How to Set Up Video Visits & Send Texts to an Inmate at Harrison County Adult Detention Center

Harrison County (HCSO) facilities use CityTeleCoin for both video visitation and text messaging. To use either service, you’ll need to register an account at www.citytelecoin.com first.

Video visits at Harrison County Adult Detention Center are billed at $0.25 per minute. For texting, the published cost is $0.25 per message when the inmate responds to you or initiates a message.

When you set up a video visit, the cost can be covered in two ways: it can be taken from the inmate’s calling card, or it can be paid from your own pre-paid CityTeleCoin visitor account. If you’re trying to avoid surprises, it helps to talk with your loved one ahead of time about which option you’re using.

Video visits only work when the inmate has access to the kiosk, so timing matters. You’ll also need to plan around the inmate’s dayroom time - accommodations won’t be made to pull the inmate out or adjust their schedule for a visit. If your visit request isn’t lining up, it usually comes down to kiosk access and dayroom availability.

Don’t assume a tablet will solve scheduling issues. Facility tablets do not have the ability to conduct a video visit, so kiosk access is still the key piece for getting a video session to happen.

Text messages aren’t instant the way regular phone texting is. All messages are reviewed by HCSO staff and must be approved before they’re delivered to the inmate.

If a message is considered inappropriate, it won’t be delivered. When you’re writing, keep it clean and straightforward so it has the best chance of being approved and reaching your loved one.

Sometimes the problem isn’t your account or your device - it’s the inmate’s status. Any inmate who is on lockdown or facing disciplinary action will not have access to the video visit feature, even if you’re ready and scheduled on your end.

Visitor behavior can also stop visits from happening. If a visitor breaks the General Rules and Regulations for Video Visits, their CityTeleCoin account may be banned, which can cut off video visits through that account.

One rule that trips people up is duplicate accounts. Attempts to create duplicate visitor accounts will be addressed, and it can lead to possible disciplinary action for the inmate - so it’s worth taking the time to keep everything under one legitimate account.

• ✓ The inmate is on lockdown or facing disciplinary action (no access to the video visit feature)
• ✓ The visitor broke the General Rules and Regulations for Video Visits (account may be banned)
• ✓ Someone attempted to create duplicate visitor accounts (can be addressed and may lead to inmate discipline)

1. Register your CityTeleCoin account - Both video visits and text messaging require an account at www.citytelecoin.com.
2. Confirm kiosk access on the inmate’s side - Video visits are only available when the inmate can get to the kiosk.
3. Plan around dayroom time - Visits need to fit the inmate’s dayroom schedule, and accommodations won’t be made to adjust it.

Keep your account in good standing. Breaking the General Rules and Regulations for Video Visits can get your visitor account banned. Creating duplicate accounts to work around problems can result in disciplinary action for the inmate.

If you’re stuck after you’ve confirmed you’re registered and your loved one has kiosk/dayroom access, the next step is to ask for help through CityTeleCoin support or check with the jail about account or access issues.