How free prison video calls work: up to 60 free minutes a month at most establishments, why it resets on the 1st, why it varies and how to check yours.
Most prisons using Purple Visits give up to 60 free minutes of video calling a month, subject to availability at your establishment. That’s usually two 30-minute calls or one 60-minute call. The allowance is linked to the person in prison, it resets on the 1st of each month, and unused minutes don’t carry over. You’ll see what’s left when you book in the app.
This article explains where the free minutes come from, why the amount can differ from prison to prison, and how to make sure you don’t miss out.
Free video calls are part of a Ministry of Justice (MoJ) policy called the Secure Social Video Calling Policy Framework. It says that people in prison should be able to have secure video calls with family and friends, and it sets a free allowance of up to 60 minutes a month.
Each prison Governor decides how that works at their establishment. Some offer two 30-minute calls, some offer one 60-minute call. The Governor can also change this, and slots depend on what’s available. That’s why we always say “up to 60 free minutes a month, subject to availability at your establishment”.
Note: Video calls are recorded and may be monitored by the establishment, just like prison phone calls. This applies to free and paid calls.
It depends on the prison. At some establishments you request the call in the app and pick a slot. At others, the person in prison requests it from inside and you accept the invitation in the app. Some prisons allow both. Your loved one’s page on the establishments list tells you which applies, and Requesting a video call walks you through both.
The MoJ allowance covers prisons in England and Wales. Three establishments using Purple Visits work differently:
The app, registration and ID verification are free everywhere.
If you’re not sure what you’re seeing, take a screenshot and send it to [email protected] and we’ll explain.
You can book again when the allowance resets on the 1st of the next month. Some prisons offer extra calls at their own discretion, subject to availability – they appear as bookable slots in the app. Families are never charged for calls at prisons in England and Wales. Read How much does a prison video call cost? for the details.
Why did I only get one free call this month? Your prison may give one 60-minute call rather than two 30-minute calls. Or a call may have been counted as used because it was cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed. See Cancelling or rescheduling.
Can I save my free minutes for next month? No. The allowance resets on the 1st. Use it or lose it.
Do free calls cost the person in prison anything? No. Free calls come at no cost to you or your contact.
My prison has no free slots this month. What can I do? Check the app again over the next few days, as cancellations free up slots. If it’s happening every month, let us know so we can raise it with the establishment.
Can I get a reminder when my free minutes reset? Yes. Sign up below and we’ll send one short email at the start of each month. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Email [email protected] or use the contact form. We usually reply within one working day. Live chat in the app is usually answered within a few minutes during business hours.
New to Purple Visits? Download the app – it takes about 15 minutes to register, and your first calls each month are free.