In today’s technological world, text messaging may be preferred over a traditional phone call, whether you’re in front or behind bars.

The Guthrie County Jail is one of about half of Iowa’s county jails that allow inmates to send and receive text messages from friends and relatives 24/7. These devices are given by the jail’s provider Reliance Telephone, and are only capable of sending text messages; not taking photos, surfing the web, or performing other functions a typical cell phone would. The devices are offered as an alternative to purchasing a phone card, and inmates must pay a $4 fee to set up an account and are charged $.09 for each message sent and received. Inmates are also liable for any damages to the devices. This system is not paid for by taxpayer dollars.

The texts are archived for sheriff’s deputies to monitor, saving them hours of time that was spent listening to phone calls, according to Jail Administrator Mike Herbert. “It is an enormous tool for the jail and for our sheriff’s office to be able to view the texts, you know we have some individuals that may say something or put something in a text that might help us in an investigation. So it has done some good things for us that way.”

The texting devices have been a win-win for the inmates and the jail staff, as less time is spent selling inmates phone cards, and a small portion of the text fees goes back to the jail to be spent on uniforms and other facility needs. Sheriff Marty Arganbright stresses that these devices are a privilege, not a right, to inmates; and in the approximate year-and-a-half since the system has been implemented the inmate atmosphere has improved, and no significant problems have arose. Other counties that allow inmates to text include Adair and Carroll.