Understanding Call Limits in Restorative Housing and Step-down Programs (What Wallens Ridge Families Should Know)

VADOC policy keeps call allowances tight in restrictive settings. General Detention allows two telephone calls per month. Restorative Housing (RHU)? Same - two calls per month. If things seem to change day-to-day, that's usually scheduling or security needs affecting when calls happen, not a change to the monthly limit itself.

As your loved one moves through the Restorative Housing step-down path, monthly call allowances increase. Step-down 1 (SD-1) allows four telephone calls per month. Step-down 2 (SD-2) bumps that to six. Families describe this as "a little more breathing room" - but it's still a small number. Planning ahead for who gets called and when makes a difference.

Beyond the monthly call limit, there's also a per-call time cap. VADOC limits calls to 20 minutes unless the Director specifically authorizes longer. So even when a call connects, expect it to cut off at that mark - especially in months when you're stretching just a few calls into meaningful contact.

Access can also get interrupted for reasons that have nothing to do with your loved one's allowance. Staff suspend phone access during facility counts and can shut it down anytime for emergencies or security. That means fewer chances to place calls, delayed call times, or calls happening at odd hours when phones come back on.

• ✓ Expect calls to end around the 20-minute mark, even if you’re mid-conversation.
• ✓ If you miss a call, it may be hard to “get it back” quickly when only a few calls are allowed each month.
• ✓ Plan for blackout periods during facility counts - phones can be suspended even on otherwise normal days.
• ✓ If there’s an emergency or security issue, phone access can be suspended without much warning, which can shrink the number of calls that actually happen that month.

1. Prioritize the 15 numbers on the approved call list - Since the list is capped at 15, decide as a family who truly needs to be reachable (and make sure the right cell and landline numbers are included).
2. Set expectations around “two calls a month” in RHU - In Restorative Housing (RHU), the allowance is two calls per month, so agree on who should take those calls and how you’ll share updates afterward.
3. Use step-down increases strategically - SD-1 allows four calls per month and SD-2 allows six; consider spreading calls across the month so you don’t go long stretches with no contact.
4. Plan conversations for a 20-minute cap - Write down the top few things you need to cover first (health, legal deadlines, kids, money on the account), because calls are limited to 20 minutes unless longer calls are specially authorized.
5. Coordinate legal calls carefully - Your loved one can include attorney numbers on the approved list, and properly verified attorney calls are treated differently for privacy; if a legal call is urgent, make sure the attorney’s office knows to follow the verification process.
6. Don’t read too much into gaps - Phones are suspended during counts and can be suspended for emergency or security reasons, so a sudden quiet stretch doesn’t automatically mean your loved one stopped trying to call.

These limits aren't just about minutes - they're about facility operations. VADOC caps calls at 20 minutes (unless longer is specifically authorized), and staff suspend phone access during counts. Phones can also go down for emergencies or security reasons. In practice, that combination explains why families sometimes see fewer completed calls than expected, even when their loved one is trying.

One thing that catches families off guard: enrollment happens immediately. Upon reception into VADOC, inmates are automatically enrolled in the phone system. If you're trying to figure out what applies right now - RHU, SD-1, SD-2, or something else - your best move is to ask through official facility channels and confirm their current housing status and phone access.