Why Calls from Wallens Ridge Are Recorded — and When They Aren’t

At Wallens Ridge - like all Virginia Department of Corrections facilities - the phone system comes with a clear tradeoff: access in exchange for monitoring. When someone activates their PIN and uses the inmate telephone system, they're agreeing to have their calls monitored and recorded. That's baked into VADOC policy.

Assume every call is recorded and potentially reviewed as part of routine security. VADOC's rule is straightforward: all calls on the inmate phone system are recorded and monitored, with one major exception - properly verified attorney calls.

Attorney calls get different treatment, but only when set up correctly. VADOC carves out an exception for verified attorney calls - those aren't supposed to be recorded or monitored. The catch: the attorney's number must be verified and processed through the proper channels beforehand.

1. Make sure the attorney number is the one being used - the recording exception applies to properly verified attorney calls, not just any number someone labels as “legal.”
2. Request the electronic recording block ahead of time - VADOC describes a “recording block” as an electronic block that prevents monitoring and recording of calls to a verified attorney telephone number, and it must be requested in advance by the inmate or CCAP probationer/parolee.

For families, the safest approach is simple: treat every non-attorney call as recorded. You can still talk openly about day-to-day life - just don't expect privacy on the line. Save anything truly confidential for other channels.

• ✓ Have the attorney use a properly verified attorney phone number (the exception only applies to verified attorney calls).
• ✓ Make sure the inmate or CCAP probationer/parolee requests the electronic recording block in advance for that verified attorney number.
• ✓ Confirm the recording block is active before discussing privileged legal details.