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Phone Correspondence

Phone Correspondence

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As a family member or friend of an inmate, your loved one is able to contact you and legal aid by phone while they are incarcerated. View more details in Operating Procedure 803.3.

Disclaimer: These telephone procedures apply to VADOC facilities only. Inmates under the responsibility of the VADOC but who are housed in a local jail follow the rules of that jail. Please contact that jail directly to learn more about their procedures.

How it Works

  • Who Inmates Can Call

    Inmates may call family, friends, and legal aid from their approved call list. This includes landlines and cell phone numbers. It is up to the inmate to maintain their call list, which is limited to a maximum of 15 numbers.

    You are free to deny any collect or debit call from an inmate.

  • Security Measures

    The VADOC inmate phone system is operated through ConnectNetwork by Global Tel*Link. All calls are recorded and monitored, except properly verified attorney calls.

  • Call Duration

    All calls are limited to 20 minutes to allow inmates fair use of the phones.

Funding Inmate Phone Calls

Inmates may call collect to phone numbers on their approved call list that accept collect calls. This option is limited to a small amount before prompting to create/use one of the following pre-paid methods.

AdvancePay for Family and Friends

As a family member or friend, you can deposit money into a prepaid phone account that you set up to receive collect calls from an inmate.

For more information or to set up a pre-pay phone plan, please visit ConnectNetwork, operated by Global Tel*Link or call them toll-free at 1 (800) 483-8314.

Inmate Pin Debit Accounts

Inmates can use their PIN Debit Account to make calls to anyone on their approved call list. The inmate manages this account and the expense of the call will be deducted from their account accordingly.

If you would like to make a deposit to an inmate’s PIN Debit Account, visit ConnectNetwork and create an account. Select “VA” as the state and “Department of Corrections,” then follow the prompts to finish setting up your account. You will need to know the inmate’s 7-digit state ID number.

To make a deposit to an Inmate Phone Account, visit ConnectNetwork and set up an account. You will need to know the inmate’s 7-digit state ID number.

Loss of Phone Privileges

You or the inmate can have phone usage revoked if you abuse these privileges.

The following is a non-exhaustive list of examples of prohibited actions that will result in repealed phone use:

  • Placing incoming calls to an inmate
  • Calling international numbers
  • Making 700, 800, 888, 900, and similar toll-free calls
  • Charging calls to credit cards, third parties, or any billing other than collect or pre-paid to the called party
  • Transferring calls to a third party
  • Using call forwarding, call forwarding services, or answering machine services
  • Calling pager numbers
  • Calling pay phones
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