Contact an inmate

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

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

• charges
• sentences
• court appearances

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

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

Learn what photos are allowed at the Synergy website.

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:

• Inmates can review the manual or handbook available to them while in custody.
• Contact the appropriate centre

You can deposit money to an inmate’s:

• trust & canteen account – Funds in this account can be used for approved purchases. Money in a trust & canteen account can be moved to a phone & tablet account upon request.
• phone & tablet account – Funds in this account can be used by inmates for phone calls and tablet messaging and usage. Money in a phone & tablet account cannot be moved to a trust & canteen account.

The quickest ways to deposit money:

• online or by phone
• at the facility

Before you make a deposit:

• You will need the inmate's Offender Records and Correctional Administration (ORCA) number, the amount you would like to deposit, and a valid payment method.

Online

• trust & canteen account
  • Synergy Deposits (Interac and PayPal)
  • Synergy inmate phones (major credit cards)
• phone & tablet account
  • Synergy inmate phones (major credit cards)
  • Service fees apply.

By phone

Call 1-866-713-4761 to deposit funds.

• available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• bilingual support available
• major credit cards and MoneyGram accepted

Service fees apply.

For the latest information, go to Synergy inmate phones.

At the correctional facility

Lobby front desk

Please contact the specific centre to confirm lobby hours, which may vary at each centre. 
You can make a deposit with:

• cash – Staff working at the front desk can put money directly into an inmate’s account. There are no service charges.
• cheques and money orders – These can be dropped off in the lobby but may take several days to process. There are no service charges.

Lobby kiosk

Lobby kiosks are provided by Synergy and service fees apply. You can make a deposit using:

• Visa debit
• Mastercard debit
• credit card

Sending a cheque or money order

There are rules about sending money to an inmate:

• Inmates can review the manual or handbook available to them while in custody.
• Contact the appropriate centre

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.

Step 1. Register a user account

New users

Create a visitor account:

1. Click the big blue ‘Register Today’ button at Visitor portal.
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 Visitor portal..
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)