Mail, photos, messaging, and phone/call options for staying in touch.
Phone contact at Red Onion State Prison requires an approved call list. Each inmate can have up to 15 telephone numbers on their list, and attorney numbers count toward that limit. Inmates call family, friends, and legal aid using numbers on their list. The person receiving the call can decline collect calls or deny the call if allowed. Cellular and wireless numbers work the same as landlines. Calls go through ConnectNetwork by Global Tel*Link and are monitored and recorded. Verified attorney calls can be exempted from recording if a Recording Block is requested in advance. Calls are generally limited to 20 minutes unless the Director authorizes longer. Phone access may be suspended during counts or emergencies.
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If you're talking by phone with someone in a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facility, assume the call is being recorded. The only exception? Attorney calls with proper protections in place.
If your loved one is in a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) prison, they can only call numbers on their approved call list. Here's how the list works, what limits apply, and what to expect on your end.
Phone calls are the fastest way to stay in touch with someone at Red Onion State Prison. Here's how the system works, what to expect, and what to check so your calls actually go through.
If your loved one is at Red Onion State Prison, they're automatically enrolled in the Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) telephone system when they enter DOC custody. The funding options below are what VADOC describes for its facilities. One caveat: if someone is in DOC custody but housed in a local jail, that jail's phone rules and payment setup may differ.
Getting on your loved one's approved call list in Virginia DOC comes down to two things: they need to add your phone number, and the number has to follow the system's routing rules to avoid blocked calls.
At Red Onion State Prison, your loved one can have up to 15 approved phone numbers on their call list. That cap covers both personal and legal-related numbers, so be intentional about which ones make the cut.
That first call can catch you off guard—especially when an automated system starts asking questions before connecting you. Here's what to expect from Red Onion State Prison calls so you can accept (or decline) with confidence.
If you're talking with someone in a Virginia Department of Corrections facility and the line drops right around the 20-minute mark, it's not a mistake. That's how the inmate phone system is designed to work.
Each inmate’s approved call list is limited to 15 telephone numbers. Attorney numbers count toward that 15-number limit.
Yes. Cellular and other wireless numbers can be added to the approved call list, and they’re managed the same as landlines.
Yes, calls are monitored and recorded through ConnectNetwork by Global Tel*Link. Verified attorney calls can be exempted from recording if a Recording Block is requested in advance.
Prison calls can be confusing—especially when legal privacy is on the line. At Red Onion State Prison, attorney calls work differently from regular inmate calls thanks to something called a "recording block."
Sending money for phone use is straightforward once you pick the right account type. At this facility, phone accounts are funded through ConnectNetwork.
If your loved one is in a Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facility and wants to call you, you'll need to set up funding through ConnectNetwork (Global Tel*Link). Here's what to gather ahead of time, your funding options, and the fastest way to get money onto the right account.
