Sending Mail to Inmates in Virginia
All inmates incarcerated in Virginia prisons are allowed to send and receive correspondence from friends, family members, and attorneys/courts. Inmates are not limited in the number of letters they can send except in that they are responsible for the costs incurred with sending mail. Offenders who are indigent, or who cannot afford postage due to lack of funds, are provided one stamp per week to send a letter.
All incoming correspondence is opened and inspected, the contents (up to three pages allowed) are photocopied and the original contents of the mail are destroyed, the photo copy is then delivered to the offender. This helps to reduce and eliminate contraband/drugs from entering the facility. Inmates who are a security level 2 and above are restricted to receiving three 8.5" x 11" papers. The only exception to the photo-copy rule is official legal documents, government/court ordered records or documents in which the facility staff will use management's discretion to determine if they may be forwarded to the inmate or records office. Each item in the envelope will count as one photocopy. Items will not be manipulated by staff to fit all items onto a single page (news clippings, drawings etc.). Items that exceed the limitation of three 8.5" x 11"paper rule will be rejected/destroyed.
Offenders can also receive photos, however the three rule above will limit it to three photos only, unless you print/photocopy a page with multiple photos on a single page. Friends and family members of inmates may send secure messages, photographs and other additional attachments through JPAY a privately run service that is currently authorized to operate in the facility. You can visit the JPAY website here.
Inmates are not allowed to receive cash through the mail, stamps, paper, envelopes, pens or any other items. The offender must purchase stationary and stamps from the institutions commissary.
Always include your complete return address when sending
Inmate Name
ID Number (7 digits)
Facility Name
PO Box or Street address
City, State, zip code
How to Send Books and Magazines to Virginia Inmates
Inmates can also receive books, magazines and newspapers when sent directly from a reputable vendor like Amazon.com. Do not order publications for inmates who are being temporarily housed at a reception center, instead wait for the offender to be processed through reception and assigned a permanent facility. Publications may not contain nudity, promote violence, or describe the manufacture of weapons, drugs, or alcohol.
When checking out through Amazon.com, mail the order directly to the inmate's name and ID number at the inmate mailing address listed for the facility. Do not order more than three publications at a time. If you want to learn more about sending these items to an inmate read about it here. You can also read the Virginia Department of Corrections directive on inmate correspondence here.
Sending Money to Inmates in Virginia
Friends and family members can send money to inmates in a variety of ways. These funds are used to purchase items from the commissary that include postage, paper, pens, foods and snacks, clothing, various hygiene items and more. Inmates who owe fines or restitution may have a small percentage of incoming deposits automatically allocated towards these outstanding debts.
You can send funds to an inmate by:
- Walk In
- Internet
- Phone
Before you can send the funds you will need to know the following information:
- The Inmates Name
- The Inmates Identification Number
- The current location of the inmate
Deposit by Walk In
You can deposit funds to an inmate's account by visiting a MoneyGram location, this includes any CVS or Walmart. You will need to use the receive code 5189. The deposit may be made for a flat fee of $6.95 and can be made using cash or debit card.
Deposit by Internet
You can also deposit money to an inmate's account online through JPAY. Fee's range from $2.95-$9.95 depending on the amount you send. You can fund the transaction by using a debit or credit card.
Deposit Funds Over the Phone
Deposit funds to your Virginia inmate's trust fund account over the phone by calling JPAY at 1-800-574-5729. Fee's range from $3.95-$10.95 depending on the amount you send.
Deposit Funds Through the Mail
You can also send funds to an inmate through the mail by obtaining a postal money order from any US Post Office. Make the money order payable to "JPAY" and include the inmate's name and ID number in the memo field. You will need to print and fill out a Virginia inmate money order deposit form and send it, in addition to the money order to:
JPAY
P.O. Box 278170
Miramar, FL 33027
For more information on sending funds to an inmate, read our guide here.
Virginia Inmate Phone Calls
Inmates incarcerated in Virginia prisons are allowed to make outgoing phone calls. The inmate calls can be made collect, or through a pre-pay service provided by Global Tel*Link. All calls are limited to twenty minutes in duration, and may be recorded and monitored. Three way calling, and call forwarding are prohibited and may result in the phone call being dropped. Offenders are limited to 15 numbers on their call list. Pre-paid calls offer a slight savings over collect calls.
The phone service provider for Virginia inmates is GTL Offender Connect. You can setup your account by visiting their website or over the phone by calling 1-800-483-8314. If a cell phone is your only phone the only way you will be able to receive calls from your inmate is by setting up a pre-paid account (since cell phones do not accept collect calls).
GTL will charge you a fee for each call, plus a rate per minute. You may be able to drastically reduce your inmate phone bill by setting up your account with a number local to the facility. Learn more about how you can save money on your inmate phone calls.