Do You Have to Pay the $25 Fee If You Only Accept Phone Calls from an Inmate?

No. If you only want to accept phone calls from an inmate - and you're not applying for in-person or video visits - you don't have to pay the $25 background check fee. That fee is required for adult visitors applying for in-person/phone and video visits under Department Order 911, but ADCRR makes a specific exception for phone-only contacts.

1. Submit the Application to Visit an Inmate electronically - ADCRR requires both potential visitors and phone-call-only applicants to use the electronic application.
2. Complete the form carefully and honestly - when you submit, you’re attesting that the information you provided is truthful and accurate.
3. Watch the 30-day window for anything you owe or need to provide - if your application requires fees and/or supporting documents, they must be received within 30 days of the application date or the application is considered incomplete and won’t be processed.

This exemption is narrow - it only applies when you're asking to receive phone calls and nothing else. The $25 one-time, non-refundable background check fee kicks in when an adult applies for in-person/phone and video visits under Department Order 911. So if you start out phone-only and later decide you want in-person or video access, expect to pay the $25 fee at that point. The exemption doesn't carry over once you're requesting more than phone calls.

• ✓ You’re applying for in-person visitation as an adult - the one-time, non-refundable $25 background check fee applies.
• ✓ You’re applying for video visits as an adult - the one-time, non-refundable $25 background check fee applies.
• ✓ You applied as phone-only but now want in-person or video access - be ready to pay the $25 fee and submit any required supporting documents.
• ✓ Your application requires fees and/or supporting documents - make sure they are received within 30 days of the application date or the application won’t be processed.

If you ever do need to pay - say, because you're applying for in-person or video visitation later - plan on paying electronically. ADCRR requires electronic payment for visitation-related fees. Have your Application Visitor ID ready when you submit payment, and watch the calendar: any applicable fees and required documents must arrive within 30 days of your application date, or ADCRR considers the application incomplete and won't process it.