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schedule a visit

Three Types of Video Visits

At Facility

These visits are when you go to your facility and sit at a video visit station in the lobby. Your loved one or friend will be on a video visit station in their pod.

From Computer

At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own personal computers in the comfort of their own homes. You will need the following equipment to do a video visit from home:

• A computer.
• A webcam and a microphone, or a computer with these components built in (most laptops have these built in).
• An internet browser. Internet browsers Safari 4 and higher, or Firefox 7 and higher, are strongly recommended. Using other browsers may not load the page appropriately in order to begin your visit. We are not responsible for technical problems or issues that may arise from using an unsupported browser.
• For the best visit experience you should use headphones, but they are not required.
• High speed internet (DSL or Cable) connection (dial up and satellite are not supported).

From Android Device

Video visits go mobile with our Visit Now Android app. At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own Android devices.

How to Schedule a Visit

Free video visit policy.

Free visits are a benefit for the inmate and are credited to the  inmate’s account. Therefore the inmate is the only one who  can book a free visit . This allows the inmate at your facility full control of whom they want to use their free visit with. There are also advanced scheduling rules that control the timeframe that a free visit can be booked. These rules vary by facility. If an inmate books a visit outside this timeframe, they will not be allowed to use a free visit.

• Book the visit with their Friends & Family.
• Suggest a visit with their Friends & Family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time they confirm the suggested time. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted.
• Confirm a suggested visit from their friends and family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time the inmate confirms the visit. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted from their free visit allowance.

The only way Friends & Family can use a free visit is by suggesting a visit with the inmate. If the inmate has a free visit available and there are no prepaid funds on the Friends & Family account at the time the inmate confirms, the free visit will be deducted from inmate’s account.

What Services Are Available At My Facility?

Select your facility below, available services:.

• Phone & Voicemail
• Video Visit at Facility
• Video Visit from Home

• Photo Sharing
• Tablets Your inmate has access to tablets. Make a deposit to their account so they have more ways to be productive, and you have more ways to stay connected.
• Verification Required

What is Telmate Verified?

If you are asked to be Telmate Verified it means your facility requires verification of your identity prior to acceptance of inmates' calls. The purpose of verification is to ensure inmates are not connecting with inappropriate people on the outside. The verification process is simple and can be completed before or after creating an account.

To be verified, you can make a deposit , schedule a visit or download and complete the Telmate Verified form .

Did you know…

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, inmates who

maintain strong relationships

with friends and family, greatly reduce their risk of recidivism.

Terms of Use governing use of GettingOut services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18.

To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18.

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Video Visitation Center

The Video Visitation Center for all inmates is located at 14500 49 th  Street North in the Pinellas County Jail Administration Support Building. All visitors and their guests (including minors) must schedule visits no later than midnight the prior day. Same-day visits will not be accommodated. Reservations to visit inmates will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations will be accepted up to one week in advance. Reservations are taken 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online.   Click here to schedule a visit .  For assistance using the website, please contact 727-464-6842 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., 7 days a week.

Three people may visit: one adult with two children – or – two adults with one child. No more than two adult visitors at one time.

You must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid photo ID to make an appointment. All adult visitors must present a valid photo identification card (State-issued ID/Driver License/Passport/Military ID) for admittance to the Video Visitation Center. Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted without an adult and must remain with an adult throughout the visit.

Public Video Visitation Hours:

All visits will be 40 minutes long.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please read the following information to avoid delays or cancellation of visitation.

The following criteria  MUST  be met to ensure safety, security, and a pleasant visitation period for all concerned:

• All adult visitors must present a valid photo identification card (State-issued ID/Driver License/Passport/Military ID) for admittance to the Video Visitation Center.
• No weapons of any kind.
• Drugs, alcohol, food, drink, tobacco, or vape products are  NOT  allowed.
• All electronic devices, including cell phones and tablets, must be turned off or visits will be terminated.
• No revealing or offensive apparel. No clothing which unduly exposes the shoulders, chest, back, stomach, midriff, or upper thigh. This includes but is not limited to: halter tops, strapless tops, tube tops, spaghetti strap tops, and bathing suits. The upper thigh should not be visible above an appropriate mid-thigh level (this includes shorts, rips in jeans, skirts, dresses, etc.)
• No transparent or revealing clothing which is intended to excessively accent the body will be permitted. (Nothing excessively form fitting will be permitted).
• Appropriate undergarments are required but should not be visible.
• Any shirt, jacket, hat, or other article of clothing with a picture or language that maybe considered profane or offensive, or is considered a Security Threat Group (STG) or gang related, will not be allowed.
• Some type of footwear must be worn in the Visitation Center.
• No standing or posing during the visit.
• Visit only the inmate you signed up for.
• Do not leave trash, etc. in the visiting booths or visitation area.
• Do not damage or deface visiting booths or phones.  Immediate termination of visit will occur. Future visits may be restricted or denied .
• Conduct by any visitor, including children, that is disruptive or disrespectful in any manner will not be tolerated. The visit will be canceled at any time due to disrespectful conduct if it is deemed necessary by the supervisor or member in charge.

These guidelines, as well as the posted rules and regulations, will be strictly enforced.

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Visitation Center now offers Remote Video Visitation. Visitors will have the option to visit remotely from a computer or smart device in lieu of reporting to the Visitation Center. Remote visiting hours will coincide with the on-site visiting hours. To conduct video visitations remotely, your computer must be equipped with a camera and microphone. The use of headphones or ear buds is highly recommended. Due to limited available time slots, visitors are encouraged to attend their scheduled visits. Any visitor who fails to show up for their assigned visit or cancels their visit on the same day, more than one time, will be subject to have their remote visit privileges suspended for 30 days for each future “no show” or “same day cancelation.” 

Prior to visiting remotely, visitors must:

• Established visitors do not need to create a new account.
• Simply log into the visitor profile and launch the visit from any internet browser.

Check in within 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time. Failure to do so will result in the visit being cancelled. Visitor must have their registered form of ID ready for verification.

DESKTOP VERSION:

1. Run Internet Visit Tester to check microphone, camera, and bandwidth.

2. Click Play button next to Start Visit .

MOBILE VERSION:

1.  Run Video Visit Tester to check microphone, camera, and bandwidth.

2. Click Launch Video .

Improper conduct that could compromise the security or orderly operation of the jail facility is not allowed and could result in the visit being terminated. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Exposure of sexual organs (to include female breasts).
• Obvious impairment caused by drugs or alcohol, or use of either, during the visit.
• Video conferencing with a third party on a tablet or cellphone.
• Taking photographs or videos of inmates.
• Posing or positioning the camera to show chest level or below will not be permitted.
• Non-compliance with dress code (see above for reference).
• Any action deemed inappropriate by the visitation center staff.

A visitor who demonstrates inappropriate or disruptive conduct may be restricted, or permanently banned, from any future visitation.

PROFESSIONAL VISITOR INFORMATION

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office shall allow professional visitors (attorneys) to sign in and conduct video visitations remotely. If you are a professional visitor and would like to request access to conduct video visitations remotely, please follow the directions here,  How To Create A Professional Visitor Account For Video Visitation.pdf , to create an account. After your account has been created and you have received a verification that your account has been approved, please view the document here,  How To Schedule A Professional Visit In Video Visitation.pdf , to schedule a video visitation session. Once your account has been identified as professional in our video visitation system, your sessions will not be monitored or recorded. Please note that to conduct video visitations remotely, your computer must be equipped with a camera and microphone. The use of headphones or ear buds is highly recommended.

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Visiting Inmates

All visitors must register and schedule visits in the visitation program. https://leecountyfl.gtlvisitme.com/app.

On visitation day, visitors will be required to check in at the kiosk and confirm their identification at the visitation desk, 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visitation time. Each inmate will be allowed up to two visitors per visitation session. Names will be checked against the inmate’s visitation list. A valid photo identification that displays the date of birth, is required to be presented to the Clerk. If no identification is displayed, the visitor will not be permitted to visit. Juveniles must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the visit. Remote visitations can still be conducted via www.gtlvisitme.com

Inmate Visitation

All visitations for the Jail, Core and Community Program Units (CPU’s) are conducted through a video monitor. Each inmate will be allowed two (2) visitations per week for one (1) hour each. Up to two (2) visitors from the Inmate’s Authorized Visitation List will be allowed to visit with the inmate; children under one year of age will not be included in the count.

You Must Be an Approved Visitor

All inmates are given a packet that contains an INMATE VISITATION LIST. The inmate can then place up to five (5) names of family members/friends that they want to visit with. Children under the age of one year DO NOT need to be placed on this list. They also do not count as one of the visitors. The inmate can only update their visitation list every four (4) months from the day they sign up. Any add-ons or removals constitutes as an update. Visitors on the list will be the only persons allowed to visit the inmate with the exception of Clergy, Attorney, and infants under the age of one year. Our hours of operations are open Monday-Sunday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Where Do You Go to Visit an Inmate?

All visits for inmates at the Lee County Corrections facilities (Main Jail, Core and CPU’s) are conducted at the Visitation facility located on the Ortiz site:

2501 Ortiz Ave Fort Myers, FL 33905 (239) 258-3773

Corrections facilities, when you enter the corrections facillity you must:.

• Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled visitation time
• Visitors 16 years of age and older must present a Photo ID (Drivers License, Identification Card, Passport, Military ID, or Prison ID) with a D.O.B.
• Have your name checked against that authorized visitation list
• Abide by the Correction Visitor Regulations below

Violation of Visitation Rules: 

Visitors who fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the Visitation Facility will be escorted from the facility and denied the rest of the visitation. The visitor may be suspended from visitation or banned depending on the severity of the offense. An email will be sent to the Facility Commander detailing the violation and the action taken. The decision for future visitation will be at the discretion of the Correction Bureau Commander and/or designee.

Visitor Regulations:

If you bring any of these items with you on visitation, they will be confiscated and you could face prosecution.

If an inmate is going to appear in court and you wish to bring him/her clothes for trial, you can have the inmate’s Attorney or Public Defender call the Court Operations Office at (239) 258-3400 to make the necessary arrangements. Arrangements with the Court Operations Unit will not be made directly with the family. Visitors are not permitted to introduce cell phones, cigarettes, lighters, cameras, radios, record or tape players, gifts, purses, baby bags, water bottles, food or drinks, etc. into the visitation area. Any of these items thought to have been used during the visitation, will be subject to confiscation. A visitor may be searched at any time if there is reason to believe that they may be in possession of contraband. Contraband is any item not provided to the inmate by the Correction Facility or not purchased by the inmate through the Corrections commissary. You cannot bring the inmate anything else. Visitors wearing attire that is too brief or revealing will not be permitted to visit. Even bringing the following items to an inmate is prohibited: Books, Enveloped letters, Battery- or electronically-operated cards, Candy, Care packages, Clothing, Envelopes, Food, Glitter, Hygiene items, Magazines, Medication, Polaroid pictures, Snacks, Stamps, Stickers, Writing paper, etc. If you bring any of these items with you on visitation, they will be confiscated and you could face prosecution. If an inmate is going to appear in court and you wish to bring him/her clothes for trial, you can have the inmate’s Attorney or Public Defender call the Court Operations Office at (239) 258-3400 to make the necessary arrangements. Arrangements with the Court Operations Unit will not be made directly with the family.

Clergy Visits

Clergy visits must be scheduled through the Chaplain’s Office at (239) 477-1772.

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•     Phone Directory
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• 14750 Six Mile Cypress, Fort Myers, FL 33912
• 2115 Martin Luther King Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901

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Inmate Visitation Applications

Connect with an inmate.

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If you are planning on visiting an inmate in prison, but not sure where to start, in most cases it begins with a Visitation Application. We have all the available applications links directly from the State and Federal websites. Most you can just download and then print from your computer. 

Once you have filled them out, you will need to either mail them to the inmate, or the address specified within the application. Be sure you read over the entire visitor's application, and fill it out legibly and accurately.  Do not apply if you are afraid you might have an outstanding warrant. Definitely don't lie on the application, as it can result in you being denied visitation or worse.  

Here are some of the reasons you might be denied visitation with an inmate: •    You have recently served time in a correctional facility •    You are on probation •    You are on bond awaiting a pending court case •    You have a protective order against you or the inmate •    You have an outstanding warrant •    You are a victim of the offender •    You have been deemed a safety or security risk

After sending in your Application you can expect to wait up to four weeks for it to be reviewed.  The Department of Corrections is running these through a government background check.  Don't expect a response from the DOC either. Most institutions leave it up to the inmate to inform all applicants if they have been approved or denied visitation, so you won't be getting a letter in the mail from the facility. Stay in contact with the inmate through the phone or through letters to learn your status.

Inmate visitor applications by state The following applications are mostly available in .pdf format, which will require a pdf reader to view.

Federal Prisons Inmate visitation application

• An inmate is given a  Visitor Information Form  when he/she arrives at a new facility.
• Inmate completes their portion of the form and mails a copy to each potential visitor.
• Potential visitor sends the completed form back to the inmate's address (listed on the form).
• They may request more background information and possibly contact other law enforcement agencies or the NCIC 
• The inmate is told when a person is not approved to visit and it is the inmate's responsibility to notify that person.

Alabama Alaska (not available online must request from an inmate) Arizona online application Arkansas online procedures   California Guidelines Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida   Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana   Maine Maryland (not available online must request from an inmate) Massachusetts

• Boston Pre-Release Center Visiting Procedure
• Bridgewater State Hospital Visitor Application and Procedures
• Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Correctional Unit Visiting Procedure
• MASAC at Plymouth Civil Commitment Visiting Procedure
• MASAC at Plymouth State Inmate Visiting Procedure
• Massachusetts Treatment Center Visiting Procedure
• MCI-Cedar Junction Visiting Procedure
• MCI-Concord and Northeastern Correctional Center Visiting Procedure
• MCI-Framingham Visiting Procedure
• MCI-Norfolk Visiting Procedure
• MCI-Shirley Medium Visiting Procedure 
• MCI-Shirley Minimum Visiting Procedure 
• North Central Correc Old Colony Correctional Visiting Procedure 
• Pondville Correctional Center Visiting Procedure 
• South Middlesex Correctional Center Visiting Procedure
• Souza Baranowski Correctional Center Visiting Procedure 

Michigan Minnesota Mississippi (not available online must request from an inmate) Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey (inmate must request you be added to visitation, mail a letter with your date of birth and include your address on your photo ID) New Mexico New York (no application required) North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania (inmate needs to fill out the form) Rhode Island South Carolina (visitation form 19-127, must be requested from the inmate) South Dakota Tennessee Texas (inmates must request you be added to their visitation list, send them a letter with your date of birth and include your address) Utah Vermont (inmate must fill out the form, this is a just sample to show you what information you should mail them) Virginia  -  paper visitor applications are no longer accepted.  All applications must be completed online. Washington West Virginia

• Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Denmar Correctional Center and Jail
• Eastern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Huttonsville Correctional Center and Jail/Huttonsville Work Camp
• Lakin Correctional Center and Jail
• Martinsburg Correctional Center and Jail
• McDowell County Corrections/Stevens Correctional Center   [External Site]
• Mount Olive Correctional Complex and Jail/Slayton Work Camp
• North Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Northern Correctional Facility
• Northern Regional Jail
• Ohio County Correctional Center and Jail
• Potomac Highlands Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Pruntytown Correctional Center and Jail
• Saint Marys Correctional Center and Jail
• Salem Correctional Center and Jail
• South Central Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Southern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Southwestern Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Tygart Valley Regional Jail and Correctional Facility
• Western Regional Jail and Correctional Facility

Wisconsin - All persons who wish to visit an inmate must be listed on the inmate's approved visitors list, per  Administrative Code Ch. 309.08 .  A completed DOC-21AA Visitor Questionnaire must be submitted for all prospective visitors, including minor children.  It is the inmate's responsibility to obtain and mail the DOC-21AA to a prospective visitor.  Proposed visitors must return the completed form to the institution for processing.  If approved, inmates will be notified that a visitor has been added to their visiting list.  Applicants may be denied approval for visitation on a number of grounds, which are specified in state administrative code.  Applicants who are denied approval will receive a written notice. Wyoming

Prison Fellowship

How to Prepare for a Prison Visit

Visiting a family member in prison presents its own bundle of challenges. Just knowing what to expect can reduce stress. Being prepared can raise the bar for positive visitation experiences, possibly snowballing into more visits, and hopefully, improved relationships.

Since studies point to lower recidivism rates for prisoners who stay connected to supportive family members, positive prison visits end up benefiting everyone: prisoners, families, and the community. For the 1.5 million children and youth who have at least one incarcerated parent, visiting their parent(s) can strengthen family bonds.

To be prepared, consider the following information the first time visiting someone in prison. Please keep in mind that rules vary among prisons.

BEFORE VISITING PRISON

Be approved.

Be sure your name is on the prisoner's pre-approved visiting list for people age 18 and older. Information on the form allows officials to do background checks to approve or deny visitation. Most facilities require this form, but verify with the facility to be sure. Some facilities also require an authorization form for children.

Check the facility's visitation hours, which are typically weekends and holidays, and possibly additional days depending on the facility and security level. Visit the Federal Bureau of Prisons'  website to see a list of federal prisons; for state or private prisons, directly contact the facility.

BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU CAN BRING

Check the facility's policy for what is allowed in the visiting room. Generally, visitors can only bring in identification (such as a driver's license), a single car key, eyeglasses, small bills, or change for vending machines (if applicable) in visitation rooms.

No medications, tobacco products, or any illegal substances are allowed. Cell phones or other electronic devices are also not permitted.

Other restrictions might include rules about bringing in food or gifts.

DURING THE PRISON VISIT

Dress appropriately.

Wear appropriate clothing. Avoid provocative, revealing items and anything similar to prison clothing such as khaki or green military-type. Visitors may be denied access if dress code policies are violated.

ARRIVE EARLY

Give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes to fill out paperwork. Be prepared to be searched before being admitted into the visiting room. Searches may include a pat down by an officer of the same gender and a pass through a metal detector. All visitors must be searched, including children.

Before bringing children, consider visiting alone first so you can explain what to expect.

BE RESPECTFUL

Show courtesy to all correctional staff, other visitors, and prisoners to ensure a positive visiting experience for everyone.

SHOW AFFECTION IN MODERATION

Handshakes, hugs, and affection (in good taste) are usually allowed at the beginning and end of a visit.

To keep the visiting area orderly and to prevent the distribution of contraband, security staff may limit physical contact.

SUPERVISE CHILDREN

Be aware of you and your children's behavior to avoid the risk of losing visiting privileges.

BE A GOOD LISTENER

Extend a listening ear to the prisoner you are visiting. A little understanding can go a long way.

AFTER THE PRISON VISIT

Mail a letter to the prisoner to continue building the relationship. Be sure to check with the facility first to ensure permission.

Encourage the prisoner to get involved in prison programs to cope with prison life and to take reentry classes for a successful reentry plan. Prison Fellowship ® offers several in-prison programs —ranging from faith-based seminars to life-skills classes—in prisons across the country.

GET INVOLVED

Explore involvement in a local church that provides support for prisoners, former prisoners, and their families. Check out Prison Fellowship's efforts in reentry , church and community engagement, and Angel Tree ® .

Consider involvement in Celebrate Recovery , a nationwide Christ-centered recovery program that is forward-looking and emphasizes personal responsibility and spiritual growth.

Or check out an online support group such as DailyStrenth that is dedicated to families impacted by incarceration, or the National Association for Christian Recovery that provides resources and free online training in topics including 12-step recovery, parenting addicted children, recovering from childhood trauma, etc.

Finally, be a part of Prison Fellowship's Second Prison Project™ . Find out how you can help your loved one and others with reentry and adjusting to life with a criminal record.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Visiting loved ones in prison can lead to stronger relationships and help beat the odds of someone returning to prison. And that's definitely raising the bar for good.

Other helpful websites include Assisting Families of Inmates and PrisonPro.com .

JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

Recommended links.

• Ways to Donate
• Inspirational Stories
• Angel Tree Program
• Prison Fellowship Academy
• Justice Reform
• For Families & Friends of Prisoners
• For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
• Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

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Federal Bureau of Prisons

General visiting information.

Make sure your visit will be a success by carefully following these four steps.

Discover or confirm the whereabouts of the inmate you would like to visit.

Before you can visit you must be placed on the inmate's approved visiting list.

Review all visiting rules, regulations, and procedures before your visit.

Find out when you can visit and get directions to the facility.

Locate the inmate

Sometimes an inmate may be moved to a different facility so that they can benefit from unique programs offered at that location. They might also be moved to receive treatment for a medical condition or for security concerns. Therefore, the first step in planning your visit should be to determine where the inmate is currently housed.

Please verify you are a human by entering the words you see in the textbox below.

To visit, you must be pre-approved.

You can only visit an inmate if they have placed you on their visiting list and you have been cleared by the BOP.

• An inmate is given a Visitor Information Form when he/she arrives at a new facility.
• Inmate completes their portion of the form and mails a copy to each potential visitor.
• Potential visitor completes all remaining form fields.
• Potential visitor sends the completed form back to the inmate's address (listed on the form).
• We may request more background information and possibly contact other law enforcement agencies or the NCIC
• The inmate is told when a person is not approved to visit and it is the inmate's responsibility to notify that person.

Who can an inmate add to their visiting list?

• Step-parent(s)
• Foster parent(s)
• Grandparents
• No more than 10 friends/associates
• Foreign officials
• Members of religious groups including clergy
• Members of civic groups
• Employers (former or prospective)
• Parole advisors

In certain circumstances such as when an inmate first enters prison or is transferred to a new prison, a visiting list might not exist yet. In this case, immediate family members who can be verified by the information contained in the inmate's Pre-Sentence Report, may be allowed to visit. However, if there is little or no information available about a person, visiting may be denied. You should always call the prison ahead of time to ensure your visit will be permitted.

Be Prepared

You should be familiar with all visiting rules, regulations, and procedures before your visit.

The following clothing items are generally not permitted but please consult the visiting policy for the specific facility as to what attire and items are permitted in the visiting room:

• revealing shorts
• halter tops
• bathing suits
• see-through garments of any type
• low-cut blouses or dresses
• backless tops
• hats or caps
• sleeveless garments
• skirts two inches or more above the knee
• dresses or skirts with a high-cut split in the back, front, or side
• clothing that looks like inmate clothing (khaki or green military-type clothing)

Plan your trip

• the prison location
• the prison type
• inmate visiting needs
• availability of visiting space

The inmate you plan to visit should tell you what the visiting schedule is for that prison; however, if you have any questions please contact that particular facility .

General Visiting Hours

Camp general visiting hours, fsl general visiting hours.

Visit an inmate

You can visit someone in jail by video .

No in-person visits by friends and family are allowed at this time.

In-person visits are allowed by attorneys and police 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Video visits

• Visits can last up to 20 minutes.
• Visits cost $4.00 per 20 minutes.
• Inmates can have visitors once a day and up to 3 times a week.
• Download the free Securus Visitation app in the App Store or Google Play. Reach Securus tech support at 1-877-578-3658.
• Use any device with a high-speed internet connection.
• Create an account at Securus Technologies and request access to visit at the Hennepin County jail.
• You must schedule a visit 24 hours in advance.
• Jail staff reviews the request and approves appropriate visitors.
• Once approved, you can schedule visits online.

Hours for video visits

Monday – friday.

• 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• 7 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday

• 10:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Primary Election Results

Find information about the Primary Election on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

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In This Section

• Attorney Visits
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• Visitor Dress Code
• Visitation Preparation

Visitation Schedule

• Visit Day Check In
• Visitor Eligibility
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Incarcerated individuals and approved visitors are eligible for contactless visits regardless of vaccination status.  Visitors must first register as an approved visitor by calling 412-350-2413 , 412-350-2035 or 412-350-2036 , or by visiting the jail lobby. Previously registered approved visitors will not need to re-register unless they see no inmate listed when they log in on the Inmate Visitation Scheduling website . Once approved, visitors must sign up for social visits online .

Visits must be scheduled a minimum of two days in advance.  All visitors need to be checked-in for their visit in the visit lobby at least 15 minutes before their visits. All v isiting schedules are subject to change or cancellation.

Pods 1C and 4A have incarcerated individuals isolated for COVID-19 protocol. Individuals cleared for work detail and assigned to those pods, and individuals who have completed isolation status on those pods may receive visitors. Visitors must call the morning of the assigned visitation day to schedule a visit rather than scheduling online.  Incarcerated individuals housed on 8E and 1C will be approved for visitation on a case-by-case basis following previously outlined guidelines. A maximum of two individuals will be permitted to visit at a time.  Incarcerated individuals from the following pods will need to visit on Level 1 and must be preapproved: 5B, 5MC, 5MD. Any visits on Level 1 will be a maximum of two individuals using alternating visitation booths.

Visits canceled due to incarcerated individual movement, facility-wide lockdown or emergency situations will have to be rescheduled. Prior to arrival, visitors should call 412-350-2035 or 412-350-2036 to ensure their visit has not been canceled for any of these reasons.

Requests to be placed on visiting lists for multiple inmates can be made by contacting Chief Deputy Warden Jason Beasom at 412-350-2027. 

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Crime, law & justice

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Visit an incarcerated person

Service overview.

Incarcerated people can receive visitors in prison for one hour each week. Walk-ins are not permitted. You must schedule your visit at least 48 hours in advance.

If you are visiting an incarcerated person, you can bring an outfit for them to attend court in .

Philadelphia prison facilities are operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) .

Who can visit an incarcerated person

Friends and family members can visit incarcerated people.

Children that are six months and older can visit with a parent or guardian. The adult must provide proof of custody or a birth certificate. Children cannot visit during school hours.

No more than one adult and one child can visit with a person at one time.

Who can’t visit an incarcerated person

You cannot visit someone in jail or prison at a PDP facility if you:

• Are on probation, parole, or conditional release including furlough and work release.
• Were incarcerated in any Philadelphia Department of Prisons facility in the last six months.
• Are believed to have a potential detrimental effect on the person you are visiting, or pose a security threat to the facility.
• Have had your visiting privileges suspended.

If you have been denied a visit because of one of the reasons above, you can request special permission from the facility’s warden.

Requirements

Visitors must follow a dress code. You may not wear:

• Plain white t-shirts.
• Clothing that closely resembles an incarcerated person’s uniform (orange jumpsuits, blue scrub tops).
• Hoodies or jackets with hoods.
• Hot pants or short-shorts. (Bermuda shorts are permissible.)
• Torn jeans.
• Revealing clothing or see-through fabric anywhere on the torso.
• Mini-skirts or dresses (must be within two inches of the knee).
• Low-rise pants or skirts that reveal undergarments.
• Clothing with offensive or provocative language.
• Clothing with writing across the seat of pants or skirt.
• Open-toe shoes.

Visitors must wear:

• Shirts with sleeves.

If you’re wearing leggings or stretch pants, your top must cover your hips when you raise your arms above your head.

Where and when

Appointments for visits are first-come, first-served. You must make your appointment between 48 hours and seven days in advance.

Saturday visits are reserved for designated facility populations. Holiday visits are only allowed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Visitors must be at the facility at least ten minutes before the scheduled visit.

Friends and family members can collect personal effects from the cashier during the hours listed below. The cashier’s office is open 24 hours a day at release.

Visiting hours by facility

* To visit an incarcerated person at the Detention Center (DC), Alternative & Special Detention Center (ASD), or ASD MOD III, go to the Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF) visiting lobby.

In the visiting area, you can store your belongings in a locker. You must have quarters for the lockers. There is no change machine in the waiting room.

They may ask you to loosen undergarments to perform the search. You also need to go through a metal detector.

If you feel that a search was improper, ask to speak to a supervisor or contact the Office of Community Justice Outreach (CJO) at (215) 685-8909 or (215) 685-7288 .

If the person you are visiting doesn’t want to see you, you will not be allowed to visit them. The PDP will not force anyone to meet a visitor if they don’t want to.

Related content

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• Contact an incarcerated person by mail
• Send clothes to an incarcerated person
• Send funds to an incarcerated person

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Tihar Jail Visit: Delhi CM's Family and Aide Express Solidarity

Arvind kejriwal's wife and a cabinet minister visited him in tihar jail. kejriwal inquired about the well-being of schoolchildren and the supply of medicines to clinics, despite his own condition. previously, his wife's request to meet him was denied but later granted. punjab chief minister bhagwant mann is expected to visit kejriwal on tuesday..

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita and cabinet minister Atishi met him in Tihar jail on Monday.

Sunita Kejriwal, whose application to meet her husband was earlier denied by the Tihar jail administration, was granted permission for the meeting on Monday, according to the AAP. After the meeting, Atishi told reporters that upon being asked about his well-being, Kejriwal instead asked if schoolchildren were getting books and whether medicines were being supplied to mohalla clinics.

On Sunday, the AAP had said that the jail authorities had denied her permission to meet the chief minister, a charge refuted by the prison authorities.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will meet Kejriwal on Tuesday.

SC asks AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan to appear before Enforcement Directorate on Apr 18 in connection with money laundering case.

Arvind kejriwal being treated like hardcore criminal; there was glass separating us: punjab cm mann after meeting aap chief in jail., sc refuses to entertain anticipatory bail plea of aap mla amanatullah khan in money laundering case., sc denies anticipatory bail to aap mla amanatullah khan, directs him to appear before ed, vigilance dept issues notice to health min's osd; aap dispensation hits back at lg office.

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Inside the Penal Colonies: a Glimpse at Life for Political Prisoners Swept Up in Russia's Crackdowns

Memorial, russia’s oldest and most prominent human rights organization, counted 558 political prisoners in the country as of april — more than three times the figure than in 2018, when it listed 183., by dasha litvinova • published june 3, 2023 • updated on june 3, 2023 at 4:06 am.

When Alexei Navalny turns 47 on Sunday, he'll wake up in a bare concrete cell with hardly any natural light.

He won't be able to see or talk to any of his loved ones. Phone calls and visits are banned for those in “punishment isolation” cells, a 2-by-3-meter (6 1/2-by-10-foot) space. Guards usually blast patriotic songs and speeches by President Vladimir Putin at him.

“Guess who is the champion of listening to Putin’s speeches? Who listens to them for hours and falls asleep to them?” Navalny said recently in a typically sardonic social media post via his attorneys from Penal Colony No. 6 in the Vladimir region east of Moscow.

He is serving a nine-year term due to end in 2030 on charges widely seen as trumped up, and is facing another trial on new charges that could keep him locked up for another two decades. Rallies have been called for Sunday in Russia to support him.

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Navalny has become Russia’s most famous political prisoner — and not just because of his prominence as Putin's fiercest political foe, his poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin, and his being the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary.

He has chronicled his arbitrary placement in isolation, where he has spent almost six months. He's on a meager prison diet, restricted on how much time he can spend writing letters and forced at times to live with a cellmate with poor personal hygiene, making life even more miserable.

Most of the attention goes to Navalny and other high-profile figures like Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced last month to 25 years on treason charges. But there's a growing number of less-famous prisoners who are serving time in similarly harsh conditions.

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Memorial, Russia’s oldest and most prominent human rights organization and a 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, counted 558 political prisoners in the country as of April — more than three times the figure than in 2018, when it listed 183.

The Soviet Union's far-flung gulag system of prison camps provided inmate labor to develop industries such as mining and logging. While conditions vary among modern-day penal colonies, Russian law still permits prisoners to work on jobs like sewing uniforms for soldiers.

In a 2021 report, the U.S. State Department said conditions in Russian prisons and detention centers “were often harsh and life threatening. Overcrowding, abuse by guards and inmates, limited access to health care, food shortages and inadequate sanitation were common in prisons, penal colonies, and other detention facilities.”

Andrei Pivovarov, an opposition figure sentenced last year to four years in prison, has been in isolation at Penal Colony No. 7 in northern Russia’s Karelia region since January and is likely to stay there the rest of this year, said his partner, Tatyana Usmanova. The institution is notorious for its harsh conditions and reports of torture.

The 41-year-old former head of the pro-democracy group Open Russia spends his days alone in a small cell in a “strict detention” unit, and is not allowed any calls or visits from anyone but his lawyers, Usmanova told The Associated Press. He can get one book from the prison library, can write letters for several hours a day and is permitted 90 minutes outdoors, she said.

Other inmates are prohibited from making eye contact with Pivovarov in the corridors, contributing to his “maximum isolation,” she said.

“It wasn’t enough to sentence him to a real prison term. They are also trying to ruin his life there,” Usmanova added.

Pivovarov was pulled off a Warsaw-bound flight just before takeoff from St. Petersburg in May 2021 and taken to the southern city of Krasnodar. Authorities accused him of engaging with an “undesirable” organization -– a crime since 2015.

Several days before his arrest, Open Russia had disbanded after getting the “undesirable” label.

After his trial in Krasnodar, the St. Petersburg native was convicted and sentenced in July, when Russia’s war in Ukraine and Putin's sweeping crackdown on dissent were in full swing.

He told AP in a letter from Krasnodar in December that authorities moved him there “to hide me farther away” from his hometown and Moscow. That interview was one of the last Pivovarov was able to give, describing prison life there as “boring and depressing,” with his only diversion being an hour-long walk in a small yard. “Lucky” inmates with cash in their accounts can shop at a prison store once a week for 10 minutes but otherwise must stay in their cells, he wrote.

Letters from supporters lift his spirits, he said. Many people wrote that they used to be uninterested in Russian politics, according to Pivovarov, and “only now are starting to see clearly.”

Now, any letters take weeks to arrive, Usmanova said.

Conditions are easier for some less-famous political prisoners like Alexei Gorinov, a former member of a Moscow municipal council. He was was convicted of “spreading false information” about the army in July over antiwar remarks he made at a council session.

Criticism of the invasion was criminalized a few months earlier, and Gorinov, 61, became the first Russian sent to prison for it, receiving seven years.

He is housed in barracks with about 50 others in his unit at Penal Colony No. 2 in the Vladimir region, Gorinov said in written answers passed to AP in March.

The long sentence for a low-profile activist shocked many, and Gorinov said “authorities needed an example they could showcase to others (of) an ordinary person, rather than a public figure.”

Inmates in his unit can watch TV, and play chess, backgammon or table tennis. There's a small kitchen to brew tea or coffee between meals, and they can have food from personal supplies.

But Gorinov said prison officials still carry out “enhanced control” of the unit, and he and two other inmates get special checks every two hours, since they've been labeled “prone to escape.”

There is little medical help, he said.

“Right now, I’m not feeling all that well, as I can’t recover from bronchitis," he said, adding that he needed treatment for pneumonia last winter at another prison's hospital ward, because at Penal Colony No. 2, the most they can do is “break a fever.”

Also suffering health problems is artist and musician Sasha Skochilenko, who is detained amid her ongoing trial following her April 2022 arrest in St. Petersburg, also on charges of spreading false information about the army. Her crime was replacing supermarket price tags with antiwar slogans in protest.

Skochilenko has a congenital heart defect and celiac disease, requiring a gluten-free diet. She gets food parcels weekly, but there is a weight limit, and the 32-year-old can’t eat “half the things they give her there,” said her partner, Sophia Subbotina.

There's a stark difference between detention facilities for women and men, and Skochilenko has it easier in some ways than male prisoners, Subbotina said.

“Oddly enough, the staff are mostly nice. Mostly they are women, they are quite friendly, they will give helpful tips and they have a very good attitude toward Sasha,” Subbotina told AP by phone.

“Often they support Sasha, they tell her: ‘You will definitely get out of here soon, this is so unfair here.’ They know about our relationship and they are fine with it. They’re very humane,” she said.

There’s no political propaganda in the jail and dance music blares from a radio. Cooking shows play on TV. Skochilenko “wouldn’t watch them in normal life, but in jail, it’s a distraction,” Subbotina said.

She recently arranged for an outside cardiologist to examine Skochilneko and since March has been allowed to visit her twice a month.

Subbotina gets emotional when she recalled their first visit.

“It is a complex and weird feeling when you’ve been living with a person. Sasha and I have been together for over six years — waking up with them, falling asleep with them — then not being able to see them for a year," she said. "I was nervous when I went to visit her. I didn’t know what I would say to Sasha, but in the end, it went really well.”

Still, Subbotina said a year behind bars has been hard on Skochilenko. The trial is moving slowly, unlike usually swift proceedings for high-profile political activists, with guilty verdicts almost a certainty.

Skochilenko faces up to 10 years if convicted.

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Could Trump Go to Prison? If He Does, the Secret Service Goes, Too

Officials have had preliminary discussions about how to protect the former president in the unlikely event that he is jailed for contempt during the trial.

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By William K. Rashbaum

The U.S. Secret Service is in the business of protecting the president, whether he’s inside the Oval Office or visiting a foreign war zone.

But protecting a former president in prison? The prospect is unprecedented. That would be the challenge if Donald J. Trump — whom the agency is required by law to protect around the clock — is convicted at his criminal trial in Manhattan and sentenced to serve time.

Even before the trial’s opening statements, the Secret Service was in some measure planning for the extraordinary possibility of a former president behind bars. Prosecutors had asked the judge in the case to remind Mr. Trump that attacks on witnesses and jurors could land him in jail even before a verdict is rendered.

(The judge, who held a hearing Tuesday morning to determine whether Mr. Trump should be held in contempt for violating a gag order, is far more likely to issue a warning or impose a fine before taking the extreme step of jailing the 77-year-old former president. It was not immediately clear when he would issue his ruling.)

Last week, as a result of the prosecution’s request, officials with federal, state and city agencies had an impromptu meeting about how to handle the situation, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.

That behind-the-scenes conversation — involving officials from the Secret Service and other relevant law enforcement agencies — focused only on how to move and protect Mr. Trump if the judge were to order him briefly jailed for contempt in a courthouse holding cell, the people said.

The far more substantial challenge — how to safely incarcerate a former president if the jury convicts him and the judge sentences him to prison rather than home confinement or probation — has yet to be addressed directly, according to some of a dozen current and former city, state and federal officials interviewed for this article.

That’s at least in part because if Mr. Trump is ultimately convicted, a drawn-out and hard-fought series of appeals, possibly all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court, is almost a certainty. That would most likely delay any sentence for months if not longer, said several of the people, who noted that a prison sentence was unlikely.

But the daunting challenge remains. And not just for Secret Service and prison officials, who would face the logistical nightmare of safely incarcerating Mr. Trump, who is also the presumptive Republican nominee for President.

“Obviously, it’s uncharted territory,” said Martin F. Horn, who has worked at the highest levels of New York’s and Pennsylvania’s state prison agencies and served as commissioner of New York City’s correction and probation departments. “Certainly no state prison system has had to deal with this before, and no federal prison has had to either.”

Steven Cheung, the communications director for Mr. Trump’s campaign, said the case against the former president was “so spurious and so weak” that other prosecutors had refused to bring it, and called it “an unprecedented partisan witch hunt.”

“That the Democrat fever dream of incarcerating the nominee of the Republican Party has reached this level exposes their Stalinist roots and displays their utter contempt for American democracy,” he said.

Protecting Mr. Trump in a prison environment would involve keeping him separate from other inmates, as well as screening his food and other personal items, officials said. If he were to be imprisoned, a detail of agents would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rotating in and out of the facility, several officials said. While firearms are obviously strictly prohibited in prisons, the agents would nonetheless be armed.

Former corrections officials said there were several New York state prisons and city jails that have been closed or partly closed, leaving wings or large sections of their facilities empty and available. One of those buildings could serve to incarcerate the former president and accommodate his Secret Service protective detail

Anthony Guglielmi, the spokesman for the Secret Service in Washington, declined in a statement to discuss specific “protective operations.” But he said that federal law requires Secret Service agents to protect former presidents, adding that they use state-of-the-art technology, intelligence and tactics to do so.

Thomas J. Mailey, a spokesman for New York State’s prison agency, said his department couldn’t speculate about how it would treat someone who has not yet been sentenced, but that it has a system “to assess and provide for individuals’ medical, mental health and security needs.” Frank Dwyer, a spokesman for the New York City jails agency, said only that “the department would find appropriate housing” for the former president.

The trial in Manhattan, one of four criminal cases pending against Mr. Trump and possibly the only one that will go to a jury before the election, centers on accusations he falsified records to cover up a sex scandal involving a porn star. The former president is charged with 34 counts of felony falsifying business records. If convicted, the judge in the case, Juan M. Merchan, could sentence him to punishments ranging from probation to four years in state prison, though for a first-time offender of Mr. Trump’s age, such a term would be extreme.

If Mr. Trump is convicted, but elected president again, he could not pardon himself because the prosecution was brought by New York State.

Under normal circumstances, any sentence of one year or less, colloquially known as “city time,” would generally be served on New York City’s notorious Rikers Island, home to the Department of Correction’s seven jails. (That’s where Mr. Trump’s former chief financial officer, Allen H. Weisselberg, 76, is currently serving his second five-month sentence for crimes related to his work for his former boss.)

Any sentence of more than a year, known as state time, would generally be served in one of the 44 prisons run by New York State’s Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

The former president could also be sentenced to a term of probation, raising the bizarre possibility of the former commander in chief reporting regularly to a civil servant at the city’s Probation Department.

He would have to follow the probation officer’s instructions and answer questions about his work and personal life until the term of probation ended. He would also be barred from associating with disreputable people, and if he committed any additional crimes, he could be jailed immediately.

Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York. More about William K. Rashbaum

Our Coverage of the Trump Hush-Money Trial

News and Analysis

At Donald Trump's hush-money trial, the former president demands praise and concedes no faults, robbing his lawyers of time-honored defense tactics .

Trump has spent decades spewing thousands and thousands of words, sometimes contradicting himself. That tendency is now working against him in this case .

The testimony of David Pecker , the first witness called in the trial and the former publisher of The National Enquirer, offered a window into the golden era of tabloids .

More on Trump’s Legal Troubles

Key Inquiries: Trump faces several investigations  at both the state and the federal levels, into matters related to his business and political careers.

Case Tracker:  Keep track of the developments in the criminal cases  involving the former president.

What if Trump Is Convicted?: Could he go to prison ? And will any of the proceedings hinder Trump’s presidential campaign? Here is what we know , and what we don’t know .

Trump on Trial Newsletter: Sign up here  to get the latest news and analysis  on the cases in New York, Florida, Georgia and Washington, D.C.

Harvey Weinstein taken to hospital after transferring to Rikers Island jail ahead of court appearance

Harvey Weinstein was hospitalized Saturday for a battery of tests after returning to Rikers Island jail ahead of a court appearance next week.

The 72-year-old former Hollywood powerhouse was taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for a more thorough exam after he was checked out by doctors at Rikers, his attorney, Arthur Aidala, said.

Aidala said it seems Weinstein "needs a lot of help, physically."

"He’s got a lot of problems," Aidala said. "He’s getting all kinds of tests. He’s somewhat of a train wreck healthwise."

On Friday, he was transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility, about 42 miles from Syracuse, New York, to a medical ward at Rikers in New York City and is scheduled to appear before a judge after New York’s highest court overturned his 2020 rape conviction .

Weinstein was serving a 23-year sentence at Mohawk after he was found guilty of forcibly performing oral sex on a television and film production assistant in 2006 and rape in the third degree for an attack on an aspiring actress in 2013.

He will appear in Manhattan Criminal Court on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. before Judge Curtis Farber.

In a shocking 4-3 decision Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein's conviction after it found that the judge in the landmark  #MeToo trial  prejudiced the former film mogul with improper rulings, including a decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.

The court said it "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts" and the "testimony served no material non-propensity purpose."

Although the conviction was overturned, Weinstein remained in prison after he was convicted in 2022 in Los Angeles of rape . He was  acquitted of a count of sexual battery in that case . Weinstein has filed a notice to appeal that verdict as well.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said Thursday that it would do "everything in our power to retry this case, and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault."

In an updated statement Friday, the district attorney's office said its mission was to "center survivors’ experiences and wellbeing in every decision we make, which we will do as we approach the next steps in this case."

Minyvonne Burke is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News.

Adam Reiss is a reporter and producer for NBC and MSNBC.

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Fox journalist among dozens arrested at Texas university as protests swell

Local and state police clash with demonstrators in state capital of Austin while rightwing governor says protesters ‘belong in jail’

At least 20 people were arrested, including a photojournalist, as police and demonstrators violently clashed at the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday.

Hundreds of students walked out of class to protest against the conflict in Gaza and demand the university divest from companies that manufacture machinery used in Israel’s war efforts, carrying signs and chanting.

Dozens of local and state police – including some on horseback and holding batons – formed a line to stop protesters from marching through campus. Officers pushed them off the campus lawn and at one point sent people tumbling into the street.

According to local reporter Ryan Chandler, police ordered demonstrators to disperse via an audio announcement that could be heard across campus: “I command you in the name of the people of the state of Texas to disperse.”

A photographer covering the demonstration for Fox 7 Austin was arrested after being caught in a scuffle between law enforcement and students, the station said. Footage posted on social media showed the journalist being knocked down by officers. The network confirmed in its own reporting that their photographer was taken to jail.

At least 20 demonstrators were taken into custody at the request of university officials and the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, according to the state department of public safety. Abbott said protesters “belonged in jail”.

“Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled,” the governor said in a statement on X .

Elsewhere on Wednesday, police tangled with student demonstrators at the University of Southern California, where officers got into a back-and-forth tugging match with protesters over tents, removing several before falling back.

And in northern California, students were barricaded inside a building for a third day at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The school shut down campus through the weekend and made classes virtual.

Students protesting against the Israel-Gaza war are demanding that their schools sever financial ties to Israel and companies involved in the conflict. Dozens of people have been arrested in the past week at multiple campuses across the US and have been charged with trespassing or disorderly conduct. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.

Tensions escalated last week when police tried to clear a major encampment at Columbia, and arrested more than 100 protesters. The move backfired, acting as an inspiration for a wave of similar encampments and motivating protesters at Columbia to regroup.

On Wednesday, about 60 tents remained at the Columbia encampment, which appeared calm. Security remained tight around campus, with identification required and police setting up metal barricades.

A spokesperson said rumors that the university had threatened to bring in the national guard were unfounded.

“Our focus is to restore order, and if we can get there through dialogue, we will,” said Ben Chang, Columbia’s vice-president for communications.

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• US education
• US foreign policy
• US campus protests

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