how video visits work
smartjailmail.com offers a two-way, real-time video visitation system that can be used to speak with your loved ones directly at your housing location within the jail, prison, or detention center. detention. in some locations, you can also use a kiosk in the facility lobby to visit for free by scheduling a local/onsite visit. remote home visits are billed by scheduled minutes or minutes used (actual cost and billing model varies by location) and are scheduled in 15- or 30-minute increments. To schedule a video visit, you must open an account at smartjailmail.com. this process is quick and easy, just follow these simple steps…
1. sign up
Creating an account is quick, simple and completely free. We will ask you to choose a username and password to identify your account along with some basic contact information. We will send you an email or text message to verify and activate your account. there is no cost to create an account and search for inmates, inmates or detainees to connect. you can use the guest kiosk in the lobby to sign in, but you’ll need your phone to receive the activation code via text or email to activate your account.
2. make connections
once you have established an account, you can search for inmates, prisoners or detainees to connect. Once you’ve located a person you’d like to connect with, you can send them a connection request. The inmate, prisoner, or detainee will need to approve the connection request before a visit can be scheduled.
3. schedule a visit
once you are connected with an inmate, inmate or detainee at a location where we provide visitation services, you can use the website to schedule a visit. follow the steps below to schedule a local/onsite visit, or a remote visit from home…
local / on-site visits
Once you are connected with an inmate, inmate, or detainee at a location where we offer Lobby Visiting Kiosks, you can use the Visiting section of the website to schedule a visit. local/on-site visits are provided free of charge. to schedule a local / on-site visit:
- login to your account.
- select “visitation” in the services menu.
- select the button “schedule a video visit”.
- select the inmate, inmate or detainee 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, typically 15 or 30 minutes).
- select the date in you would like to visit visits can be scheduled up to seven days in advance.
- select the time you would like to visit.
- confirm your visit details and press the button “confirm and schedule visit” button.
once scheduled, you will see the details of the visit in your list of scheduled visits on the website. On the day of your visit, please arrive at the local facility approximately ten minutes before your visit begins. About an hour before your visit, we’ll send you a text or email reminder of your visit that will include a quick visit code. this quick code can be entered at the lobby kiosk to begin your visit. You can also log in with your username and password if you don’t receive a quick code or want to use the lobby kiosk to schedule another visit.
After you begin your visit, the system will wait until the inmate, inmate, or detainee has also logged into your kiosk. Once both parties are present, the visit will begin. the visit will end automatically when the time is up.
Please be on time for your visit. Visits may not exceed the scheduled end time, so if your visit starts late, you may not be able to use the scheduled amount of time in full! it is the responsibility of the visitor and the inmate/prisoner/detainee to be on time for visits. We are not responsible if the inmate/prisoner/detainee does not join the visit on time and you are unable to use the fully scheduled amount of time.
remote visits from home
once you are connected with an inmate, inmate or detainee at a location where we provide remote visiting service, you can use the visiting section of the website to schedule a visit. remote home visits are billed on a credits per minute model and the cost of credits per minute varies by location and is scheduled in 15 or 30 minute blocks. to schedule a remote visit from home:
- Sign in to your account.
- If you don’t have any credits, please purchase credits before scheduling your remote visit (credit/minute cost varies by location).
- select “visitation” from the services menu.
- select the “schedule a video visit” button.
- select the inmate, inmate or detainee you would like to meet with visit .
- 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, typically 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 you would like to visit.
- confirm your visit details and press the “confirm and schedule visit” button ” button.
once scheduled, you will see the details of the visit in your list of scheduled visits on the website. On the day of your visit, log in to the website using your home computer or laptop. the ‘status’ of the tour will change to ‘ready – start tour’ about ten minutes before the scheduled start time. click the ‘start tour’ option when it appears to begin your tour.
After you begin your visit, the system will wait until the inmate, inmate, or detainee has also logged into your kiosk. Once both parties are present, the visit will begin. the visit will end automatically when the time is up.
Please note that for remote visits from home, you will be using your laptop or compatible mobile device. we suggest using google chrome, microsoft edge or apple safari for your visit. on a mobile device, you’ll need a strong and reliable internet connection or your visit might not work.