How to send messages, photos, and packages
Alger Correctional Facility uses ViaPath/GTL for video visits. Each remote session runs 20 minutes and costs $3.20, paid in advance by the visitor through the vendor. Schedule your visit at least 48 hours ahead but no more than 7 days out. Already approved for in-person visits? You don't need a separate video application—being on the CAJ-334 Visitor List covers both. Log in to the ViaPath visitor website 10 minutes early for identity verification, and adult visitors must show a photo ID on camera. All video visits are monitored and recorded with no expectation of privacy, except for attorney or attorney-representative communications. Phone service runs through GTL at $0.0735 per minute (plus taxes and fees), effective October 1, 2023.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Sending mail to someone at Alger Correctional Facility is straightforward once you know the rules—but MDOC's process has a few surprises, especially the photocopying policy and how photos are handled. Here's what you need to know to make sure your mail actually gets through.
Video visits at Alger are 20 minutes long. Each visit costs $3.20 and must be paid in advance by the visitor through ViaPath/GTL.
Schedule your video visit no earlier than 7 days in advance and no later than 48 hours before the appointment. Log into the ViaPath visitor website 10 minutes before start time for verification, and adult visitors must show a pictured ID on video.
Phone calls use GTL at $0.0735 per minute (effective October 1, 2023), plus applicable taxes and fees. You can fund calls through a GTL AdvancePay prepaid account. Be aware that unused accounts can go inactive after 180 days and may be forfeited.
Mail the visiting application with a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). Processing can take up to four weeks, and the facility will use your SASE to mail its response.
Put the resident’s full name and their ID or booking number on the delivery address line, and include your full name and return address. If it’s attorney correspondence, label it clearly as legal mail.
Do not send staples, paperclips, stickers, glued items, scented paper, food, clothing, or cash. Packages and publications often have stricter rules and may need to come from approved sources, and all mail is screened.
First visits go smoother when you handle approval, timing, and ID before you ever get in the car. Use this checklist to avoid the most common check-in problems at Alger.
Want to get phone calls from someone at Alger? Two things matter most: understanding the phone provider rules (including the 20-number PAN list) and setting up an AdvancePay account so calls can actually reach you.
Getting approved to visit at Alger takes some paperwork and patience. The process itself is straightforward, but expect up to 4 weeks of waiting. Here's what you'll fill out, how to submit it, and how you'll hear back.
