What Remote Video Visits Cost at Brazos County Jail — and How to Limit Your Bill

Remote video visits from home cost $0.20 per minute at Brazos County Jail. That per-minute rate is what drives your total, so it's worth doing a quick estimate before you book.

Can you make it to the detention center in person? Onsite video visits are free. For many families, this is the simplest way to stay in regular contact without per-minute charges piling up.

Either way - onsite or remote - you'll need to schedule ahead. Brazos County requires reservations through the servicer's website for both. The booking process is the same; your main choice is whether to pay the remote per-minute rate or use the free onsite option.

Remote visits bill at $0.20 per minute, so session length matters. If you want predictable costs, decide how long you actually need before you start - don't just let the clock run.

Billing is per-minute, but you schedule remote visits in set blocks: 15 or 30 minutes. That makes budgeting easier. Book the shortest block that works for you, especially if you're calling more than once a week.

Paying through a SmartInmate account? Deposits have a $5.00 minimum. Keep that in mind if you're trying to add "just enough" for a short visit.

Each SmartInmate deposit also carries a $1.50 processing fee. Make multiple small deposits, and those fees add up fast - even if your actual video time is limited.

Using SmartInmate for messages and photos too? Factor that into your budget. Two electronic messages are free every Saturday, but extras cost $0.50 each. Electronic photos run $1.00 each - small charges that add up over time.

Tips Reduce Spending

• ✓ Use free onsite video visits when you can, since local (onsite) video visits are provided free of charge.
• ✓ Plan around onsite video visitation hours (daily 1:00–4:00 p.m. and 5:00–7:00 p.m.) so you’re not forced into a paid remote session just because of timing.
• ✓ If you’re trying to fit a visit into a busy day, check Video on Demand (onsite), which is available daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• ✓ Book a 15-minute block instead of 30 minutes when a quick check-in is enough.
• ✓ Do the math before you reserve: at $0.20 per minute, a shorter block keeps your total more predictable.

• ✓ Avoid frequent small deposits when possible, since each deposit is subject to a $1.50 processing fee.
• ✓ Remember the minimum deposit is $5.00, so plan your top-ups around the visits you expect to schedule.

Figure out who's attending before you reserve. Brazos County allows a maximum of two visitors per inmate per visit (one adult and one child), and all visits - onsite or remote - must be scheduled through the servicer's website. If multiple adults want to talk, planning ahead helps you avoid booking extra sessions that rack up minutes and deposit fees.