Has anyone tried PCO or one of the other "cheaper" services in Arkansas? Does it work here? I've been thinking about trying it, but don't want to do it if it isn't going to work. I'd appreciate some info from you guys if you have any.
JC

Ok, i can't find where i read it, but i got something from ADC that says if they detect a third party call, they'll cut off the call AND it will sost him a disciplinary. PCO looks like TELNET in that it routes the calls so they appear to be going to a closer proximity to the prison. I have no idea if ADC has sophistication enough to detect a switching mechanism but I won't risk it.

Besides, i the inmate is calling you in same state, the savings may not be significant. When i lived in TX, calls from ADC were $21 for 15 minutes. now that i'm in Arkansas, they're only $6.60 for 15 mins. So, i looked into it when i lived in TX.

Not sure if this helps. But I'm just so paranoid about risking a disciplinary. He's class 1.

I think the "third party call" thing is about 3-way calling, but I'm not sure. The thing is, the calls would have to be routed to my cell (can't accept collect calls on it). But what you are saying makes sense...I wouldn't want to risk a disciplinary either, he's got way too much time to lose his class, even if it were to class 2. I'll check into it & see what I can find out. Maybe someone else will come along that uses it without problems. Thanks Julie!
JC

I had called telenet to find out information about them a few months back, and they told me that they didn't offer service to Cummins. I don't know if that goes for all Arkansas prisons and I don't know anything about PCO.

Wonder why telnet didn't offer service to cummins. How weird is that?!

I used TelNet for a while. My husband was at Benton (Work Release) I used it for 3 months and they never detected it but if they had he would have gotten in big trouble. MCI reduced their rates by a couple of dollars so I was only saving a little over a dollar so I stopped it as the risk was more than I was willing to take for just a buck.