Why did my call from Bland Correctional Center cut off at 20 minutes?

At Bland Correctional Center, inmate phone calls are capped at 20 minutes unless specifically authorized to run longer. If your call ended right at the 20-minute mark, that's the system working as designed - not something you did wrong.

The 20-minute cutoff keeps phone access fair. Phones are a shared resource, and the time limit prevents one person from tying up the line while others wait to call home or handle legal matters.

The policy does include a qualifier: calls are limited to 20 minutes unless specifically authorized otherwise. VADOC calls are also recorded and monitored, with one key exception - properly verified attorney calls. That monitoring rule is separate from the 20-minute limit, but it's often why people ask about "exceptions."

Legal calls are the main area where different rules apply. Properly verified attorney calls aren't recorded or monitored. An inmate (or a CCAP probationer/parolee) can also request that calls to an attorney's number be blocked from monitoring and recording. If your loved one is trying to reach an attorney and the call is being treated like a regular call, the fix usually starts with making sure the attorney number is set up and verified the way VADOC requires.

S4

• ✓ Write down your top 3–5 topics before the call so you don’t spend half the time catching up
• ✓ Start with anything time-sensitive (court dates, kids’ needs, medical updates, bills)
• ✓ Keep a running list near your phone so you can jump in quickly when the call comes
• ✓ Decide on a “next call plan” before you hang up (what you’ll handle, what they’ll handle, what can wait)
• ✓ If you need to stop a call for any reason, remember you’re allowed to deny any collect or debit call

Denying a collect or debit call can be useful when you can't talk safely - at work, driving, or with kids nearby - or if you need to avoid charges at that moment. It also lets you control the timing when you know a 20-minute call will fly by.

1. Assume the 20-minute limit is the default - VADOC calls are limited to 20 minutes unless specifically authorized otherwise, so a cutoff at that mark is often normal.
2. Ask your loved one what happened on their side - they may be able to tell you whether the call ended exactly at the limit or whether something else interrupted access.
3. If it was a legal call, confirm it was treated as an attorney call - VADOC calls are recorded and monitored except properly verified attorney calls, and attorney numbers can be requested to be blocked from monitoring/recording.

If the call cuts off well before 20 minutes or drops randomly, that's likely a technical issue with the phone service rather than the time-limit rule. Check the phone provider's customer support options for VADOC accounts, and reach out to Bland Correctional Center directly if you need help confirming what's happening on their end.