Maintaining contact with an incarcerated loved one is one of the most effective ways to reduce recidivism and support mental health within the correctional system. However, the prison telecommunications infrastructure is complex, rigid, and often expensive. When a call is blocked—whether due to technical errors, billing issues, or regulatory hurdles—it can sever a vital lifeline, causing immense stress for both the inmate and their family.
The tone generated by call waiting can be misinterpreted by prison telecom infrastructure as an attempt to forward the call. how to unblock a prison call
Dealing with a blocked prison phone number can be an incredibly stressful experience, creating a barrier between you and your incarcerated loved one. Prison phone systems, such as Securus Technologies, Global Tel Link (GTL / ViaPath), and ICSolutions, have strict security protocols that sometimes result in phone numbers being blocked, either intentionally or by mistake. Maintaining contact with an incarcerated loved one is
Most prison call systems require you to prepay for calls via a , Direct Bill , or Prepaid Collect account. If your credit card expires, your balance hits zero, or a payment fails, the system automatically blocks your number from receiving further calls. The tone generated by call waiting can be
Many prison calls show up as "Unknown."
To unblock a prison call, you must first determine who or what placed the restriction: . Missing an incarcerated loved one's phone call is incredibly stressful, especially when a single accidental button press or an aggressive spam filter cuts off communication entirely.
Securus serves many state prisons and jails. If you accidentally blocked a number, Securus states that you need to call their Customer Service at to see if there is a block on your line. They can remove a block placed by an accidental key press. You can also manage blocks online by logging into your account at www.securustech.net and clicking on the "Block & Unblock calls" tab. To resolve spam-filter issues on your end, Securus recommends that you disable Scam Block on T-Mobile by dialing #662# and pressing the call button. If your issue is related to a new phone number, you will likely need to provide the provider with proof of ownership, such as a phone bill showing the date you received the new number, before they can remove the restriction.