How Phone Calls Work in VADOC: Call Lists, Call Lengths, Monitoring, and Housing-Based Limits

In VADOC, your loved one can't just dial any number. Every call has to go to a number on their approved call list, and that list is capped at 15 phone numbers total. That 15-number limit includes attorney numbers and investigator hotline telephone numbers. If your loved one has several legal contacts saved, it can shrink the spots left for family and friends pretty quickly. Calls must be placed directly to (and end at) a number on the approved list. Numbers stay active until your loved one removes them, or the phone subscriber requests a block or cancellation.

When your loved one activates their PIN and uses the VADOC inmate phone system, they're consenting to monitoring and recording of their calls. That consent is built into using the system. The practical takeaway for you on the outside is simple: don't expect privacy on regular calls. If you have something sensitive to discuss, think carefully about whether it belongs on a recorded line. Keeping conversations focused helps, too. If your loved one is worried about how something will sound on a recording, it's better to pause and switch to a safer topic than to push through it.

VADOC phone calls on the inmate telephone system are capped at 20 minutes. The only exception is if the Director specifically authorizes a longer call. That limit sneaks up on you, especially if you spend the first few minutes exchanging updates or getting everyone on the line. Having a loose plan before the phone rings helps make sure the most important stuff doesn't get pushed to the last two minutes.

Phone access in VADOC is also tied to housing status. If your loved one is in General Detention or Restorative Housing (RHU), they're limited to two telephone calls per month. In Restorative Housing Step-down 1 (SD-1), that goes up to four calls per month. In Restorative Housing Step-down 2 (SD-2), it's six calls per month. Those monthly limits change how you plan communication. Two calls a month can feel like nothing, especially when you're trying to coordinate family responsibilities, court deadlines, or just stay emotionally connected. As step-down status increases, the call allowance grows too, making it easier to spread calls out and avoid going weeks without contact. If call frequency suddenly drops, housing status is one of the first things to check. Knowing the monthly allowance upfront saves you a lot of second-guessing about whether you missed a call or did something wrong.

• ✓ General Detention and Restorative Housing (RHU): 2 telephone calls per month
• ✓ Restorative Housing Step-down 1 (SD-1): 4 telephone calls per month
• ✓ Restorative Housing Step-down 2 (SD-2): 6 telephone calls per month

1. Confirm your loved one’s current housing status - Their monthly call allowance depends on whether they’re in General Detention/RHU, SD-1, or SD-2.
2. Match the status to the monthly call limit - Two, four, or six calls per month, depending on the step level.
3. Plan calls around the monthly cap - If calls are limited, agree on what has to be covered each time so the minutes and the call count don’t get wasted.

Family Tips

• ✓ Make sure your phone number is on your loved one’s approved call list (15 numbers max).
• ✓ Remember the 15-number cap includes attorney numbers and investigator hotline numbers.
• ✓ Expect calls to be limited to 20 minutes unless the Director authorizes a longer call.
• ✓ Decide what matters most before you answer, so the key updates happen early in the call.

Most phone call frustration comes down to two bottlenecks: getting on the approved list and running out of time. If your number isn't on the 15-number call list, the call simply won't go through. And even when everything is set up correctly, the 20-minute cap means you'll get more out of each call by staying focused and leading with the most important updates.