Offender Telephone System

The telephone system in a prison environment is a system complete with numerous security features to inhibit the ability of inmates to conduct illegal activities and unwanted calls outside prison walls.

The Virginia Department of Corrections operates a secure offender phone system under contract with Global Tel*Link. The system allows inmates to place outgoing collect calls to family and friends that have agreed to accept such calls. Each call is limited to 20-minutes in order to allow equitable use of the phone system by all inmates. For security purposes all calls are recorded and may be monitored.

You are free to deny any collect call from an inmate if you cannot afford it. The inmate must also accept responsibility for helping you budget the expense of any call.

A pre-pay service plan is offered which allows you to pre-pay and then receive calls from an inmate at a lower rate per minute in comparison to the collect payment per minute rates. For information or to establish a pre-pay service plan please call Global Tel*Link toll-free at 1-877-372-4330.

As of February 1, 2010, offenders may make phone calls to cell phones. Families and friends must set up the authorized phone number with Global Tel*Link (GTL) at 1-877-372-4330. The following stipulations apply:

• Phone calls to cell phones will be charged the same rate as pre-paid calls.
• Offender call lists will remain limited to 15 numbers.
• This service does not apply to pre-paid cell phones.
• The cell phone number must match the residential address of the family member or friend.

Utilization of the offender phone system is a privilege and responsibility of the inmate population. As with any privilege, inmate phone use may be revoked. The following are examples of services that are not permitted on the offender phone system:

1. Incoming calls
2. International calls
3. 700, 800, 888, 900, and similar calls
4. Calls charged to credit cards, third parties, or any billing other than collect or pre-paid to the called party
5. Calls transferred to a third party
6. Call forwarding, call forwarding services, answering services
7. Calls to pager numbers
8. Calls to pay telephones