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Phone calls, letters, books, and commissary — everything you need to support an incarcerated family member or friend. Select a facility to see available services and pricing.
Inmate phone calls in Virginia are handled through contracted telecommunications providers at each facility. Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) facilities use a centralized calling system, while local and regional jails contract independently with providers like Securus Technologies, Global Tel Link (GTL), and ICSolutions. Call rates vary significantly by facility — ranging from $0.04 to $0.21 per minute for local calls and up to $0.25 per minute for long-distance calls within the state.
To receive calls from an incarcerated person, your phone number must be on their approved calling list, and your account must have sufficient funds. Most facilities allow inmates to make outgoing calls only — they cannot receive incoming calls. Calls are typically limited to 15-30 minutes and are recorded (except attorney-client calls, which are privileged under Virginia Code § 8.01-581.17). MohnMatrix simplifies this process by managing your calling account across multiple providers, ensuring your account stays funded, and providing call history and usage tracking.
Every Virginia correctional facility allows inmates to send and receive mail, subject to security screening. Mail is inspected for contraband — including drugs (many facilities now use ion scanners), weapons, and prohibited content. General correspondence must be on plain white paper with no stickers, glitter, crayon, or other materials that could conceal contraband. Photographs are typically allowed in limited quantities (usually up to 5 per envelope) and must be no larger than 4x6 inches with no Polaroids.
Legal mail — correspondence from attorneys, courts, and government agencies — receives special handling. Under Virginia Department of Corrections Operating Procedure 803.1, legal mail must be opened in the presence of the inmate and may only be inspected for contraband, not read. MohnMatrix's letter service handles all formatting requirements automatically — your message is printed on facility-approved paper, packaged in a compliant envelope, and mailed directly to the facility with delivery tracking.
Books sent to Virginia inmates must come directly from an approved publisher, bookstore, or book program — most facilities do not accept books sent by individuals. Books must be paperback (hardcover books are not accepted at most facilities due to contraband concerns), new (used books are often rejected), and free of highlighting, writing, or markings. Publications with sexually explicit content, content promoting violence or criminal activity, or content that threatens institutional security are prohibited.
Virginia has several nonprofit book programs that send free books to inmates, including Books Behind Bars (Richmond), the Prison Book Program, and Appalachian Prison Book Project. MohnMatrix partners with approved vendors to fulfill book orders in compliance with each facility's specific rules. You select a book from our catalog, we verify it meets the facility's requirements, and it ships directly from the vendor with tracking.
Commissary (also called the canteen) is the facility store where inmates can purchase food, hygiene products, writing supplies, and other approved items using funds deposited into their account. Virginia facilities typically allow commissary orders once or twice per week, with spending limits that vary by facility — usually $50-$100 per week. Common items include ramen noodles, snack foods, coffee, hygiene products (soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste), over-the-counter medications, writing paper, envelopes, stamps, and small electronics like MP3 players or tablets (at select facilities).
Depositing funds into an inmate's commissary account has traditionally been expensive — third-party deposit services charge fees of $3.95 to $7.95 per transaction, plus additional fees for credit card payments. MohnMatrix charges a flat $2.99 processing fee regardless of deposit amount or payment method, saving families significant money over time. Funds are typically available within 24-48 hours of deposit, though processing times vary by facility and deposit method.
Virginia correctional facilities offer both in-person and video visitation. In-person visits at VADOC facilities typically require pre-registration on the approved visitor list, a valid government-issued ID, appropriate clothing (no open-toed shoes, no clothing similar to inmate uniforms), and compliance with facility-specific rules. Most VADOC facilities offer weekend visitation on a rotating schedule. Local jails have their own visitation policies — some have moved entirely to video visitation, while others maintain in-person visiting hours.
Video visits are available at most Virginia facilities through contracted providers. Rates for video visits range from $0.15 to $0.50 per minute depending on the facility and provider. Remote video visits (from your home computer or phone) became widely available during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been maintained at many facilities. MohnMatrix tracks visitation schedules for every Virginia facility and sends reminders for upcoming visits, helping families stay connected without missing visitation windows.