How to Call an Inmate in Colorado

You can’t call an inmate who is incarcerated at a Colorado correctional facility, but they do have access to phones and can call you. The Colorado Department of Corrections uses the Colorado Inmate Phone System (CIPS), and you must set up an account to receive calls from an inmate.

There are two ways to set up an account:

When you set up an account at ConnectNetwork, you will have the option of using the AdvancePay service, Pin Debit, or Trust Fund.

AdvancePay

AdvancePay allows you to set up an account and deposit funds for collect calls. Once you set up an account, you can deposit funds online, with their app, or over the phone, and this allows an inmate to call you using those deposited funds.

You can even set up multiple AdvancePay accounts if you have inmates in separate facilities and wish to have calls directed to different phone numbers.

As long as you have a balance for at least a one-minute call in your account, you can receive a call at any time.

To ensure you don’t miss any calls, you can sign up to be notified via text messages when your balance is low, or sign up for AutoReload to automatically replenish your account.

Some of the features include:

  • Only your phone number can be called with the funds in your account.
  • You control expenses and call acceptance.
  • Options are available to securely store your credit card number and automatically reload your account when your account balance is low.
  • Helpful alerts by text, email, or automated phone call can remind you to fund your account when your balance is low.
  • It’s easy and quick to make mobile deposits via the ConnectNetwork mobile app.

Once you establish an account—which becomes active as soon as you fund it—you can receive calls from an inmate. You always have the option to accept or reject a call and the value of each completed call is immediately deducted from your account.

Refunds are available if the inmate who calls you is released, or you no longer need an AdvancePay account.

Pin Debit

Inmates with PIN Debit prepaid phone accounts can pay for their own phone calls, and call any phone numbers allowed by their facility. Many facilities allow friends and family to make deposits directly into the inmate’s PIN Debit account. Inmates can also fund this phone account from their commissary/trust account.

Unused funds in a PIN Debit account are refunded upon release, but otherwise cannot be used for any other purpose than paying for phone calls.

The features of Pin Debit include:

  • Offers the ability for inmates to reach those friends or family members who may not be able to pay for calls.
  • Multiple convenient ways for friends and family members to make deposits.
  • Limits use of funds by inmates to just phone calls.

To fund an inmate’s PIN Debit account, you’ll first need to create a ConnectNetwork account. During that process, you’ll be asked to select a facility and add an inmate for whom you wish to make a deposit. Once you have set this up, you’ll be able to begin making deposits. Please remember that money deposited becomes the inmate’s property.

Trust Fund

The Trust Fund service allows you to deposit money directly into an inmate’s commissary account. The inmate can then use those funds, just like cash, to make a variety of purchases at their facility’s commissary or to make phone calls.

  • Deposit options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone and anywhere you have Internet access.
  • Mobile-friendly deposit options are available.
  • Deposits and payments made through ConnectNetwork Website, Mobile App, Toll Free Phone, or Kiosk are transmitted to the facility within one business day. 
  • Inmate can choose how to spend funds.

After creating a ConnectNetwork account and selecting a facility and inmate to add to your account, you can deposit money into his or her Trust Fund (commissary) account at any time. Deposit amounts vary, but the most common denominations are between $10 and $100. All funds appear on the inmate’s account quickly, efficiently, and accurately.

Rates for phone calls

Rates for calls from an inmate in Colorado are: 

  • In-state: $0.12/minute
  • Out of state: $0.12/minute
  • International: $0.50/minute

For more details and information, visit the ConnectNetwork website.

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