USP Big Sandy Phone Calls. TRUFONE, Hours & CorrLinks Email

How Phone Calls Work at USP Big Sandy

USP Big Sandy uses the BOP’s TRUFONE telephone system, which is part of the broader TRULINCS platform. Here is what that means for your family:

• You cannot call the inmate. All calls are outbound from inside the facility.
• The inmate dials out from phones in their housing unit using a 9-digit Phone Access Code (PAC).
• Before they can call you, they must go to a TRULINCS terminal inside and add your phone number to their approved contact list.
• Call credits are deducted from the inmate’s commissary account.
• Every call is monitored and recorded by BOP staff.

Phone Hours

Time Window	Status
6:00 AM to 10:00 PM	Available daily
7:30 AM to 10:30 AM (weekdays)	Restricted during work assignments
12:30 PM until after 4:00 PM count (weekdays)	Restricted during work assignments

On weekends and federal holidays, phones are available the full 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM window without work-hour restrictions. On weekdays, access opens during the lunch break between 10:30 AM and 12:30 PM.

Minute Limits

• 300 minutes per month total for all calls combined
• 15-minute limit per call. The system disconnects automatically at 15 minutes.
• Bonus minutes: In November and December, inmates typically receive an additional 100 minutes (400 total).
• Minutes do not carry over from one month to the next.

If the inmate runs out of minutes before the month ends, they cannot make calls until the following month. Coordinate with them early in the month to budget wisely.

How to Get Your Number Added

You do not need to call the facility or create an account to receive calls. The inmate handles everything from inside:

1. They go to a TRULINCS computer terminal inside the facility.
2. They add your name and phone number to their approved contact list.
3. Staff may review the request before it is activated.
4. Once approved, they can call you directly.

You can receive calls on a landline or a cell phone. No app is required on your end. When the call comes in, you will hear a brief automated recording identifying it as a call from a federal inmate. Accept the call normally.

Cost of Calls

The per-minute rate for calls from BOP facilities is regulated. The rate is posted on phones throughout the facility but is not published on BOP.gov. Call credits come from the inmate’s commissary account. To help cover the cost, send money to their account using MoneyGram or Western Union.

CorrLinks Email

CorrLinks is the email system for federal inmates. It connects to TRULINCS, the same platform used for phone calls. Setup:

1. Register for a free account at corrlinks.com.
2. You cannot search for the inmate or initiate the connection yourself.
3. The inmate adds your name and email address from a TRULINCS terminal.
4. You will receive an invitation email from CorrLinks. Accept it to complete the connection.
5. Once connected, you can exchange text-only messages. No attachments, no photos.
6. Message length limit: 13,000 characters per message.
7. Time spent reading and writing messages is billed to the inmate’s commissary account at a per-minute rate.

CorrLinks messages are monitored just like phone calls.

What Is Not Allowed

• You cannot call USP Big Sandy and be transferred to the inmate.
• Three-way calls are not permitted. The system detects and disconnects them automatically.
• Voicemail and voice messages are not available through TRUFONE.
• Calls to attorneys may be designated as privileged (not monitored), but standard calls are all recorded.