How to Set Up Your Phone Number to Receive Calls from Halifax Correctional Unit
Getting calls from Halifax Correctional Unit usually comes down to one thing: your phone number won't work until you complete an automated consent process. Here's what to expect, what you'll be asked, and what to do if it doesn't go through.
Halifax Correctional Unit follows Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) telephone procedures, so the same basic rules apply across VADOC facilities. Calls run through ConnectNetwork by Global Tel*Link (GTL), and the system requires your consent before a new number can receive inmate calls. That said, day-to-day details can vary. If something doesn't match what you're hearing on the phone, check whether Halifax handles any part of the process differently.
When your loved one adds your number to their approved call list, calls won't start coming through automatically. Your number stays inactive until you - the phone subscriber - grant consent through an automated process. Activation can take several days, so a short delay after being added is normal.
A couple of limits can affect how smoothly this goes. The call list is capped at 15 approved numbers. If your loved one is already near that limit, they may need to remove an old number before adding yours. Also, each call is limited to 20 minutes so everyone gets fair access to the phones - don't be surprised if the line cuts off and they have to call back.
Reminder: If you receive a collect or debit call from Halifax, you can accept it - or deny it.
Automated Consent Questions
- ✓ “Are you the person authorized to make decisions for this telephone number?”
- ✓ “Please state your name.”
- ✓ “Do you understand that all calls are monitored and recorded?” (Properly verified attorney calls can be excluded when there’s an approved recording block.)
At Halifax, the inmate manages the approved call list through the auto-enrollment system by dialing *44 on the inmate phone. Adding your number this way triggers the automated consent flow on your end. If you're waiting for consent prompts and they haven't come, the first thing to check is whether your number was entered correctly through *44.
- Answer the automated consent prompts completely - Your number won’t become active until you grant consent through the automated questions, and missing a prompt can leave the number inactive.
- Have your loved one re-check the number they entered - They manage the call list through the auto-enrollment system by dialing *44, so even a small typo can stop the activation from ever reaching you.
- Give it a few days - Even after you’re added, the consent/activation process may take several days before your number becomes active.
- Confirm Halifax-specific handling if things don’t line up - Halifax follows the VADOC telephone operating procedure, but local schedules or processes can still affect how quickly changes show up.
Note: If you’ve waited several days and nothing changes, don’t assume you did something wrong - verify whether Halifax has any local differences in how the VADOC phone procedure is applied.
If you've completed the automated consent prompts, the number was entered correctly, and calls still aren't coming through, contact the phone vendor for support. Halifax uses the VADOC inmate phone system operated through ConnectNetwork by Global Tel*Link, so vendor help lines are often the right place to ask about subscriber consent and activation status. You can also check whether Halifax has any facility-level exceptions or timing issues affecting call-list updates.
Reminder: Halifax follows VADOC-wide telephone rules, but it’s still smart to verify any Halifax-specific differences before you troubleshoot for too long in the wrong direction.
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