Inmates are given one initial phone call that is free. Please note that the free phone call can only be made to a local phone number. This is to attempt to bond or notify someone that they are in custody. After this, inmates may make a phone call by calling collect to the party. 

How to Reach Your Incarcerated Loved One From Home

With CIDNET, you and your inmate can talk with video visits, messages and phone calls. To use these services, you must
create an account and buy data. Your data balance will be consumed when you talk with your inmate.

  1. Create a CIDNET Account by visiting customer.cidnet.net or call 1-888-984-1903.
  2. Complete Your Account by filling out general information, phone numbers and your Photo ID.
  3. Link with your inmate
  4. Wait to be approved
  5. Purchase data (MB)
  6. Inmate Communication

NEED HELP? Call 888-984-1903

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do friends/ family create an account with Cidnet?

A1. Go to customer.cidnet.net or call 1-888-984-1903.

Q2. How do inmates and friends/ family get a refund for unused balances?

A2. If inmates purchased calling debit time with their inmate balance through Sterling Commissary, the money will be refunded by Sterling/ Crown before switching platforms. We understand that the inmate will be charged $1 to transfer money back to their calling account, therefore, we will offer approximately 2 hours of set time free calling after going live with the Cidnet calling platform (free calls must be made using the wall-mount telephones and not the tablets. Free calling cannot be enabled on the tablets currently). For any unused time through Correct Pay for video visitation and messaging, the family can visit correctpay.com to request a refund, and for any unused phone time balances, the family can call 1-800-943-2189 or visit NCIC.com.

Q3. What are the rates with Cidnet?

A3. Unlike the old platforms, there will be no taxes and fees associated with calling, video calling, or messaging at this time. Unlike traditional inmate calling, Cidnet sells data vs. per minute traditional methods. 1 megabyte of data through Cidnet costs $0.30. For 1 minute of remote video calling (Only offered on the kiosks), approximately 1.4 megabyte of data is used costing roughly $0.40 in a minute of use. One message utilizes approximately 0.33 megabyte of data or $0.10 per message, which will be charged both incoming and outgoing. For a picture message (incoming to the facility only), anywhere from 0.66 megabytes ($0.20) and up are used based on image size. For 1 minute of voice calling utilization, approximately 0.6 megabytes of data is used or roughly $0.18 for one minute of use. The utilization rate will not change regardless of where the inmate is calling. The cinema app is roughly $0.90 per hour of utilization (only offered on the tablets). On all these applications, inmates and contacts will only be charged for what they use. For example, if the inmate does not like a movie, and shuts it off before the end, they will only be charged for what they watched. If a video call gets cut off due to bad connection, the contact will only be charged for the time they were connected.
(This is an approximation, pricing and data usage can vary based on connection.)

Q4. What are the fees associated with Cidnet?

A4. Inmates purchasing data through Sterling Commissary will still be charged $1 per transaction. Inmates who want to purchase calling time should follow the speed dial prompts to get to the commissary menu. Family purchasing data through Cidnet will be charged a $2.99 fee per transaction as well as a credit card processing fee of 5% of the total price.

Q5. Why does family need to create an account with Cidnet?

A5. If family/ friends plan to video visit with an inmate (even the free in-lobby visitations), they must have an account to schedule a visitation. Currently family/ friends must fund any video calls/ visits as well as messaging. The inmates will soon be able to fund their own messaging. How the system works: for video and mail, the family must fund these applications currently. For voice calling, the system will check the inmates balance first. If they have funds available, it will come from their balance. If the inmate does not have funds, but the contact does, the contact will be charged.

Q6. What about collect calling?

A6. Collect calling has not existed for several years. Under traditional inmate calling, a live or automated operator helps the family set up an account and is charged for that connection. This system has no operators. If an inmate tries calling a number, and there are no funds available for the call, the inmate will be prompted to purchase data. The outside contact will be prompted that someone is trying to reach them from the jail and to go to customer.cidnet.net to create an account.

Q7. How does an inmate call outside of the US?

A7. By default, inmates can call Mexico or Canada. For other county requests, staff can create a ticket through the Cidnet admin portal to request calling be turned in for those countries. The country code will have to be entered to complete the call. For example, a US call, a caller enters 1- followed by the number. To call Mexico, the inmate would enter 2- followed by the number.

Q8. What do the other services cost?

A8. There are free books, movies, and games offered through the tablets, which may be turned on or off at the facility discretion.

Q10. Does jailatm.com go away?
A10. No, families can still load money at jailatm.com for inmates to purchase voice calling time as well as commissary products.

Detention Center Contact

Commander McNulty

(970) 252-4065

Programs Desk

(970) 252-4070