Engine number for prisoners

An engine number for prisoners is a specialised local landline-style telephone number assigned to an inmate’s specific Australian prison location, such as facilities in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania or Western Australia, allowing them to make outbound calls at significantly reduced local rates of typically $0.30 to $0.40 per call rather than the high per-minute charges—up to $0.90—to mobiles from prison phones. This system, originally popularised by the now-defunct Engine company and now often powered by VoIP platforms like 3CX, forwards the inmate’s call from the prison-local number to a pre-set receiving point, such as a family member’s mobile or landline, ensuring seamless, high-quality connections without the need for the recipient to incur extra costs beyond their standard plan. Providers offer flexible weekly plans starting at around $6.50 for unlimited usage, with instant setup via apps or QR codes, 24/7 support and no contracts or hidden fees, while maintaining strict security through call monitoring, logging, and compliance with correctional regulations to prevent misuse. If a prisoner transfers to another facility, a new engine number is issued free of charge for the updated location, minimising disruptions and supporting ongoing family communication that promotes inmate well-being.