Video Visits vs. In-Person Visits at Glossbrenner: What’s Different and How Much They Cost
Choosing between a remote video visit and an in-person visit at the Glossbrenner Unit comes down to three things: cost, time, and how often you can schedule each. Here's how they compare and what to know about booking either one.
A Securus remote video visit costs $10.00. That flat rate can save real money compared to gas, time off work, or childcare costs for an in-person trip.
Each remote video visit runs 60 minutes. The clock starts on time, so have your talking points ready - late logins or setup hiccups eat into your session.
You're limited to one remote video visit per month. Pick a date that works for everyone and treat it like an appointment you can't miss.
When scheduling in-person visits at Glossbrenner, you may see different options: Regular, Contact, and Video/Tablet. Not every unit offers all types, so don't be surprised if only certain choices appear.
The visit types available depend on your relationship to the inmate, the facility's visitation area setup, and the inmate's current privileges. You might also see an Extended Visit option - availability depends on what the unit allows and can accommodate.
Regular in-person visits last two hours. The clock starts when both you and the inmate are present - show up late and you won't get that time back.
Video visits work well when money is tight or the drive is long. At $10.00 for 60 minutes, you skip the travel costs - but remember, remote video is capped at one visit per month. For families used to frequent weekend visits, it won't be a full replacement.
In-person visits follow the weekend schedule: Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each inmate gets just one in-person visit per weekend, so families often need to coordinate. If weekends are tough or the drive is long, remote video might be the simpler choice.
Schedule remote video visits through Securus. Register on their portal and pick from available time slots. Remember: $10.00 per visit, 60 minutes each, and only one per month - so choose a time you know you can make.
- Use the TDCJ online visitation scheduler - Start the request there so you can see what visit types (Regular, Contact, Video/Tablet) are available for that unit.
- Submit a Relationship Request - Choose your relationship to the inmate and request approval.
- Wait for unit verification - Your Relationship Request is sent to the inmate’s unit of assignment, where TDCJ staff verify the visitor/inmate relationship.
- Pick from the visit types the system offers - Not all visit types are available at every unit, so select from what appears for your situation.
- Contact the unit directly if you can’t schedule what you need - If the scheduler doesn’t present the visit option you expected, you may need the unit to confirm what’s available and how to proceed.
Quick Decision Guide
- ✓ Choose remote video if $10.00 for a visit fits your budget better than travel costs.
- ✓ Choose remote video if a 60-minute session is enough time for what you need to cover.
- ✓ Choose remote video if you can make one visit per month work.
- ✓ Choose in-person if you can visit on Saturday or Sunday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- ✓ Choose in-person if your family can coordinate around one in-person visit per weekend.
- ✓ Choose in-person if you want the longer two-hour regular visit (which starts when the inmate and visitor(s) are present).
Tip: If you’re traveling more than 250 miles one way, the warden (or designee) may allow an Extended Visit up to four hours, as long as space and time allow.
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