How to Schedule Your First In-Person Visit at Berks County Jail

Before picking a date, know the limit: each inmate gets four in-person visits per calendar month, 30 minutes each. If your loved one has already used their monthly visits, you'll have to wait until a slot opens up before booking again.

Decide who's coming before you call. Berks County Jail allows up to three visitors per in-person visit.

If you're also using video visits, keep the two systems separate. In-person visits don't replace video time, and video doesn't count against in-person visits. Each inmate also gets two free 15-minute video calls per week on top of their in-person visits.

Same-day appointments aren't allowed. You must schedule by 3:00pm the day before your visit. The upside? You can book up to three weeks in advance.

These aren't suggestions - they're the difference between seeing your person and being turned away. Miss the 3:00pm cutoff, try for same-day, show up without scheduling, or skip the approved list? Your visit won't happen.

Call (610) 208-4800 and press option 3 for visitation. You'll speak directly with a receptionist to book your slot, so call during scheduling hours: 8:30am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday.

Walk-ins aren't allowed, so the phone call isn't optional. No appointment means no visit.

What to Have Ready

• ✓ The inmate’s full name
• ✓ The first and last name of every person who will visit (so staff can confirm each visitor is on the inmate’s approved visitation list)
• ✓ A preferred date/time for the visit (and a backup option if possible)
• ✓ A quick check on eligibility for the month: each inmate is limited to four 30-minute in-person visits per calendar month

Since you can't schedule by voicemail, verbal confirmation is your receipt. Before hanging up, repeat the day and time back to the receptionist and write it down while you're still on the call.

Most scheduling problems come from a few predictable mistakes. People call expecting same-day visits or miss the 3:00pm cutoff the day before. Others leave a voicemail and assume they're booked - Berks County Jail doesn't schedule that way. The biggest surprise for first-timers: even close relatives can't visit unless they're scheduled and on the inmate's approved visitation list.

1. Book ahead when you can - Appointments may be made up to three weeks in advance, which helps you avoid last-minute cutoffs and full schedules.
2. Call the right line at the right time - Dial (610) 208-4800, choose option 3 for “visitation,” and call during receptionist hours (8:30am–3:00pm, Monday–Friday).
3. Confirm approved-list status before you plan the trip - Every visitor must be on the inmate’s approved visitation list, with no exceptions, so make sure the names you give match who will actually show up.

Can't get an in-person slot right away? Video visits are a solid backup. Each inmate gets two free 15-minute video calls per week, separate from in-person visits.

1. Call the visitation line - Use (610) 208-4800 and select option 3 for “visitation.”
2. Speak to a receptionist during scheduling hours - Call Monday–Friday, 8:30am–3:00pm, and make the change live; voicemail isn’t accepted for scheduling or confirmation.

Swapping or adding visitors? Don't assume it'll work out at the door. Everyone who plans to visit must be scheduled and on the inmate's approved visitation list - no exceptions.