Phone & Video Calls in North Carolina (NCDAC)

How phone calls work

North Carolina’s phone vendor is ViaPath (formerly GTL), and families use it through ConnectNetwork. Calls run about $0.10 per minute and are capped at 15 minutes per call. The per-minute rate is set in the vendor contract and is subject to change, so confirm the current rate with the vendor before funding an account.

There are two account types:

• An AdvancePay account is a prepaid balance tied to the phone number that receives calls; the cost of each call is drawn from that balance.
• A Phone Debit account is funded by the incarcerated person and drawn down as they place calls.

Set up either account at ConnectNetwork.com or by phone at 1-800-483-8314. ConnectNetwork lists the service fees that apply to deposits and account transactions; review those fees at the point of payment, as they are charged in addition to call costs.

Calls are placed on the housing unit’s wall phones, and the tablets described below can also place calls. The incarcerated person places the call; families cannot call in.

Tablets and messaging

NCDAC issues JPay-brand tablets on the ViaPath system. In addition to placing phone calls, the tablets handle electronic messaging and other media services, and they are the device through which scanned personal mail is delivered. (Incoming paper mail is handled by a separate vendor — see Mail & Packages.) Per-message and per-item prices are set by the vendor and change, so confirm them before sending. Tablet kiosks on the housing units are an alternative for account and messaging functions where a personal tablet is not in hand.

Video visits

North Carolina offers video visits through the GettingOut Visits app (ViaPath), used on a smartphone or a computer. Sessions can be on-demand or scheduled. The per-session cost is not published, so confirm the price in the GettingOut Visits app before booking. Because the available options and any prices change, confirm what is offered for the specific facility.

Sending money

Calls, tablet messaging, and the trust account that funds them are funded separately. For depositing to a phone or trust account — through ViaPath/ConnectNetwork and TouchPay — see Sending Money.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Staying in Touch.