Onsite vs. Remote Visits at Bartow County Jail: What Families Should Know

Choosing between onsite and remote video visits at Bartow County Jail? The main difference is cost. Onsite visits are free. Remote visits from home run $5.00 each - but that fee can be worth it when getting to the jail isn't practical or your schedule won't cooperate.

Bartow County Jail caps how many visits an inmate can have each week, and the limit depends on the visit type. Each inmate gets one onsite visit per week and three remote visits per week. Planning ahead helps you make the most of this - save your free onsite visit for when you can actually make the trip, then use remote visits during weeks when work, childcare, or distance gets in the way.

Remote visits require an account with funds ready. You'll need at least $5.00 in your ICSolutions prepaid collect account before you can schedule a session. If your balance falls below that, the system won't let you book.

1. Pre-register before you try to schedule - remote video visits require pre-registration first.
2. Add every participant to the visit - schedule all people who plan to participate.
3. Do it at least 24 hours ahead - participants must be scheduled at least 24 hours before the actual visit, or they may not be able to join.

Remote visits are really about convenience. You skip the drive and work around your own schedule instead of the jail's logistics. The tradeoff? That $5.00 fee per visit and keeping your ICSolutions account funded. When choosing between the two, it usually comes down to whether avoiding the trip is worth five bucks.

• ✓ Test your internet connection before you schedule a home visit.
• ✓ Log in and connect a few minutes before the scheduled visitation time.

Whichever option you choose, plan around the time limit. Visits max out at 25 minutes, and staff can cut them shorter if needed. Think about what you most want to cover before you connect - especially if you're using one of your three weekly remote visits and want every minute to count.

For onsite visits, give yourself extra time. Bartow County Jail asks visitors to arrive 15 minutes before their appointment to check in with visitation staff. Rushing through check-in isn't fun for anyone.