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Visitation

Your Two Free Weekly Video Visits at Alexandria ADC: How They Work and How to Maximize Them

If your loved one is housed at Alexandria Adult Detention Center, they get two free 20-minute video visits each week. Here's how the schedule works, what limits to expect, and a few ways to make those minutes count.

• 3 min read Verified from official sources

Each inmate at Alexandria ADC receives two free video visits per week. Each one lasts 20 minutes. If you're juggling work, school pickups, or time zones, think of these as two short check-ins you can count on weekly. This isn't an unlimited video calling setup.

Treat every video visit like someone will watch it later, because they will. All video visits with family and friends are monitored and recorded. Keep the conversation focused on personal support and everyday updates.

You can't schedule these visits at the last minute. Visits must be booked the day before, and you can schedule no more than seven days in advance. If you want a specific time, plan ahead and grab the slot as soon as you're inside that window.

  • ✓ Register on SmartInmate.com and wait for approval by ASO staff before you try to schedule a video visit
  • ✓ If you have login, scheduling, or technical problems with remote video visitation, direct those questions to the vendor, Smart Communications (the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office cannot provide tech support to system users)

Alexandria ADC offers video visitation seven days a week, including holidays. Available hours run from 7 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time, giving you a wide range of morning, daytime, and evening options.

The real limitation isn't the daily hours. It's the booking window. Since visits must be scheduled the day before and no more than seven days ahead, check the calendar first, then book the best available time within that 7 a.m. to midnight range.

  1. Know your weekly allotment - You have two free 20-minute visits to work with each week, so plan for two purposeful check-ins instead of one long catch-up.
  2. Book inside the allowed window - Schedule the day before, or up to seven days ahead. If you wait until the day you want to visit, you will be too late.
  3. Use the full time range to find a slot - Visits are available from 7 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time, seven days a week, including holidays.
  4. Decide on both visits early - Pick two times that realistically fit your week, then schedule them so you do not accidentally leave a free visit unused.
  • ✓ Test your device and internet ahead of time, since remote visits can be done anywhere you can connect to the internet
  • ✓ For technical support or account questions related to remote video visitation, contact Smart Communications (the Sheriff’s Office cannot troubleshoot for system users)
  • ✓ If you would rather not rely on your own equipment, you can schedule a visit and use the free video terminal in the Detention Center lobby at the Public Safety Center

Note: Video visits are monitored, recorded, and can be ended early for emergencies or operational priorities. Put your most important updates and questions at the beginning of your 20 minutes.

Sometimes a visit ends abruptly, even when everything on your end is fine. Alexandria ADC notes that video visits may be terminated early for emergencies or operational priorities. All family and friend video visits are monitored and recorded. If you're worried about getting cut off, start with the key topics so you cover the essentials no matter what.

If the issue is your account, login, or the video system itself, contact the vendor directly. Technical support and account questions for remote video visitation are handled by Smart Communications. The Alexandria Sheriff's Office cannot provide technical support to system users.

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