How to Set Up Your Loved One’s Phone PIN and Call List at Bland Correctional Center

Waiting to hear from your loved one after intake? The process can feel confusing. Bland Correctional Center follows Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) telephone procedures, and this guide covers what you need to know: the default phone PIN, how the PIN and DOC ID work together, how the approved call list gets built, and what you may need to do to activate your number.

Phone access at Bland follows VADOC Operating Procedure 803.3. This policy applies across VADOC facilities, so the enrollment, PIN setup, and call-list process described below is standard for anyone entering the VADOC phone system.

When can they actually use the phones? That varies. Scheduled phone hours depend on the facility's security level. Your loved one should receive this information during orientation, or find it posted in accessible areas.

Your loved one doesn't need to submit a separate request to get into the phone system. Inmates are enrolled automatically upon reception into VADOC, which means phone setup usually starts moving in the background soon after intake.

The phone PIN is also set automatically at intake. The default is a four-digit number based on month and date of birth (MMDD). So if your loved one was born on March 15th, their starting PIN would be 0315. Write down their DOC ID number too - they'll need both.

That four-digit PIN isn't used alone. To access the phone system, inmates enter their PIN along with their DOC ID number. Your loved one needs both pieces of information to log in and place calls.

Even with enrollment and a PIN set up, calls won't go through without an approved call list. Every inmate using the phone system must have one, and calls can only be placed to numbers on that list.

1. Start the call-list setup through the phone system - your loved one creates their call list using the auto-enrollment feature by dialing *44.
2. Add the people they need to reach - the approved call list can include family, friends, and legal aid.
3. Include the right type of numbers - the list can include landline and cell phone numbers, and those numbers are managed through the same call-list process.
4. Keep the list updated over time - it’s up to the inmate to add, remove, and manage the numbers on their list as needed.

Two limits to know upfront: the approved call list caps at 15 numbers, so your loved one may need to prioritize who gets added first. Each call is limited to 20 minutes.

If your number has been added but you're still not receiving calls, it may be waiting on your consent. A number doesn't become active until the phone subscriber grants permission to receive calls - and that process can take several days.

Practical Checklist

• ✓ Save your loved one’s DOC ID number so they can use it with their phone PIN to access the phone system.
• ✓ Remember the default phone PIN at intake is the month and day of birth (MMDD).
• ✓ Watch for the automated consent prompts for your phone number; your number won’t be active until you grant consent, and it may take several days.
• ✓ If you plan to fund calls, set up an AdvancePay prepaid phone plan through ConnectNetwork (Global Tel*Link), either online or by calling 1 (800) 483-8314.
• ✓ Ask your loved one to check their orientation materials or posted notices for the facility’s scheduled phone service hours.

VADOC's inmate phone system runs through ConnectNetwork by Global Tel*Link. To set up a prepaid option for receiving calls, you can use AdvancePay through ConnectNetwork or call Global Tel*Link toll-free at 1 (800) 483-8314.