Penmate Inmate Support Guides
scheduling-and-time-release-charles-egeler

Scheduling visits at Charles Egeler: the 48-hour rule and the Oct. 25, 2025 8:00 a.m. release time

Booking a visit at Charles Egeler comes down to timing. You can't schedule too late (48-hour minimum) or too far ahead (7-day maximum). And starting Oct. 25, 2025, new time slots open at 8:00 a.m. instead of midnight.

• 2 min read • michigan.gov
Scheduling visits at Charles Egeler: the 48-hour rule and the Oct. 25, 2025 8:00 a.m. release time

At Charles Egeler, visits must be booked at least 48 hours in advance - last-minute scheduling won't work. You also can't book more than 7 days out. Plan for the week ahead, but don't try to lock in visits weeks in advance.

Heads up: The 48-hour rule is strict - if you’re inside that window, the visit is too soon to schedule.

Once you're approved to visit, you'll schedule through ViaPath (Michigan DOC Visitation Scheduling). Pick from available appointment times and confirm your visit there.

Before you spend time trying to book, make sure your MDOC visiting application is approved. You can’t create or schedule a visit in ViaPath until approval is in place, and visits scheduled before you’re approved won’t be honored.

Starting Oct. 25, 2025, new appointment slots will open at 8:00 a.m. instead of midnight.

Scheduling visits at Charles Egeler: the 48-hour rule and the Oct. 25, 2025 8:00 a.m. release time

Practical Tips

  • ✓ Confirm your MDOC visiting application is approved before you try to book
  • ✓ Create/register your account on the MDOC Visitation Scheduling site hosted by ViaPath
  • ✓ Test your login ahead of time so you’re not troubleshooting when you’re trying to grab a slot
  1. Make sure you’re approved and set up - you can’t schedule anything in ViaPath until your MDOC visiting application is approved.
  2. Be ready at the release time - starting Oct. 25, 2025, time slots open at 8:00 a.m. (not midnight).
  3. Book inside the allowed window - schedule no earlier than 7 days before the visit and no later than 48 hours before.
  4. For video visits, log in early - you’re required to sign into the ViaPath visitor site 10 minutes before your scheduled video visit for verification and approval.

Tip: If you’ve been staying up to book right at midnight, adjust your routine - starting Oct. 25, 2025, new time slots won’t release until 8:00 a.m.

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