Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility Inmate Phone & Email

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility

Address:
115 Court Street
Tazewell, VA 24651

Phone:

276-582-0650

Phone Communication with an Inmate

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility uses an inmate phone service called Smart Communications.


Phone accounts with inmates can be set up using two methods:

PrePaid Collect (PPC) allows you to deposit money into an account which is tied to a specific telephone number... your cell phone number OR home telephone number.When you have funds on a PPC account, ANY inmate may call you at that number. Every time you accept a call, your account is debited.

PIN Debit Accounts (PIN Debit) belong to a specific inmate, and the inmate may use those funds to call ANY phone number that is approved by the facility, not just your number(s).
It could be another friend or anyone. 

If you want to allow any inmate to call your phone, you should set up a PrePaid Collect (PPC) account.
If you simply want to deposit funds so that an inmate can call anyone (other friends, etc.) then it is recommended that you get a PIN Debit (PIN) account.
More information on using Smart Communications to communicate by phone with an inmate.

Inmate Phone Calling Services - Third Party Vendors that work with Jails

There are dozens of third-party for profit companies working with Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility and other jails in Virginia to provide a way for inmates to phone friends and families at rates that are much less than what jails have been known to charge in the past.

The lower rates come at a cost to inmates though, as most of the profit from these calls pay for other benefits such as television and both indoor and outdoor recreational services from board games to sports and workout equipment.

To find out what phone service is being used for inmates housed in Tazewell County, call 276-582-0650, or if the phone service is not noted above, click on one of these companies below, each of which provide service for jails in the state of Virginia:



 

How do inmates at Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility make phone calls

Tazewell County inmates use a phone service called Smart Communications.

It's up to you what option the inmate whose phone calls you are paying for gets to use.
First option...  PrePaid Collect (PPC)
allows you to deposit money into an account which is tied to a specific telephone number... your cell phone number OR home telephone number.
When you have funds on a PPC account, ANY inmate may call you at that number. Every time you accept a call, your account is debited.
Second option...  PIN Debit Accounts (PIN Debit) belong to a specific inmate, and the inmate may use those funds to call ANY phone number that is approved by the facility, not just your number(s).
More information on using Smart Communications to communicate by phone with an inmate.

Can I call an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

No, you cannot call an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility. You can however call 276-582-0650, or search online to see if your inmate is in custody.

When an offender is first arrested and is being booked into jail, they are allowed one or two free phone calls to notify friends or family of their situation. If they are unable to notify someone at that point, they can try again, this time it will be a collect call that you will have to pay for if your phone service allows you to receive collect calls, once they are classified, processed, dressed and brought to their unit.

However, if the phone they call is a cell phone, which normally do not allow the receipt of collect calls, or your phone service does not allow for collect calls, then you will not be able to receive any phone calls from them until you purchase phone credits from the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility’s inmate calling system. 

The information for this is located above, at the top of this page. If that information is missing, it is because the facility recently changed companies and you can get the details by calling 276-582-0650.

Can I leave a message for an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

It is rare that a jail (or prison) will accept messages for an inmate.  Of all the thousands of jails in the United States there are probably less than one hundred that have a message line.
There are two exceptions to this rule:

1.    Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility will accept a message if there is a family emergency such as a death in the family. In a case like this the message will be conveyed by a jail chaplain or someone that is very high ranking in leadership. Inmates are already under a lot of stress and emotion, and the staff realizes this. It is for this reason they will be very careful how they pass the message along and being watchful afterwards.

2.    Many of the inmate phone systems used by jails allow for messages to be left for a small fee, usually less than $1.00 for a minute. It is done in the form of a voicemail from you. To see if Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility offers that service call the phone company at the top of this page or call the jail at 276-582-0650.

Can an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility call me?

Yes, an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility can call you using any of the following three ways:

1.    The inmate can call you ‘collect’ if your phone service accepts collect calls.

2.    The inmate can call you using a prepaid calling card that they can purchase from the jail’s inmate commissary. 

3.    The inmate can call you using credits or money that you or someone else purchases from the jail’s inmate phone service. This information can be found at the top of this page.

If you can’t find the jail’s phone service, it means that they may have recently changed it. Call the jail at 276-582-0650 to get the information you need.

Also, it is becoming standard that when an inmate is booked in jail, they must make a list of a limited number of people that they will allow to visit them and/or make phone calls to. If the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility requires this, then you will have to be on their list to receive phone calls.

Can an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility call their friends?

Yes. If a person is on the inmate’s approved phone contact list and the person accepts a collect call or the inmate has funds on their prepaid card or phone account, there are no restrictions based on whether the person and inmate are related or not.

The only exception to that is if you, as the person who funds their inmate phone account, puts restrictions on the account, so that the account can only be used to communicate with you and not other people. This allows you and not the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility to control who the inmate can speak with.

How do I accept collect calls from an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

When you receive a collect call from a jail, you will first hear a recording that the call is a collect call and coming from a jail and the person’s spoken name. You will then be asked to respond with a prompt or by voicing “yes” that you agree to accept the call. At that point you can either accept it or refuse it.

If you continue to get calls from the jail and don’t want to receive them anymore, you can contact your phone service and request that that number be blocked.

How much am I charged for accepting a collect call from Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

The cost of a collect call is the most expensive call that you can make (or take). In fact, the cost (per minute) for a collect call can exceed the cost of an international call.

Expect to pay about $1.00 to 1.50 per minute for a collect call. Compared to the cost of a call going through the inmate phone service that the jail contracts with, ‘collect calls’ can be five to ten times more expensive.

Who should I contact if I’m having difficulty receiving collect calls from the jail or prison?

If you are having difficulties receiving collect calls from the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility contact your own phone service.  Keep in mind that your land line service provider is not the same as your sell service provider.

How much does it cost for an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility to call me?

The federal government limits the cost of a phone call from a jail in the United States to $0.21 per minute. This is true whether the inmate is using a prepaid card or one of their friends or family members have contracted with a phone service that the jail recommends.

In general, most of these companies are honest and trustworthy.  The complete list can be found by scrolling down this page further.

There are independent companies that you can find and purchase phone time from that have fees as low as $0.05 to $0.10 per minute.  They usually accomplish this by selling you blocks of time that you may never use, or they have exorbitant fees in other areas. Be a smart consumer and study these offers carefully.

What times are inmates in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility allowed to make phone calls?

In general, inmates in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility can make phone calls between the time when breakfast ends until ‘lights out’ at the end of the evening. 

They will not allow phone calls to be made during meals, head counts or during shift changes.

Inmates who are workers (trustees), are on work release or have other responsibilities are also limited to when they can make phone calls, as their schedules take priority over personal time.

In general, other than during the scheduled events noted above, you can communicate by phone between the hours of 7:30AM and 10:00PM.

How often can inmates in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility make phone calls?

There is no limit to how often an inmate can make phone calls. They are limited only by how much money you are willing to give them to add phone time.

When and if there are limits, the limits never apply to phone time with their lawyer or legal matters related to their criminal court case.

There are some jails and prisons that limit how much an inmate can spend on phone calls, specifically inmates in the United States Bureau of Prisons, which limits federal prisoners to a $300 spend every month.

What is the inmate telephone service for the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

The inmate telephone service for this facility can be found at the top of this page. If the information is missing that means that the facility recently changed carriers and has not updated the information. In that case, call the jail at 276-582-0650 to get the answers to your questions.

What are the phone companies that facilitate phone calls with jails and prisons? 

Each of these phone companies provide similar services, and each cannot charge more than $0.021 per minute for domestic calls, however it is a very competitive industry due to the size of the market in which their customers are literally ‘captive’ in every sense of the word.

Amtel Phones
CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Correct Solutions Group
Correct Pay
Ctel
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
ICSolutions
Inmate Canteen
Inmate Sales
Lattice (nexus telephone)
NCIC
Paytel
Prodigy Solutions
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications
Tiger

Can an inmate text me from the phones in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility

No. Inmates in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility cannot text from the phones, but more and more jails are bringing in a text service for inmates that can work from kiosks and tablets in their units. For more information, check out this jail’s email and text page.

Can an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility buy calling cards?

Almost every jail gives inmates and their contacts to either purchase calling cards from commissary or buy phone credits and time online from a phone service. There remain a few jails that still only allow collect calls which is an unfair financial burden on inmates and their families.

To see if Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility allows the purchase of phone cards, check the information at the top of this page or call the jail at 276-582-0650.

What is the most that an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility can spend on phone calls?

There is no limit to how often an inmate can make phone calls. They are limited only by how much money you are willing to give them to add phone time.

There are some jails and prisons that limit how much an inmate can spend on phone calls, specifically inmates in the United States Bureau of Prisons, which limits federal prisoners to a $300 spend every month, however during the holiday months that number is increased to $400 per month.

Do I need a credit card to purchase phone credits for an inmate in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

Of the dozens of phone companies listed above that do business with the jails and prisons, there are only a few that have a way for you to use cash to purchase phone credits or phone time from them, usually in an ATM machine at check cashing outlets, and only a couple that have a way for you to fund an inmate phone account by mailing them a money order or cashier check.

If you don’t have a credit or debit card from a bank, you can always get a prepaid one at thousands of check cashing locations across the country.

Most jails also have a way for inmates to purchase prepaid phone cards from their commissary. These jails usually allow the inmate’s trust account to be funded with postal money orders, negating the need for having a credit or debit card altogether. 

Call 276-582-0650 to see if your Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility’s commissary has prepaid phone cards.

What is the difference between a phone call and a video call?

A video call is no different than a video visit. It allows both the inmate and their approved contacts to see each other during the conversation. This is becoming the preferred method for inmates and their friends and family members to communicate, as visual contact communicates on a different level than just the voice.

Jails and prisons that have the option of video calls and video visits also most likely have handheld tablets for inmate use. This gives the inmate the ability to communicate from their cell or a remote corner of the unit, which adds a level of privacy that a kiosk on the wall does not offer.

To see if Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility offers video calls, go to the top of this page or the Visitation page for information. If you can’t find it there, it may be because this facility recently changed companies, so you can call them at 276-582-0650 for details on how to arrange video calls.

Can inmates in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility use their cell phone?

No, they cannot use their cell phone. 

Inmates have their cell phones taken from them when they are initially booked into jail and will not get them back until they are released, provided the phone is/was not kept by the arresting agency as evidence in a criminal investigation.

Is it illegal for an inmate to use a cell phone in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

Cell phones are considered contraband and a security risk to a jail or prison. All communication: Written, spoken or video, other than an inmate’s communication with their lawyer, are monitored by the facility.

If an inmate is caught with a cell phone that has somehow been smuggled into a jail, the inmate will be charged with a crime. It is considered more serious than being caught with drugs, as a cell phone can be used to intimidate potential witnesses, arrange an escape or run a criminal enterprise outside of the jail’s walls.

Can I get in trouble for accepting a call from an inmate using a cell phone in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility?

It is unlikely that you can get charged with a crime for communicating with an inmate using a cell phone while incarcerated in the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility.

That said, if it is found that you knowingly were doing it, you could have your visitation or phone privileges suspended, or even permanently terminated by the jail.

If you were involved in the smuggling of the phone, that is a criminal offense, as it may be if you were adding ‘minutes’ onto a prepaid phone that you knew was smuggled into the jail and was being used for illegal purposes.

Communicating by Email with an Inmate

Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility uses a secure messaging service call Smart Communications so that inmates can communicate electronically with friends and family members on the outside.

SmartMail allows inmates to communicate safely and quickly with family and friends outside of the jail, prison or detention center. Inmates send and receive electronic letters using a safe and secure computer kiosk or tablet stationed in their institution. THE COST IS JUST $0.50 CENTS; cheaper than a postage stamp and envelope.

  • The message can be sent with postage paid and will be free to open and read for the recipient.
  • Or, the message can be sent collect / "COD" for free and will be paid for by the recipient.
  • To send or receive a message you MUST open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for inmates, prisoners, or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • They will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.
  • Sending messages with SmartMail is just like sending an e-mail, except it is contained within the SmartJailMail web site. Messages can be delivered instantly or may be held for review depending on the destination facility.
  • Electronic messages are delivered much more quickly than traditional paper mail to the correctional facility so you can stay connected.

More information on how to send and receive messages and photos with an inmate.

Important Tips About Jail Phone Calls

If you were unable to find the information you were looking for on this page, call Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility at 276-582-0650 and ask their policies on getting phone calls from your inmate.

Many jails and prisons are increasingly restricting the amount of time that an inmate can use the phone by placing daily and monthly limits, so try to pace yourself and not use up all your time at the beginning of the month.

Jails limit an inmate's phone time to certain hours of the day, so it is important you keep a regular schedule that works for both you and your inmate.

If your inmate does not call you during the time you both have scheduled, don't panic. There are often long lines for phone use. When a jail is on lockdown due to a fight or other security issue they do not allow the phones to be used.

Phones are the only way for an inmate to hear your voice and temporarily 'escape' the loneliness of incarceration, so use your time well. Arguing about anything will leave you both feeling empty and guilty, so avoid it at all costs.

All phone conversations are recorded. Whatever you talk about, can and will be used against your inmate in court. Never discuss their pending criminal case!

Also, be warned that some phone providers are collecting voice prints for a database which law enforcement agencies are building.

Go to the official jail website for additional information. 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Tazewell County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility follow these steps:

  • Select Virginia, then select Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with My Care Pack, also known as Access Securepak, for Tazewell County.
  • Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Tazewell County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Tazewell County.

Customer Service Contact
Call 800-956-2747 Monday - Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. 
Email: [email protected].


 

How to Schedule & Visit with an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility

To schedule a visit and meet with an inmate in Tazewell County, either at-the-jail or remotely by video, follow these instructions:

  • To schedule and visit with an inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Tazewell County inmate to visit with.
  • When you locate the Tazewell County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to schedule and visit with a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, visitation using a rented tablet, how often and when you can visit and more, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your visits will be monitored, recorded and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case as anything discussed can be used against them in court.


 

How to Set up a Phone Account and Receive Calls from an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility

To communicate by telephone with a Tazewell County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To receive phone calls from a Tazewell County inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Tazewell County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Tazewell County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility will then need to approve the request before you can receive phone calls.

For all the information you need to receive phone calls from a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, how often you can receive calls and when you can receive them and more, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: Your phone calls will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case. Anything discussed on the calls may be used in your inmate's court case.


 

How to Send and Receive Secure Text and Email Messages with an Inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility

To communicate by text or email with an Tazewell County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To send or receive a message you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Tazewell County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Tazewell County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to send and receive secure messages in the form of text or email with a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, renting your inmate a tablet, how often you can communicate and more, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your messages will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Tazewell County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility follow these steps:

  • Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Tazewell County.
  • After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
  • Choose Virginia, then choose Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility
  • Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
  • Select your inmate.
  • Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility, and then input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Tazewell County at any one time.
  • If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Southwest Virginia Regional Jail - Tazewell facility, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Tazewell County.


 

Photos of this facility
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