Safe Phones for People on Parole or in Halfway Houses
Quick answers for case managers, program directors, and residents on what we offer.
Can you provide phones that meet parole or halfway-house requirements?
Yes. We regularly work with reentry programs, halfway houses (RRCs), and supervising agencies to provide phones that give residents the communication tools they need — calls, texts, job searches via approved apps, maps, banking — without open internet browsing, social media, or other prohibited features.
What can and can’t these phones do?
Can: Make and receive calls, send texts, use navigation (Waze/Google Maps on approved models), access approved banking and job-related apps, email, and use WhatsApp with significant filtering if approved.
Can’t: Browse the open web, install unapproved apps, access social media with open feeds, or run AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
Can the facility customize which apps are allowed?
Yes. We manage the device through a custom system. Facilities can request that specific apps be allowed or blocked for their residents, and changes are pushed to the phone remotely.
What if a resident tries to swap the SIM into an unfiltered phone?
That’s an important limitation to understand: our protection lives on the phone itself, not the SIM. A resident who puts our SIM into any unfiltered Android or iPhone will have normal unrestricted access. For programs that need to prevent this, we recommend pairing our filtered phones with a small data plan so there’s less incentive (and less capability) to swap.
How is this billed?
Phones can be purchased outright by the facility, by family members, or by residents themselves. Plans run from about $6.50 to $40/month depending on usage. Bulk and institutional pricing is available — email us at support@koshercell.org to discuss.
Who should I talk to?
Call (848) 299-4081 or email support@koshercell.org and mention you’re with a reentry program, halfway house, or supervising agency. We’ll set up a short call to understand your requirements and recommend the right configuration.