Video Visits with VADOC: Costs, Hours, Monitoring, and Who Qualifies
Video visitation through VADOC is a solid way to stay connected, but the costs, hours, and eligibility rules catch a lot of people off guard. Here's what to expect, including the July 1, 2025 price change and the key restrictions that determine who can video visit.
Right now, VADOC video visits cost $0.15 per minute. You buy them in two time blocks: a 20-minute visit runs $3, and a 50-minute visit runs $7.50. If you're budgeting for regular calls, pick the block that matches how your conversations usually go.
On July 1, 2025, the rate drops to $0.12 per minute. The same two time blocks apply at the lower price: 20 minutes will cost $2.40, and 50 minutes will cost $6.00. If you visit regularly, that date is worth marking on your calendar.
VADOC runs video visits on a three-day cadence. All housing units can visit Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and again from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you're working around a kid's schedule or a lunch break, those morning and afternoon windows are what you'll plan around.
Note: Schedules and procedures can vary by institution and may change. Confirm the current video visit hours with the facility before you lock in a specific time slot.
Assume your video visit is not private. Every session is monitored, recorded, and retained. What you say and do on camera can be reviewed later, so keep the conversation appropriate and focused on staying connected.
Warning: If you violate video visitation rules, the minimum consequence is a 12-month ban from video visitation privileges.
Not everyone in VADOC custody can video visit right away. If your loved one is in Initial Reception, they're not eligible during that period. This is one of the most common reasons families can't find or schedule a video visit at first.
Security level matters too. At Security Level 4 and Security Level 5, the inmate must be six months infraction-free before they can video visit. If access suddenly disappears after an infraction, or eligibility seems delayed, this rule is usually why.
Quick check: Initial Reception means no video visits. Security Levels 4 and 5 require six months infraction-free. For individual situations, confirm the person's current status with the facility.
Practical Family Tips
- ✓ Schedule within the published windows: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- ✓ Pick the time block that fits your needs and budget: 20 minutes ($3 currently) or 50 minutes ($7.50 currently).
- ✓ Plan ahead for the July 1, 2025 price change, when the rate shifts to $0.12 per minute (20 minutes for $2.40, 50 minutes for $6.00).
- ✓ Treat every visit as monitored and recorded, because it is, and recordings are retained.
- ✓ If video visits are not showing as available, check whether your loved one is in Initial Reception (not eligible).
- ✓ If your loved one is Security Level 4 or 5, ask whether they have met the six-month infraction-free requirement.
- ✓ Confirm facility-specific scheduling and eligibility details before making plans, since procedures can vary and change.
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