How Video Visitation Works
SmartInmate.com provides a two-way, real-time video visitationsystem which can be used to speak to your loved ones directly in their housing location within the jail, prison,or detention center. At some locations you may also use a lobby kiosk at the facility to visit for free when schedulinga local / on-site visit. Remote visits from home are billed per minutes scheduled or minutes used (actual cost andbilling model varies by location) and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute increments. To schedule a video visit you MUSTopen a SmartInmate.com account. This process is quick and easy, just follow these simple steps...
1. Sign Up
Creating an account is fast, simple, and completely free. We will ask youto choose a username and password to identify your account along with some basic contact information. Wewill send you an e-mail or text message to verify and activate your account. There is no cost to create an account andsearch for inmates, prisoners, or detainees to connect with. You may use the visitation kiosk in the lobby to signup, but you will need your phone to receive the activation code through text message or e-mail to activate youraccount.
2. Make Connections
Once you have established an account, you may search for inmates, prisoners,or detainees to connect with. Once you have located an individual that you would like to connect with, you cansend them a connection request. The inmate, prisoner, or detainee will need to approve the connection requestbefore you can schedule a visit.
3. Schedule a Visit
Once you are connected with an inmate, prisoner, or detainee at a location wherewe provide visitation service, you may use the website to schedule a visit. Follow the steps below to schedule eithera local / on-site visit, or a remote visit from home...
Local / On-Site Visits
Once you are connected with an inmate, prisoner, or detainee at a location where weprovide visitation kiosks in the lobby, you may use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit. Local /on-site visits are provided free of charge. To schedule a local / on-site visit:
- Log In to your account.
- Select "Visitation" from the services menu.
- Select the "Schedule a Video Visit" button.
- Select the inmate, prisoner, or detainee that you would like to visit with.
- Select the "Local Visit" option. There is no charge for a local visit.
- Select how long you would like to visit (options vary by facility, usually 15 or 30 minutes).
- Select the date that you would like to visit. Visits can be scheduled up to seven days in advance.
- Select the time that you would like to visit.
- Confirm the details of your visit and press the "Confirm and Schedule Visit" button.
Once scheduled you will see the details of the visit on your list of scheduled visitson the website. On the day of your visit, arrive at the local facility approximately ten minutes before your visit is scheduledto begin. About an hour before your visit we will send you a text message or e-mail reminder of your visit which willinclude a Visitation QuickCode. This QuickCode can be entered on the lobby kiosk to start your visit. You may alsolog in with your username and password if you do not receive a QuickCode or would like to use the lobby kiosk to scheduleanother visit.
After you begin your visit, the system will wait until the inmate, prisoner, ordetainee is also logged into their kiosk. Once both parties are present, the visit will begin. The visit will endautomatically when time runs out.
Please be on time for your visit. Visitsmay not run past the scheduled end time, so if your visit starts late you may not be able to use your fully scheduledamount of time! It is the visitor and inmate/prisoner/detainee's responsibility to be on time for visits. We are notresponsible if the inmate/prisoner/detainee does not join the visit on time and you are not able to use the fully scheduledamount of time.
Remote Visits From Home
Once you are connected with an inmate, prisoner, or detainee at a location where weprovide remote visitation service, you may use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit. Remote visitsfrom home are billed on a credits-per-minute model and the credit cost/minute varies per location, and are scheduled in15 or 30 minute blocks. To schedule a remote visit from home:
- Log In to your account.
- If you do not have any credits, purchase credits prior to scheduling your remote visit (credit cost/minute varies per location).
- Select "Visitation" from the services menu.
- Select the "Schedule a Video Visit" button.
- Select the inmate, prisoner, or detainee that you would like to visit with.
- Select the "Remote Visit" option. You will need to purchase service credits before scheduling a remote visit.
- Select how long you would like to visit (options vary by facility, usually 15 or 30 minutes).
- Select the date that you would like to visit. Visits can be scheduled up to seven days in advance.
- Select the time that you would like to visit.
- Confirm the details of your visit and press the "Confirm and Schedule Visit" button.
Once scheduled you will see the details of the visit on your list of scheduled visitson the website. On the day of your visit, log in to the website using your home computer or laptop. The 'Status' ofthe visit will change to 'READY - BEGIN VISIT' about ten minutes prior to your scheduled start time. Click the 'BEGINVISIT' option when it appears to begin your visit.
After you begin your visit, the system will wait until the inmate, prisoner, ordetainee is also logged into their kiosk. Once both parties are present, the visit will begin. The visit will endautomatically when time runs out.
Please note that for remote visits from home, you will use your computer laptop or a compatible mobile device. We suggest using Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Apple Safari for your visit. On a mobile device, you will need a strong and reliable internet connection or your visit may not work.
Sign up and start visiting...
