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

Change to Collect Calling Charges

The following business decision has been implemented by Value Added Communications. For questions regarding this change contact 1-800-592-9488.

  • Effective October 20, 2009 the collect call threshold is $100.00 in a 30 day period.
  • When the threshold is reached the called party’s number is blocked until the 30 days expires. For example, if the limit is reached on the 15th day of the month the number will remain blocked until the 16th day of the following month.
  • If the called party doesn’t want to wait until their number is unblocked they have 2 options:

1. Set up an Advance Pay account with Global Tel*Link so the offender can call their number only. If this option is chosen the called party will always have prepay for their calls.

2. Set up a V-Direct account with Value Added Communications so the offender can call any number on their allowed number list. If this option is chosen after the 30 day period expires the number will reset & the offender can call the number collect again.

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.
Divider image - horizontal green bar