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Phone & Messaging

Phone Calls from Washington State Penitentiary: What Families Need to Know

Phone calls are one of the main ways to stay connected with someone at Washington State Penitentiary. Here's how calling works, what you can and can't do from the outside, and how to manage your phone account.

• 2 min read • doc.wa.gov
Phone Calls from Washington State Penitentiary: What Families Need to Know

You can't call someone directly at Washington State Penitentiary. All calls must be placed from inside the facility - your loved one can call you, but there's no way to reach them by dialing in.

  1. Set up an AdvancePay account on ConnectNetwork - this prepaid account is what allows an incarcerated individual to place calls to you.
  2. Use a phone number you can reliably answer - once your number is set up for prepaid calling, your loved one can call you from the facility.
  3. Understand how calls are initiated - incarcerated individuals must enter their assigned Personal Identification Number (PIN) to start a call, and they’re responsible for all calls made using that PIN.

Calls are monitored and recorded by the Washington State Department of Corrections. Assume anything said on a regular call can be listened to and saved.

Exception for legal calls: The DOC allows unmonitored calls when dialing a phone number recognized by the applicable state's bar association.

Got a family emergency? You still can't call your loved one directly. Emergency messages must go through the prison facility's official emergency messages process.

Supervised SCAN calls: In compelling circumstances, the Superintendent (or designee) may allow a supervised SCAN call. Even then, features like 3‑way calling or call forwarding aren't permitted.

Manage Connectnetwork

  • ✓ Call (800) 483–8314 to speak with a Customer Service Representative to close your ConnectNetwork account.
  • ✓ Ask ConnectNetwork about any account-specific questions (including fees or remaining balances) so you know what to expect before you close it.

Questions about charges or balances? Go straight to ConnectNetwork for account-specific answers. That's also where you'll manage AdvancePay - the prepaid setup that lets your loved one call you from Washington State Penitentiary.

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