How to Set Up Video Visits with Bay County Jail (GettingOut walkthrough)
Setting up a video visit with someone at Bay County Jail comes down to creating and verifying your GettingOut account, then scheduling the visit. Here's the exact walkthrough — plus the two eligibility rules that trip people up most often.
Bay County Jail uses Via Path Technologies’ GettingOut service for online video visitation. That means your setup, scheduling, and payment (if needed) all happen through GettingOut rather than directly through the jail.
Check this before you create an account: if you've been incarcerated at Bay County Jail within the past 90 days, you're not eligible to schedule a video visit. The system won't let you move forward with scheduling.
Some inmates won't have video visitation privileges at all. If the person you want to visit has a no-contact order through the court system, they can't receive video visits at Bay County Jail.
Note: Don’t use any secondary recording or video devices during the visit. Nudity and revealing/sexual clothing are prohibited, and visits can be ended if those rules aren’t followed.
You can create your GettingOut account a few different ways: call Via Path Technologies at 1-888-516-0115, or start online at www.gettingout.com/visit-now/. You can also download the mobile app (Apple Store or Google Play). Once you're there, choose "Create one here" under "Don't have an Account?" and fill in the required information.
During account creation, you'll need to upload a picture of your driver's license. GettingOut may also ask for a profile picture, but the driver's license is the key piece for getting set up.
After you submit your information, watch for two verification steps. GettingOut sends a verification email within 24 hours - you'll need to complete that. You'll also get a phone or text verification to confirm your number. Until you finish both, your account access may be limited.
- Sign in to your GettingOut account - use the same login you created during setup.
- Select the inmate from your contacts list - you’ll schedule from the contact you’re trying to visit.
- Choose “Schedule a Remote Visit” - this is the option for online video visits.
- Pick a date - choose the day you want.
- Choose a time category - select morning, afternoon, or evening.
Once you've scheduled your visit, be ready to start at the scheduled time from your GettingOut account. Log in a few minutes early so you're not scrambling when the visit window opens.
If you're paying for the video visit yourself, GettingOut charges $0.25 per minute when you fund your account with a credit or debit card. Make sure your account is funded before your scheduled time so the visit doesn't get held up.
The visit can also be covered another way: if the inmate has funds in their account, they can pay for the video visit instead of you.
Quick Checklist Before First Visit
- ✓ Complete the verification steps (verification email within 24 hours, plus phone/text verification)
- ✓ Confirm you’re eligible to schedule (not incarcerated in Bay County Jail within the past 90 days)
- ✓ Confirm the inmate is eligible (no court no-contact order blocking video visitation)
- ✓ Make sure you selected the correct inmate from your contacts before scheduling
- ✓ Schedule the remote visit (pick date, then morning/afternoon/evening) and be ready to start at the scheduled time
- ✓ Decide who’s paying: you at $0.25 per minute with a credit/debit card, or the inmate using funds in their account
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