Suffolk County House of Correction
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Suffolk County House of Correction. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial / Sentenced
- Inmate Capacity
- 700 approx.
- Established
- 1990
- Operated By
- Suffolk County Sheriff's Department
Suffolk County House of Correction Inmate Communication Overview
Suffolk County House of Correction is a correctional facility operated by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, located in the South Bay neighborhood of Boston in Suffolk County. The facility serves as one of the primary detention and correction facilities in the Boston area, housing both pretrial detainees awaiting court proceedings in Suffolk County and individuals serving sentences of up to two and a half years. Boston is Massachusetts's largest city and the hub of the state's criminal justice system, and the HOC serves a substantial daily population drawn from across the county.
Communication at Suffolk County House of Correction is managed through GTL, which provides phone calls, video visitation, and electronic messaging services under the county sheriff contract. Families create a GTL account at telmate.com to access all services. Funding a GTL AdvancePay account linked to your phone number allows you to receive inmate-initiated calls. Remote video visits can be scheduled through the GTL platform. Electronic messaging via GTL delivers communications digitally within the facility. One GTL account covers all communication at the HOC.
Suffolk County House of Correction uses GTL under a county contract, separate from the provider arrangements used by Massachusetts state prisons. If someone is sentenced to more than two and a half years, they are transferred to a Massachusetts DOC state facility, where JPay is the primary messaging platform and a different provider handles phone calls. Until that transfer, GTL is the correct platform. The HOC is located near I-93 and the Southeast Expressway in Boston, accessible from all major highways serving the city. Public transit via the Red Line and bus routes serves the South Bay area.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
20 Bradston Street, Boston, MA 02118
Main Phone
(617) 961-6720
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteCommunication Options
Available communication services at Suffolk County House of Correction.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: GTL
Electronic messaging via GTL. Monitored by Suffolk County Sheriff's staff.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available through GTL. Schedule in advance.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photo mail subject to Suffolk County content restrictions. No digital photo service.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Fund a GTL AdvancePay account to receive inmate-initiated calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: GTL
Commissary deposits via GTL or AccessCorrections.
Communication Providers at Suffolk County House of Correction
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
GTL
Primary provider for all Suffolk County HOC communication, phone, video, messaging, and commissary.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Suffolk County House of Correction
- GTL serves Suffolk County HOC. After transfer to a MA state prison, JPay is required for messaging.
- All calls, messages, and visits are monitored by Suffolk County Sheriff's staff.
- One GTL account covers all HOC communication services.
- Video visits require advance scheduling through GTL.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Suffolk County House of Correction
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I contact someone at Suffolk County House of Correction?
- All communication at Suffolk County HOC, phone, video, messaging, and money, goes through GTL. Create a single account at telmate.com or the GTL Connect app. One account covers all services.
- Can I do a video visit at Suffolk County HOC?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through GTL. Log into your account, search for Suffolk County House of Correction, and select an available slot. Book at least 24 to 48 hours in advance.
- What changes when someone is transferred to a Massachusetts state prison?
- After conviction and sentencing to more than two and a half years, a person transfers to a Massachusetts DOC state facility. At state prisons, JPay is the primary messaging and money platform. The GTL account from the HOC may not carry over. Set up a JPay account after any transfer to a state facility.
- How do I find out if someone is at Suffolk County HOC?
- The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department provides an inmate search on their website at suffolksheriff.com. You can search by name to confirm current booking and custody status.
- How do I send money to a Suffolk County HOC inmate?
- Commissary deposits are made through GTL at telmate.com or through AccessCorrections. Add funds via debit or credit card. Processing typically takes one business day.
- How do I find or search for an inmate at Suffolk County House of Correction?
- Use the Sheriff's office or department of corrections official inmate search or roster for Suffolk County, Massachusetts. If the inmate does not appear, allow 24 to 72 hours after booking and try alternate spellings.
- How do I send mail to an inmate at Suffolk County House of Correction?
- Include the inmate's full name and ID on every envelope and follow the facility's mail rules. Confirm the current mailing address on the facility's official page before sending.
- Can I receive incoming calls from an inmate at Suffolk County House of Correction?
- No. Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. The inmate must call you, and your number must be on their approved list.
- How do I block or stop calls from an inmate at Suffolk County House of Correction?
- Contact the facility's phone provider and ask to block the number, or block the number through your own phone carrier. You can also ask the facility to remove your number from the inmate's approved list.
- How do I schedule or cancel a video visit at Suffolk County House of Correction?
- Schedule video visits through the facility's video visit provider or visitation system. Cancel the same way, as early as possible, and check the facility's visitation page for its cancellation rules.
Troubleshooting at Suffolk County House of Correction
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
Stay Connected with Suffolk County House of Correction
Compare all available providers, search for other Massachusetts facilities, and find the right communication options for your family. Free, with no account required.