A few telecommunications service providers for prisons continue to innovate and strive to maintain relationships between prisoners and their families. Providing real-time communication tools is one of them, as pioneered by Combined Public Communications (CPC).
CPC currently modernizes the way inmates communicate with outside parties through “Chirper,” where they can exchange text messages via the default SMS application. Sure, the device doesn’t work like mobile phones or communication devices in general, but it must follow the rules of use and remain subject to prison regulations.
Okay, here’s everything you can know about Chirper!
What is Chirper?
Chirper, known as a “chirp phone” or “chirping device,” is developed by Combined Public Communications (CPC), a communications company based in Kentucky, United States.
Chirper serves as a texting app that operates as a protective closure for inmates. The inmates no longer need additional downloaded apps, so they can directly use them.
With Chirper, inmates can send and receive text messages from their families or friends in real time. In order to exchange messages, outside parties must first add funds to the inmate’s chirping account.
Charging for Chirper does not require assistance from prison staff. That means inmates can charge, check-in, and check-out the device themselves by choosing one of the following options:
- InPod wall-mounted locking unit
- InPod wall-mounted non-locking unit
- Portable chargers
Features on Chirper
Since it works as the default text message app, the features on Chirper also relate to the performance of how to send and receive messages.
When it comes to key features, the Chirper device has some specifications, as follows:
- Apple iPod operating system
- Durable and rugged case
- Long-lasting battery
- Real-time texting
- Secure network
- Proprietary and patented
- Charging solutions
- Locked-down
It’s important to note that the inmates can only send text messages. Emojis, photos, or videos are not allowed. Additionally, inmates cannot access the internet, plus there’s no browser installed on the device.
How to Send Text Message on Chirper
After the inmate books the chirper, the prison guard will give it to them. If their chirping account has no balance, they must send a free automated message first to make a fund request to outside parties; it could be their family or friends or to whom they want to send a message.
If they have added funds to the inmate’s chirping account, the inmate can start sending messages with a new number or any contacts that are available on their chirping list.
To start a conversation, the outside parties should first accept the message from the inmate. After accepting it, they can also begin replaying the inmate’s message. If not, they cannot exchange text messages on Chirper.
For each message sent, this must not exceed 160 characters. If you want to send long messages to an inmate, you can split them up and send them as individual messages.
How to Add Funds to an Inmate’s Account on Chirper
It’s pretty straightforward to add funds to an inmate’s texting account. You can do it through Inmate Sales, which can be accessed here. https://inmatesales.com/#!/login
Of course, you have to create an account on inmatesales.com first. For on-the-go users, you can also download the InmateSales app, either on Google Play (on an Android phone) or on the App Store (on an iOS phone).
If you already have an account, you can access inmatesales.com and log into your InmateSales account.
Then, go to the “Purchasing Section.” Here, you can choose the facility for the inmate.
On the next page, you need to select the product you want to buy. Since you want to fund the inmate’s texting account on Chirper, you’ll have to choose Chirping Text Message.
The following page may require you to make a payment, so make sure to follow on-screen instructions until your payment is successfully made.
Can You Transfer Your Chirper Funds to Another Inmate?
Unfortunately, not! An inmate’s texting funds on Chirper are not transferable, so you cannot transfer them to another inmate.
Instead, you can make a request for a refund by contacting Inmate Sales representatives. Sure, you should have your transaction ID number before calling them. It serves as a confirmation number and has unique numbers for each transaction.
You can receive the transaction ID every time you make a purchase. If you receive your transaction ID by phone, you should write it down. Also, you can find it in your account profile on the InmateSales app and also on the website.
The refund request can also be made if the inmate is transferred to another facility or has been released.
About CPC
Combined Public Communications (CPC) was founded in 2000 to provide a communication system that can be used in correctional facilities. The CPC founders committed to continuously giving more value to law enforcement agencies across the United States through the communication services they develop.
Their goal is to create a leading solution to keep families and their loved ones in prison connected through more affordable and simplified ways.
With a strong vision and mission, CPC finally became one of the first communication providers in the Inmate Telephone Industry in 2000. They got their first facility customer in 2001.
In 2005, they launched the industry-leading Lobby Payment Option, also known as Purchase Prepaid Cards.
In their first decade, CPC has 25 facility clients with 25 employees. As it progresses, CPC will proudly release several products in the near future, including:
- 2012: Lobby Payment Kiosk
- 2014: View Kiosk
- 2015: Commissary-Fulfillment Partner
- 2017: Axxs Tablets
- 2019: Chirpers
- 2021: Document Scanning and Vending Machine
As of 2021, exactly at the 20th anniversary of securing their first facility partner, CPC serves at least 320 correctional facilities and has 225 employees. In the same year, CPC also celebrated 44 years in the communication industry and became an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) company.
For more information, CPC also utilizes a video relay service (VRS), which allows inmates with hearing disabilities to communicate with voice telephone users via video rather than through text typed in American Sign Language.
To communicate using VRS, video equipment connects the VRS user with a communications assistant (CA), so that both the VRS user and the CA can see and communicate with each other in a signed conversation.
In the United States, the use of VRS services has been subject to U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations since 2002.
