Frequent Questions

Inmate Debit Phone Account

What is a debit phone account and how is it different than the collect only system?

With the debit phone account, family and friends can pre-pay for phone calls from inmates. Previously, inmates only had the option of making collect calls to family and friends. Beginning in September 2002, a debit phone account was added for each inmate. Now, family and friends can send in money to the inmate via a cashier's check or money order (no cash or personal checks accepted) and specify on the cashier's check or money order that the money go to the inmate's debit phone account. Work is underway to develop a system for inmates to make international calls via the debit system.

When an inmate places a debit call using their Personal Identification Number (PIN), a message will inform the inmate of how much money is available in their phone account. The call will be made with the inmate’s phone account debited for the cost of the call. The call recipient will not be charged for a call on their monthly phone bill under the debit system.

Is the cost of a debit call cheaper than that of a collect call?

Yes. The Department of Corrections negotiated for a lower cost for both collect and debit calls prior to the debit system being established and again in 2008 and 2009.

The price of a debit call is significantly less than the price of a collect call. See the chart below to compare the cost of a collect call versus the cost of a debit call.

INMATE CALLING RATE SCHEDULE

FOR STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA
as of July 1, 2009