Understanding Berks County Jail's Free Weekly Video Calls

Each inmate at Berks County Jail gets two free video calls per week. Each call lasts 15 minutes. These are offered on top of in-person visits - extra time to connect, not a replacement.

• ✓ Schedule the video visit no later than 3:00pm the day before (same-day appointments are not permitted).
• ✓ You can book appointments up to three weeks in advance.

Expect video calls to be treated like other jail communications. Berks County Jail records all phone calls, video visitations, electronic messages, and photo messages - and these may be monitored or shared. The only exception is identified attorney phone calls. Keep that in mind before discussing anything sensitive.

Behavior Rules

• ✓ Don’t take screenshots or record the video call.
• ✓ No nudity.
• ✓ No gang signs or gang-related activity.
• ✓ No vulgarity.

The jail can cut a video call short if behavior crosses the line. Nudity, gang signs or gang-related activity, and vulgarity will cost the inmate their tablet privileges - and the visitor loses visitation rights. Any violation of the friends-and-family visitation guidelines can end the visit immediately or lead to suspended privileges. Keep things calm and appropriate from start to finish.

The main difference is format: video calls let you connect remotely, but they're still treated as visits. That means the jail can end your session and suspend privileges if you break the rules. And unlike a private conversation at home, everything falls under the jail's recording and monitoring policy. Keep that in mind while you talk.