individual calls to 15 or 20 minutes. The system automatically disconnects at the time limit. The inmate can call back if calling hours have not ended, but each call starts a new connection and may incur a new connection fee.
Call hours are restricted. Inmates can only make calls during designated calling hours, which vary by facility and housing unit. Calls are typically restricted during count times, meals, and lockdowns. Ask the jail about their current calling hours schedule.
Attorney calls are protected. If you are an attorney representing an inmate in Idaho, your phone number should be registered with the jail as a legal number to prevent recording of attorney-client calls. Contact the jail's records division to register a legal number.
If you are receiving unwanted calls from an Idaho jail - whether from an inmate who is harassing you, contacting you without your consent, or calling in violation of a protection order - you have several options to stop them.
Block through the provider: Contact the jail phone provider and request that your number be blocked from receiving calls from that facility. This is the most reliable method - the provider can configure the system to reject calls to your number from that specific facility or from a specific inmate.
Contact the jail directly: Call the jail and speak with a supervisor or the records division. Explain that you are receiving unwanted calls. The jail can restrict the inmate's ability to call your number through their phone management system.
For harassment or protection order violations: If an inmate is calling you in violation of a no-contact order or protective order, contact law enforcement immediately and report each call as a violation. Jail calls are recorded, making these violations easy to prove. The inmate faces immediate consequences including loss of phone privileges and additional criminal charges.
There is no statewide standard for call minutes in Idaho county jails - each facility sets its own policy. Most Idaho county jails do not set a fixed daily minute limit but do limit individual calls to 15 or 20 minutes and restrict calling to designated hours. IDOC state facilities may have more structured limits. The key constraint is usually calling hours rather than total minutes. Check with the specific facility for their current phone use policies.
Some Idaho jails and IDOC facilities offer messaging services through their phone provider's platform. For example, GTL/ViaPath and ICSolutions both offer text-style messaging through their apps, where family members compose messages on their phone and the inmate reads them on a facility tablet or kiosk. These messages are also monitored and reviewed. Not all Idaho county jails have tablet programs or messaging - this is more common in IDOC state facilities than in smaller county jails.