Phone Calls from Richmond Correctional Institution: Accounts, Funding, and Typical Costs

Phone and messaging services at Richmond Correctional Institution run through electronic tablets provided by ViaPath/GTL, the vendor contracted by the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction. These tablets handle phone calls, texts, digitized mail, and access to educational and entertainment content. If tablets aren't available, people can also use electronic kiosks and wall phones.

An AdvancePay prepaid account is often the simplest option for families. You load money onto your phone number, and when your loved one calls, the cost gets deducted from that balance. Set up and manage this account through ConnectNetwork, ViaPath's deposit portal.

The other main option is a ConnectNetwork PIN Debit account. You deposit funds directly to the incarcerated person's phone account, and they can use that balance to call any approved number. ConnectNetwork is available online 24/7 for setup and funding. One restriction to know upfront: only people listed as approved visitors can deposit to that person's account.

How to Add Funds

• ✓ Use ConnectNetwork to set up and fund AdvancePay prepaid calling and PIN Debit accounts
• ✓ Add funds online through ConnectNetwork
• ✓ Add funds using the ConnectNetwork mobile app

Phone accounts aren't the only balance to track. People in prison can also buy tablet entertainment minutes at the canteen using their trust account funds. If you're supporting both communication and entertainment access, you may end up managing multiple balances.

Rates vary, but some published call rates show $0.10 per minute. To estimate a call budget, check the current rate listing for your account type and the kinds of calls being placed.

ConnectNetwork also charges service and transaction fees depending on how you fund or manage an account. If your balance drops faster than expected after a deposit, check for fees tied to your payment method or transaction type.

If you set up a ViaPath/GTL Friends & Family account for prepaid calling, watch for inactivity. After 180 consecutive days without use, the account becomes inactive and the balance can be forfeited - unless a different period applies by law or contract. This can sneak up on families when calls slow down due to transfers, lockdowns, or shifting communication habits.

The good news: any account activity resets the 180-day clock. Even a single call or small transaction protects your balance from forfeiture. You don't lose the money just because there was a quiet stretch earlier.