Allegheny County Jail, PA

Visiting someone at Allegheny County Jail takes planning, but it's manageable once you know the steps. All in-person visits must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance, and you need to be registered before your first social visit. Register by phone or in person between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm. Once registered, schedule online or call the scheduling line—though some pods require you to call the morning of your assigned visitation day instead of booking ahead. Visits run Monday through Saturday in one-hour sessions within set time windows (no Sunday visits). Some housing units have assigned days or require Level 1 preapproval. Check in at the visitation lobby at least 15 minutes before your visit and bring a valid government photo ID. Visitor limits and cancellation policies vary, so call to confirm the details.

Allegheny County Jail uses GTL for video visitation, available daily from 9 am to 9 pm (operations permitting). To visit, create a GTL account so you can be added to the incarcerated person's video contact list. Sessions last 30 minutes and cost $0.25 per minute. The incarcerated person can initiate visits, or you can schedule in advance through the vendor portal. Don't take screenshots or record video visits—any recording is strictly prohibited, and violations mean permanent loss of video visitation access. Having technical problems? The facility recommends installing Firefox and Adobe Flash, then using Firefox to access the visitation site. Separately, incarcerated individuals get free daily access to an eBook library on facility tablets.

Mail rules at correctional facilities don't work like regular mail. In Pennsylvania, many facilities route non-legal incoming mail through a contracted central processor that scans correspondence and delivers it electronically—you won't always be handing over original letters. Legal mail and official documents follow a separate process, and originals or signature-required paperwork may need to go through the facility's legal-mail procedures or business office. To avoid returned mail: confirm the correct mailing format, write the incarcerated person's full name and ID/booking number on the envelope, and include a complete, legible return address with your full first and last name. Use plain white paper and envelopes. Skip staples, bindings, or "book-style" letters. Always follow the facility's instructions on permitted items and package rules.

Friends and family can add funds to an inmate trust account to help cover tablet services at Allegheny County Jail. Those funds pay for tablet features, including video visitation at $0.25 per minute. The system is flexible—inmates can initiate video visits, and loved ones can schedule sessions in advance. Deposits are typically made through approved online or phone options, lobby kiosks, or mailed money orders. Include the inmate's name and booking ID so funds get applied correctly. Pay attention to where you're directing the money—deposits can go to specific balances like tablet or commissary, so choose the account that matches what you're trying to cover.