Prison payphone functioning with stamps

[Yputi]

Hello!

As some might know, in the DOC cell block there are physical payphones, but they don't actually work. I am thinking that maybe actually have these payphones work, inmates paying with stamps for x amount of phone time.
I would personally imagine some sort of system like parking tickets, where you use a command to buy a parking ticket for the price based on the amount of time you want. The inmate then would be able to use some sort of basic UI to put in phone numbers during the time their timer is running. Numbers such as 6666, 911, etc should be excluded form this I believe. After the timer finished, the call ends (if they were in any) and the inmate could then buy more phone time and they would have to call again. Inmates would have to make sure they don't use all their stamps on phone calls, so they would also have to do some yard work eventually.


I am hoping to see what others think, mainly players that have a character that has been in DOC a lot.

Edited September 18, 2021 by Yputi

[KimeyBear101]

+1

 I really like this and feel it could provide the inmates with more rp ops

[karl_vsm]

+1

[Ash]

This would be a neat feature, it's imperative that 911 doesn't work on it, though.

[JellyFaun]

i like it! i agree with the doctor, though, its crucial 911 and 6666 and other lines like that don't work. +1

[vergiekaye]

On 9/19/2021 at 12:27 AM, Yputi said:

Hello!

As some might know, in the DOC cell block there are physical payphones, but they don't actually work. I am thinking that maybe actually have these payphones work, inmates paying with stamps for x amount of phone time.
I would personally imagine some sort of system like parking tickets, where you use a command to buy a parking ticket for the price based on the amount of time you want. The inmate then would be able to use some sort of basic UI to put in phone numbers during the time their timer is running. Numbers such as 6666, 911, etc should be excluded form this I believe. After the timer finished, the call ends (if they were in any) and the inmate could then buy more phone time and they would have to call again. Inmates would have to make sure they don't use all their stamps on phone calls, so they would also have to do some yard work eventually.


I am hoping to see what others think, mainly players that have a character that has been in DOC a lot. slope game

+1 on this.

Edited June 9, 2022 by vergiekaye

[MrSplashy]

A Massive +1 on this suggestion, I believe it would add a lot of dynamic RP with it.

[justpositivity]

Would be good if these worked throughout the city as a matter of fact, this way criminals could RP sending anonymous phone calls to one another using the payphone system to carry out illegal drugs deals/illegal sales over all. Insert a certain amount of cash for a certain amount of minutes to seconds. +1 from me!

[Mike Bradey]

+1

I think this would be a great idea. It would create alot of more new RP scenes.

[mills]

+1

[shiema]

On 9/19/2021 at 12:27 AM, Yputi said:

Hello!

As some might know, in the DOC cell block there are physical payphones, but they don't actually work. I am thinking that maybe actually have these payphones work, inmates paying with stamps for x amount of phone time.
I would personally imagine some sort of system like parking tickets, where you use a command to buy a parking ticket for the price based on the amount of time you want. The inmate then would be able to use some sort of basic UI to put in phone numbers during the time their timer is running. Numbers such as 6666, 911, etc should be excluded form this I believe. After the timer finished, the call ends (if they were in any) and the inmate could then buy more phone time and they would have to call again. Inmates would have to make sure they don't use all their stamps on phone calls, so they would also have to do some yard work eventually.


I am hoping to see what others think, mainly players that have a character that has been in DOC a lot. slope game

I love it.

[QueenOfMisfit]

+1 I absolutely love this idea and feel like it would bring a good amount of RP to the table! 

[Elvillainisto95]

+1

[RustyOsprey2]

Yes!!, I can call my buddies and say that the freq is comped without having to wait 5 hours to get out of jail.

[Quietthecutie]

We necroing this? shit im down. +1

The biggest issue is i suspect it just would not be used much other than to tell people freq is comped, which you can already easily do with your allowed phone call on arrival. even then, crims mostly keep their phones off so its a hail mary actually trying to get someone on the blower.

Alternatives? make it so the payphones dial to a radio freq and not a phone number? this takes a leap of logic but it would make payphones in DOC actually useful and something people would be willing to farm up some stamps to use.

Like every irl minute is 100 stamps.

 

Edited April 22, 2025 by Quietthecutie

[Johnny Ganja]

Making the payphones actually usable would add a lot more realism and RP opportunities inside DOC.
+1

[Sammy Kane]

massive +1, also making the payphones across the city to work too would be great!

 

(im currently wanted and cannot turn my phone on) :))

[DaddyShrood]

I think something that would be even cooler is the ability for guards to listen in on each phone, and potentially gather information and intel on what's being said. Would potentially make people think twice about what they do and add that element of the unknown into it.

[Quietthecutie]

1 hour ago, DaddyShrood said:

I think something that would be even cooler is the ability for guards to listen in on each phone, and potentially gather information and intel on what's being said. Would potentially make people think twice about what they do and add that element of the unknown into it.

The issue with this are guards are not detectives, or even cops. and moreover if this was a thing, it would be about a week before crims cottoned on and said no more than "freqs beat" over the payphone, which would ruin all the hard work that went into making it a thing.

For something to be implemented for crims and actually be used, there needs to be a certain level of guarantee that its both worth it and reliable. as it stands this fails on both fronts. if someone just wants to let people know freqs comped, you can easily do that with your phonecall as you enter DOC already. if the phones could be tapped, Crims wouldnt risk saying more.

Edited April 23, 2025 by Quietthecutie

[Loca_Mocha]

+1 I've always wanted them to work.

But no, I don't think 911 should be blocked from working on them. I believe, however, a cooldown longer than the normal 3min on phone should be applied to them. 

Let's say a 10min cooldown between each 911 call on the payphones globally. so you can't just drive from 1 payphone to another to make another call.

And make it so it shows up on the /calls list as [PayPhone] and not [Amy_Withabee]

 

Another functionality could be to add a special call option on the DOC payphones. Like when you call 911, you get the options 

• police
• medic
• both

Could make it so when you start the interaction with the phone. It gives you the option 

"What service do you require?"

• Phone call
• Lawyer

If you pick Lawyer, it will let you send a call that shows up for JB under /calls

 

This would be useful as there have been a few times where DOC guards have been too busy with trouble in the parking lot, transports, fights, hostage situations, and so on. I would LOVE to have some RP interaction with JB. but its kept from me due to DOC having other RP keeping them busy.

[rafaelakutch]

On 9/19/2021 at 12:27 AM, Yputi said:

Hello!

As some might know, in the DOC cell block there are physical payphones, but they don't actually work. I am thinking that maybe actually have these payphones work, inmates paying with stamps for x amount of phone time.
I would personally imagine some sort of system like parking tickets, where you use a command to buy a parking ticket for the price based on the amount of time you want. The inmate then would be able to use some sort of basic UI to put in phone numbers during the time their timer is running. Numbers such as 6666, 911, etc should be excluded form this I believe. After the timer finished, the call ends (if they were in any) and the inmate could then buy more phone time and they would have to call again. Inmates would have to make sure they don't use all their stamps on phone calls, so they would also have to do some yard work eventually.


I am hoping to see what others think, mainly players that have a character that has been in DOC a lot.

Sprunki Game

Hello! So yeah, the fact that there are physical payphones in the DOC cell block but they don’t actually work feels like a missed opportunity. Making them functional, where inmates pay with stamps for a set amount of phone time, could add a lot of depth to prison roleplay.

I like your comparison to a parking ticket system—using a command to buy time based on how long you want to call sounds simple and effective. Then during that time, inmates could input numbers using a basic UI, and when the timer runs out, the call ends—clean and realistic.

Totally agree that numbers like 6666 or 911 should be blocked to prevent abuse. And the detail about inmates needing to manage their stamps wisely so they still have to work in the yard? That’s a smart touch—adds a layer of strategy without making it feel like a grind.

Would be great to hear feedback from players who’ve spent real time RPing in DOC—this feels like something that could really enhance immersion if done right.