Phone Calls

Offenders initiate phone calls.

For family emergencies, please use the emergency messages process.

Current security rules require that all calls are recorded, can be monitored and must carry an announcement that the call is from an offender, UNLESS they are legal calls to bona fide attorneys registered with the Washington Bar Association.

Information about Pre-Paid Telephone Calls with Advanced Pay Service

This is a service exclusively available to Family and Friends. Calls from offenders must be collect or be pre-paid by a friend or family member. Get information about how calls are made, the costs involved, and options for payment.

V DIRECT DEBIT CALLING - NOTICE The web site for V Direct has some information.

SERVICIO DE LLAMADAS CON TARJETO DE DEBITO "V-DIRECT" - AVISO

CALLING RULE

There is a 20-minute telephone call time limit. Both parties will hear a message at three intervals that tells them how much time remains (2 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds). After 20 minutes, the telephone call will automatically disconnect.

Do you need assistance with anything related to receiving or paying for inmate telephone calls from a facility?

For more information or if you have a service or billing issue, contact FSH Communications or, 1-800-592-9488. Please be sure to give your name, your telephone number where you are trying to receive the call, the offender’s name and facility. This information will allow us to assist you and resolve your concern more quickly.

VAC has provided this list of cautions to help AVOID disconnection during your phone call:

  • Don’t attempt a 3-way call
  • Don’t try to transfer the call
  • Don’t put the inmate on hold
  • Don’t use or answer “call waiting”
  • Don’t use a cell phone
  • Don’t use a cordless phone
  • Don’t press numbers on the touch tone pad during the call
  • Don’t stop the conversation for any length of time, even short pauses may result in a disconnect
  • VAC encourages households that accept calls from incarcerated offenders to have at least one land line in your residence.
  • When a phone number is called within Washington state utilizing a pre-paid call and an answering machine picks up the phone, the pre-paid account will be billed for a complete 20 minute call.
  • When a phone number is called outside Washington state utilizing a pre-paid call and an answering machine picks up the phone, the pre-paid account will be billed for a connection fee and a one minute call.
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