River North Correctional Center, Va

Visiting at River North Correctional Center starts with approval. All visitors—adults and minors—must submit the Virginia DOC visitor application online and wait for Central Visitation Unit approval. If you're 15 or older, expect a VCIN background check plus screening for suspended visitors and VACORIS records. Once approved, your application stays valid for three years. Renew at least 45 days before expiration if you live in Virginia, or 90 days ahead if you're out of state. Plan to arrive about an hour before your scheduled visit for security screening, and bring at least one valid photo ID matching your application—a driver's license, military ID, or passport for non-US residents all work. Follow the dress code: clothing must cover from neck to kneecaps, appropriate underwear is required, and proper footwear is a must. Visitor Centers require prior approval and won't let you leave and re-enter. Video visits can be scheduled through ViaPath. During severe weather, in-person visits may be canceled statewide while video visits continue.

At River North Correctional Center, video visits must start and end within your exact scheduled window. Late or missed visits won't be refunded. Each session allows up to five people (including children), and at least one visitor must be over 18—that person must be the parent or legal guardian of any minors present. The dress code is strict: outer garments and undergarments must cover from neck to kneecaps, and everyone must wear underwear. Violating the dress code can lead to sanctions. Inappropriate behavior during video visits triggers a six-month suspension. Serious violations can result in enhanced sanctions, potentially including a permanent ban. For phone calls, inmates call numbers from an approved list of up to 15 contacts. All calls are recorded and monitored, except properly verified attorney calls. Each call is limited to 20 minutes.

Sending mail to River North Correctional Center works differently than you might expect. All incoming personal mail—letters, greeting cards, postcards, and appropriate photos—gets scanned, then the originals are shredded. Your loved one receives only black-and-white photocopies, not the originals. There's a delivery limit: a maximum of three 8.5" x 11" photocopied pages (front and back) per mailing. That total includes a photocopy of the envelope. To avoid delays, address the envelope with the inmate's full name, 7-digit state ID number, the facility name, and the facility address and ZIP code. Legal mail from attorneys and courts must go to the VADOC Central Mail Distribution Center for screening. Mail for inmates who've been released or transferred gets returned to the sender.

River North Correctional Center accepts inmate deposits through JPay. Don't mail cash or personal checks. Instead, send a certified money order with the facility deposit slip to JPay, P.O. Box 278170, Miramar, FL 33027. Mailed payments typically post to the inmate's account within three business days after JPay receives them. Prefer to pay by phone? Call 1 (800) 574-5729 anytime. For telephone and prepaid accounts, you can use third-party vendors like ConnectNetwork or set up AdvancePay by calling 1 (800) 483-8314. When sending funds, use the inmate's full name and ID, include your name and return address, and keep your receipt in case you need help tracking a deposit.