Ways to connect - mail, phone, and more
All carceral facilities in Massachusetts offer a few basic ways to connect. Our experience is mainly with the Department of Corrections, who run the Massachusetts state prisons. Jails are run by the 14 counties and have a variety of rules that are hard for us to cover. If you are able to share the particulars of the writing or visitation process for a county, please let us know! There is also a federal medical prison located in Devens, MA. The Boston Immigration Justice Accompaniment Network (BIJAN) can help you navigate supporting someone in a detention center.
Even inside the DOC, individual DOC facilities have slightly different rules.
Even inside the DOC, individual DOC facilities have slightly different rules.
paper mail
We love paper mail! Paper mail is important! When paper mail arrives, guards know, and so do other incarcerated people. A person's name may be called out in a public space, or a guard may slip it under their door. A card or letter is a tangible reminder that someone remembers them and cares. Receiving mail they can hold is special. When people see someone receiving mail, they know that person has connections on the outside. They know someone will care if that person is hurt or mistreated.
Paper mail is under attack throughout the US. Learn more about this and current paper mail rules.
Paper mail is under attack throughout the US. Learn more about this and current paper mail rules.
Corrlinks (email)
Massachusetts does not allow incarcerated people to use the Internet or regular email. Instead, it pays for a platform called Corrlinks. Corrlinks allows the prison to skim messages for keywords, read, and manually approve or reject each message. Because of this, Corrlinks messages can take several hours to days to a week to go through and Corrlinks emails may not be the best method for talking about personal things you don't want prison censors to read closely.
Check out our Corrlinks guide for more.
Check out our Corrlinks guide for more.
Phone calls
In 2022, the No Cost Calls Coalition won a major victory. All phone calls and Corrlinks emails people in DOC facilities are now free. Call volume has gone up significantly as the campaign lives up to its demand to "keep families connected." The DOC has distributed tablets that include a phone function to all DOC prisoners, significantly improving phone access.
In order to have phone calls with an incarcerated person, they must submit your name and phone number to their prison and speak to a staff member. Incarcerated people are only allowed to add phone numbers to this list a few times a year, and may only have 10 non-legal numbers. When your number is approved, the member will be able to call you but you cannot call them, and they cannot leave messages.
When you receive a call from a prison, you will hear a recording identifying the caller. The message will ask you to press 1 to accept the call. Calls are 20 minutes, and you will receive a 1-minute warning. There is no limitation to the number of phone calls a person can make, though phones are not on all the time. Incarcerated people may make phone calls from their tablets any place they can get service.
In order to have phone calls with an incarcerated person, they must submit your name and phone number to their prison and speak to a staff member. Incarcerated people are only allowed to add phone numbers to this list a few times a year, and may only have 10 non-legal numbers. When your number is approved, the member will be able to call you but you cannot call them, and they cannot leave messages.
When you receive a call from a prison, you will hear a recording identifying the caller. The message will ask you to press 1 to accept the call. Calls are 20 minutes, and you will receive a 1-minute warning. There is no limitation to the number of phone calls a person can make, though phones are not on all the time. Incarcerated people may make phone calls from their tablets any place they can get service.
visits and video visits
All visitors require approval. You will need to submit a form (PDF) to the prison Superintendent (aka warden). When you return the form, the DOC will do a background check on you. The results will be used to determine if it is "safe" to allow you to visit. You may only be on one incarcerated person's visiting list unless certain very specific conditions are met. For many people, visiting an incarcerated person in prison for the first time is a profound experience.
Video calls are not Facetime. They are considered visits. Because of this, they also require a background check. You must wear "proper attire" and not have anything illegal in your background. Video visits may be monitored and are free.
Note: if you use a mobility aid (cane, wheelchair, braces, etc), you will need a letter from your doctor and prior approval from the prison superintendent (warden) to use it while visiting in person. You are entitled to wear religious items and you will be patted down by an officer of the same sex. If you are transgender, you may request the sex of the person patting you down.
Video calls are not Facetime. They are considered visits. Because of this, they also require a background check. You must wear "proper attire" and not have anything illegal in your background. Video visits may be monitored and are free.
Note: if you use a mobility aid (cane, wheelchair, braces, etc), you will need a letter from your doctor and prior approval from the prison superintendent (warden) to use it while visiting in person. You are entitled to wear religious items and you will be patted down by an officer of the same sex. If you are transgender, you may request the sex of the person patting you down.
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