Inmates in the FCI Mendota have a monitored prison phone system available for inmate use which allows inmates limited outbound telephone privileges from their housing units. These are limited not only by duration; 15 minutes each, but also by the total time each month.
Using this system, inmates may make outgoing calls to contacts on a pre-approved list of contacts, and can only make up to 300 minutes of prison phone calls each month. During the holiday months of November and December the Warden may increase this to 400 minutes of phone time.
Back-to-back calls are not allowed. Inmates must wait one hour from the start of their last prison phone call before they are able to place another phone call.
The pre-approved contacts are the same that are pre-approved for visits. This is the form that you must fill out and send back to the inmate. They will turn it in. Approval can take several weeks.
Inmates can make either direct-dial or collect telephone calls from federal prisons. When making a collect call, the recipient must agree to pay for the call. The cost for this is more expensive than a direct dial call. When making a direct-dial call, charges for the call are debited from the inmate’s trust fund account. You can make deposits by mailing in a money order to the lockbox, or depositing money with either Western Union or Moneygram. Refer to our FCI Mendota Inmate Money section (or scroll to the bottom of this section) on instructions.
Direct-dial telephone call costs are subject to change, but are currently as follows:
Local calls: $0.06/minute
U.S. long-distance calls: $0.21/minute
Calls to Canada: $0.35/minute
Calls to Mexico: $0.55/minute
Other international calls: $0.99/minute
NOTE: Collect calls carry connection fees of $0.06 to $0.38 each minute for local calls and $0.56 per minute when calling long distance.
How Many Phone Calls Can an Inmate Make a Day?
Prisoners may make more than one phone call each day if they are calling pre-approved phone numbers.
Jail phone hours can start as early as 6:00AM and extend as late as 11:30PM. During inmate 'work hours' and inmate's phone time may be limited.
Are Inmate Phone Calls Monitored?
Yes. Prison phone calls initiated by inmates are recorded, AND are monitored. Police and prosecutors would have the right to review recordings of an inmate's phone calls under certain circumstances, such as if they were subpoened.
Prison phone calls by inmates placed to their lawyers, however, are not recorded or monitored.
There are three ways to deposit money in an inmate's phone (trust) account in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
In order to do any of these you need to know the exact name the inmate is incarcerated under, and their Inmate ID# (aka Register Number)
If you can't find the inmate and Register Number online, use the online contact form to request help.
1. FCI Mendota and Moneygram
You can send an inmate funds electronically using MoneyGram's ExpressPayment Program.
You can send money either online or at a Moneygram location.
- Funds are received and processed seven days per week, including holidays.
- Funds sent between 7:00AM - 9:00PM EST are posted within 2 to 4 hours.
- Funds sent after 9:00PM EST are posted at 7:00AM EST the following morning.
- If you have any questions you may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST.
NOTE: Do not send money until the inmate has actually arrived to the facility he has been assigned. At that point you can locate their location online.
Please visit https://www.moneygram.com/mgo/us/en/paybills, and enter the receive code 7932 or Federal Bureau of Prisons.
First time users will have to set up a profile and account.
A MasterCard or Visa credit card is required.
The maximum you can send is $300 at a time.
Locate the nearest agent by calling 800-926-9400 or finding a location online.
You'll need to complete a MoneyGram ExpressPayment Blue Form.
You can pay with cash or credit/debit Mastercard or Visa.
2. FCI Mendota and Western Union.
You need to know these codes.
Codes:
Code City: FBOP, DC
State: DC
Senders Account #: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE)
Attention: Inmate's full committed name
Western Union Facilities
Deposit funds in-person at Western Union.
Codes:
Code City: FBOP, DC
State: DC
Senders Account #: Inmate's eight-digit register number with no spaces or dashes, followed immediately by the inmate's last name (example: 12345678DOE)
Attention: Inmate's full committed name
If you have any questions you may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST.
3. FCI Mendota and Mailing a Payment
- First, you need to know the exact spelling of the inmate's name and inmates ID #
NOTE: Do not send money until the inmate has actually arrived to the facility he has been assigned. At that point you can locate their location online.
When sending an inmate money by mail, the FCI Mendota will only accept:
**Important Notes**
- Obtain a money order and include both the inmate's:
- Full committed name AND complete eight-digit register number on the money order.
- Non-postal money orders and non-government checks will be placed on a 15-day hold.
- If you have any questions you may contact BOP staff at 202-307-2712 between 8:00AM and 4:30PM EST.
Make sure your full name and return address is on the envelope.
Address the Money Order to:
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Insert Valid Committed Inmate Name
Insert Inmate Eight-Digit Register Number
Post Office Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-0001