Remote Video Visits at Baten Unit: How They Work and How to Schedule One
Can't make it to an in-person visit? Remote video visits might be an option. Here's what that actually means at the Baten Unit—including the limits, how scheduling works, and the difference between kiosk and tablet visits.
A Remote Video Visit is a live video call done through a kiosk. You won't schedule this through the prison directly - instead, you'll book through the vendor's website. If you're being routed to a vendor system when trying to schedule, that's normal for kiosk-based remote video visits.
Eligible inmates can have one Remote Video Visit per month, lasting up to 60 minutes. These visits are separate from in-person contact or general visits. So if your loved one qualifies for in-person visits, remote video is an additional option - not a replacement.
When scheduling through TDCJ's online system, you'll see different visit types: Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet. That Video/Tablet option is its own category - and TDCJ is clear that it's different from the Securus Video program at limited units. Not every visit type shows up for everyone. What's available depends on your relationship to the inmate, the facility's setup, and the inmate's visitation privileges.
Note: “Video/Tablet” visits in the TDCJ scheduler are not the same as the Securus Video program offered at limited units.
- Figure out whether you’re booking a kiosk Remote Video Visit or a tablet visit - Remote Video Visits are live kiosk visits scheduled through the vendor website, while video visits conducted via an agency tablet are scheduled through TDCJ’s visitation portal (https://visitation.tdcj.texas.gov/Visitation/).
- Confirm the visit type you’re trying to request - In the TDCJ scheduler, look for the “Video/Tablet” visit type when you’re booking a tablet-based video visit.
- Schedule in the correct system - Use the vendor website for kiosk-based Remote Video Visits; use the TDCJ visitation portal for agency-tablet video visits.
- Pick a time that fits the limit - Remote Video Visits (kiosk) are allowed once per month for up to 60 minutes for eligible inmates, so plan around that monthly cap.
- ✓ Your loved one’s identifying information (so you select the correct inmate when scheduling)
- ✓ The correct scheduling path: vendor website for kiosk Remote Video Visits; TDCJ visitation portal for agency-tablet video visits
- ✓ The right visit type selected (look for “Video/Tablet” in the TDCJ system when applicable)
- ✓ A plan for the monthly limit (Remote Video Visits are once per month, up to 60 minutes, for eligible inmates)
Whether remote video is available comes down to two things: your loved one's eligibility and the equipment or programs at the unit. TDCJ handles kiosk-based Remote Video Visits through the vendor website, while tablet-based video visits go through the TDCJ visitation portal. Since availability depends on privileges and what's offered at each unit, confirm that the option you want is available at Baten Unit - and for your loved one specifically - before planning around it.
Tip: If you want remote video as a regular touchpoint, schedule early. Eligible inmates get one Remote Video Visit per month (up to 60 minutes), and these visits are meant to supplement in-person visits - not replace them.
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