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ParakeetInmate
Texting for federal inmates

Real texts from federal prison, right to your phone.

Your loved one sends texts from their CorrLinks inbox. They arrive on your phone as normal texts, and you reply the same way.

Find your loved one See how it works
  • 3-day free trial
  • Plans from $9.99/mo
  • Any U.S. or Canada number
1000s+families connected
1M+messages delivered
93%of federal facilities
U.S. + Canadaphone numbers
How it works

Up and texting in three steps.

No new phone, no stamps, no waiting on mail call.

  1. 1

    Find your loved one

    Search by name or BOP register number. Most federal facilities are covered.

  2. 2

    Start the free trial

    New accounts get 3 days free. They add one contact in CorrLinks and they are ready.

  3. 3

    Start texting

    They write from their CorrLinks inbox. It arrives on your phone as a normal text, and you reply the same way.

Features

Everything you need to stay close.

Texts, photos and letters from one account, with tools that help them inside too.

Real texts, both ways

Their messages land on any U.S. or Canada phone. Your replies go straight back to their inbox.

Their own phone number

On Full Access they get a personal number that works like a normal phone. Anyone can text it first.

Photos, printed and mailed

Upload up to 10 photos from your phone. We print them and mail them to the facility.

Letters without the post office

Type or upload a letter and we print and mail it. $1.49 for the first page, 30¢ for each page after.

More than texting for them

AI chat, news, sports, books and a private journal, all from their inbox on Tier 2 and up.

Message from anywhere

Use your phone’s texting, the website, the InmateDB app or Telegram. Whatever is easiest.

Both sides

Simple for them. Normal for you.

They use the CorrLinks inbox they already have. You use the texting app already on your phone.

  • They put your number in the subject line and write the message.
  • You get a normal text and reply right from your phone.
  • Your reply shows up in their inbox, ready to read.
Pricing

Simple monthly plans.

New accounts start with a 3-day free trial, then pay month to month.

Tier 1

Texting

$9.99/month

Unlimited texting from a shared number.

  • Unlimited texts to U.S. and Canada phones
  • Sent from a shared number
  • Free books and a private journal
Get started
Most popular Tier 2

Texting + AI

$14.99/month

Texting plus AI and info apps for them.

  • Everything in Texting
  • AI chat: ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok
  • News, sports, weather and trivia apps
  • Free and gifted books
Get started
Tier 3

Full Access

$19.99/month

Their own phone number, plus every app.

  • A personal number anyone can text first
  • Unlimited texting both ways
  • AI chat, email, journal and 15+ apps
  • Faster setup and support
Get started

On the Texting and Texting + AI plans, people can reply once your loved one has texted them. Unlimited means normal personal use. Compare every feature

Guides

Answers for families.

Plain-English guides to federal prison communication, written for people new to it.

All guides
FAQ

Questions families ask.

Still stuck? Every account comes with support at InmateDB.com.

How does my loved one text me?

They write from their CorrLinks inbox: your phone number goes in the subject line and the message goes in the body. It arrives on your phone as a regular text.

Do I need to download an app?

No. Texts arrive on your phone like any other conversation. You can also use the website, the InmateDB app or Telegram if you prefer.

Can I text them first?

On Full Access they get their own number, so anyone can text first. On the Texting and Texting + AI plans, messages come from a shared number, so you can reply once they have texted you.

Which facilities does it work with?

Federal Bureau of Prisons facilities that use CorrLinks, which covers about 93% of federal facilities.

What does it cost?

Plans are $9.99, $14.99 or $19.99 a month, and new accounts start with a 3-day free trial. Photos and letters are paid per order.

Where is my account managed?

ParakeetInmate runs on InmateDB. Your account, plan and messages live at InmateDB.com, and you can sign in there or in the InmateDB app.

They’re waiting to hear from you.

Find your loved one, start the 3-day free trial, and get texting from the phone you already have.

Find your loved one See pricing