FMC Butner Phone Calls & CorrLinks Email. How to Stay in Touch

How Phone Calls Work

Inmates at FMC Butner use facility phones connected to the BOP’s TRUFONE system. They dial out to approved numbers on their call list. You cannot dial in to reach someone. When the inmate calls, you will see a number from the Butner area or a generic BOP number on your caller ID.

Calls are outbound only. The person calls you when they have phone access time. Your job is to make sure your number is on their approved list and that their commissary account has money to cover the call.

Phone Rate

The rate is $0.21 per minute. This is the BOP-wide maximum set by the Federal Communications Commission. A 15-minute call costs $3.15. A 30-minute call costs $6.30.

Calls are charged to the inmate’s commissary account. Families do not create a separate phone account with ViaPath.

Step 1. Get Your Number on the Approved Call List

The inmate submits a phone list request to their unit team. The list goes through a verification process. Your number must be approved before the inmate can call you. If you are a new contact, let the person know as soon as possible so they can start the process.

The number of approved numbers per inmate is limited by BOP policy. If the call list is full, someone may need to be removed before you can be added.

Step 2. Fund the Commissary Account

Calls are charged to the inmate’s commissary account. When the account balance hits zero, calls stop going through. See the send money guide for the three BOP-approved deposit methods:

• MoneyGram (Receive Code 7932)
• Western Union through send2corrections.com (Code City FBOP DC)
• USPS money order to Des Moines, IA

Regular deposits help keep the account funded so calls are not cut off.

Step 3. Be Available When They Call

Once the number is approved and the account is funded, the inmate can call during their designated phone access time. Phone access schedules vary by housing unit and are set by FMC Butner staff. Ask the inmate to let you know their typical call windows.

Call Monitoring and Recording

All TRUFONE calls at FMC Butner are monitored and recorded by BOP staff. This is standard at all federal facilities. Do not say anything on a call you would not want staff or a court to hear.

Attorney calls are the exception. Attorney-client calls are not recorded. Attorneys must be identified in the TRULINCS system as legal contacts to receive this treatment.

What Happens If a Call Does Not Go Through

If a call does not connect, check these things first:

• No funds: If the commissary balance is zero, calls will not go through. Make a deposit.
• Number not approved: Confirm with the inmate that your number is on the approved call list.
• Carrier blocking: Some cell carriers block calls from correctional facilities. If your phone shows a missed call from an unfamiliar number and you never hear a voice, your carrier may be blocking it. Contact your carrier to ask about removing correctional facility blocks.
• System maintenance: BOP phone systems go down periodically for maintenance. Try again later.

Call FMC Butner at (919) 575-3900 if calls continue to fail after you have checked these issues.

CorrLinks Email

CorrLinks is the BOP’s electronic messaging platform. It lets inmates and approved contacts exchange text messages through a web-based system.

How to set up CorrLinks:

1. Go to corrlinks.com and create a free account using your real name and email address.
2. Tell the inmate you have set up your account. They submit a contact request from the facility’s TRULINCS terminals using your email address.
3. You receive a notification at your email address to accept or decline the connection.
4. Once you accept, you and the inmate can exchange messages through the CorrLinks platform.

What to know about CorrLinks messages:

• Messages are text only. No photos, attachments, or links.
• Each message can be up to roughly 13,000 characters (about 2,000 words).
• All messages are monitored by BOP staff before delivery.
• Message delivery can take several hours depending on staff review volume.
• There may be a small per-message fee depending on the facility’s plan. The inmate’s TRULINCS account covers any messaging fees.

CorrLinks is not the same as regular email. You must log in to the CorrLinks website or app to read and send messages. Messages do not arrive in your regular inbox.

Staying in Touch Between Calls

While calls and CorrLinks messages keep the connection going, physical letters and photos through the mail are also meaningful. See the mail and photos guide for the address and rules. Visits are also an option when timing works out. See the visitation guide for hours and what to expect if your family member is an inpatient.