Questions, answered.
How the service works, what it costs, who can see what, and what happens if something goes wrong. Search it, or read the section you need.
How does the system work?
It’s simple, and it works a little differently for each side. Here’s both.
For family, friends, and supporters, online
You create your own account and set everything up from the website or your phone. You send messages and voice messages, and when your incarcerated friend or loved one replies, their reply comes straight to you as a text. You keep your full message history, manage more than one person if you need to, and add Connection Credit when it is needed, all in one place. No per-minute or per-message charges, ever.
For the incarcerated person, by phone
They get their own profile, and they reach it through the NearestKin access number — one number, shared by everyone inside. They call it from any available facility phone, speak their NearestKin Member ID and four-digit PIN, and from there they can hear voice messages, read texts, reply, make and receive calls, update their profile, and use Stacy, their built-in AI assistant. Everything they do is by phone. No smartphone, no tablet, no internet needed.
Together, you reach them online, and they reach you by phone. Messages move between the two, so you stay connected from wherever you are.
All frequently asked questions
Showing all 37 questions.
About NearestKin
Accounts & access
Safety & trust
Pricing & billing
Stacy & AI
Still have questions?
Support answers the things this page does not cover — by live chat, or by email if you would rather write.