Contact an inmate

Inmate information

There are 8 adult correctional and remand centres in Alberta.

Correctional and remand centres cannot answer questions about:

• whether or not someone is in custody
• an inmate’s criminal record

An inmate may:

• send you mail
• call you from a centre’s phone
• message you from a centre’s tablet

Charges, sentences and court appearances

Call Court and Justice Services at 1-855-738-4747, about:

• charges
• sentences
• court appearances

Inmate phone calls

You cannot directly call an inmate.

You can leave a voice mail for an inmate:

• learn about phone calls and messages at Synergy inmate phones
• non-privileged voice mail messages are recorded

An inmate can call you from a correctional or remand centre:

• non-privileged phone calls are recorded

Message an inmate

You can connect with an inmate by:

• sending and receiving messages
• sending a photo

You will not be able to send a message if the person is not incarcerated at one of the 8 adult correctional and remand centres.

Step 1: Set up an account

You will need to set up your own account:

• with the GettingOut mobile app, or
• online at the GettingOut website

Step 2: Put money in your account

• learn how to deposit funds at the Synergy inmate phones website

Step 3: Give the inmate your email address

• wait for an email invitation from the inmate

Messages and pictures

Messages and pictures are not private. All messages and pictures are:

• monitored and recorded
• subject to review and approval and
  • will be rejected if they contain inappropriate material

Mail an inmate

There are 8 adult correctional and remand centres in Alberta.

If you think a person is incarcerated at a particular centre:

• you may write the person a letter
• your letter will be forwarded if they are at another centre
• your letter will be returned to its sending address if the person is not incarcerated in one of the 8 adult correctional and remand centres

Sending a letter

All incoming mail is searched. If anything illegal is found – like drugs – the mail is given to the police.

The letter cannot contain:

• perfumes or liquids
• contraband

A letter sent to an inmate must be:

• written in normal blue or black ink
• sealed in a basic white envelope
• clearly addressed
• unmarked by stickers, crayon, paint, or marker

Sending money or a package

There are rules about sending money or a package to an inmate:

• check the manual or handbook given to the inmate when they were incarcerated, or
• contact the appropriate centre

Get money to an inmate

You can deposit money to an inmate’s:

• trust account – money in a trust account can be moved to a phone account
• phone account – money in a phone account cannot be moved to a trust account

The quickest ways to deposit money:

• online or by phone
• at the facility

Online or by phone

This deposit service is provided by Synergy and there are service charges.

Find out how to make a deposit on the Synergy website with:

• Interac
• PayPal
• a credit card
• a MoneyGram from Canada Post

At the correctional facility

Lobby front desk

Staff working at the front desk can put money directly into an inmate’s accounts – there are no service charges. You can make a deposit with:

• cash

Lobby kiosk

Lobby kiosks are provided by Synergy and there are service charges. You can make a deposit with:

• cash, or
• credit card

Learn more about Synergy kiosks

Sending a cheque or money order

There are rules about sending money to an inmate:

• check the manual or handbook given to the inmate when they were incarcerated, or
• contact the appropriate centre

Visit an inmate

In-person visits are not possible at the Edmonton Remand Centre – see the ‘Edmonton Remand Centre video visit' section, below.

For the other 7 centres, arrange a visit by calling the appropriate centre.

Edmonton Remand Centre video visit

Step 1. Register a user account

New users

Create a visitor account:

1. Click the big blue ‘Register Today’ button at visitcorrections.alberta.ca.
2. Follow the instructions.

You will get rules about video visits when you create your account – make sure you understand them.

Returning users

Go to step 2 if you have registered a visitor account at visitcorrections.alberta.ca.

Step 2. Book your video visit

1. Log in at visitcorrections.alberta.ca.
2. Book your video visit.

Step 3. Your video visit

• You need to log in 15 minutes before your visit.
• You will get rules about video visits when you log in for your visit – make sure you understand them.

Edmonton Remand Centre video visiting hours:

9 am to 11 am, 1 pm to 4 pm, 6 pm to 9 pm (7 days a week)