Video Visits at Fairfax ADC: Free Lobby Kiosk vs. Paid Remote Visits — Hours & Scheduling

At Fairfax ADC, video visits come in two flavors. If you come in person and use the video kiosk in the Adult Detention Center lobby, there’s no charge. If you want to visit remotely (from home or anywhere else), those visits are scheduled and paid through Smart Communications.

The simplest option is the on-site lobby kiosk: you go to the ADC lobby and complete the video visit there, and the visit itself is free. If you need to handle an on-site kiosk transaction while you’re there, the lobby kiosk accepts cash and credit cards.

Remote video visits are the paid option, and they run through Smart Communications for both scheduling and payment. Fairfax ADC’s scheduling page lists the remote rate as $0.10 per minute, so the cost will depend on how long your visit is scheduled for.

Scheduled video visits at Fairfax ADC are available in three daily time blocks: 9:00–11:00 a.m., 12:30–4:00 p.m., and 5:00–6:00 p.m. When you’re planning, aim for one of these windows so your visit time lines up with what the facility is running that day.

For inmates who are authorized for visitation, Fairfax ADC allows one video visit per day. Visits are offered in 15-minute or 30-minute increments, so you’ll choose one of those lengths when you schedule.

Don’t wait until the last minute to book your time. Fairfax ADC requires visits to be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance - otherwise, the inmate may not receive notification of the pending visit, which can turn into an accidental no-show even if you did everything on your end.

1. Schedule at least a day ahead - Book your visit 24+ hours in advance so the inmate has time to get notified.
2. Use Smart Communications for remote visits - Remote visits must be scheduled and paid through Smart Communications, so make sure you’re working inside that system from the start.
3. Save your confirmation details - Keep the date/time and any confirmation information handy so you can quickly re-check what you booked if something looks off.

Practical Tips

• ✓ Decide upfront: the ADC lobby kiosk visit is free, while remote visits are paid and handled through Smart Communications.
• ✓ Schedule inside the available visit windows (9:00–11:00 a.m., 12:30–4:00 p.m., or 5:00–6:00 p.m.) and pick either a 15- or 30-minute slot.
• ✓ Schedule at least 24 hours ahead so the inmate gets notified.
• ✓ Set up your camera with good lighting on your face; a well-lit spot helps the other side see you clearly.
• ✓ If you end a visit early, use the “End Visit” button - once you click it, you can’t re-join that same visit.
• ✓ Watch the clock: when your scheduled time runs out, the visit ends automatically.