Video visits vs. in-person contact visits at Jester 3: how they differ and how to schedule each

Contact visits at Jester 3 take place on the unit itself - either in a designated visiting area or outside the main building within the fenced perimeter. You're physically traveling to the facility, and staff decide where visitors sit based on that day's setup.

Remote kiosk video visits are live video calls scheduled through the vendor's website. This is completely separate from showing up at the unit for a contact visit - if you want a video option, you'll book it through the vendor system, not the in-person visiting process.

• ✓ Remote kiosk video visits are in addition to contact or general visits for eligible inmates.
• ✓ These visits may be available once per month.
• ✓ The visit may last up to 60 minutes.
• ✓ Availability depends on the inmate’s eligibility/privileges.

Tablet video visits work differently from kiosk visits. If your loved one has access to the tablet program, you schedule these visits through the TDCJ visitation portal. The visit takes place on an agency-issued tablet.

Think of Jester 3 visits as three separate lanes: in-person contact visits on the unit, kiosk-based remote video visits scheduled through the vendor website, and tablet video visits scheduled through the TDCJ visitation portal. The kiosk option is specifically described as an add-on to contact or general visits for eligible inmates - it may be available once per month for up to 60 minutes. Contact visits remain the on-site option, held either in the designated visiting area or outside within the fenced perimeter, so you'll need to plan travel and check-in at the unit. Here's the practical takeaway: if you can't get a video slot (or your loved one isn't eligible), you may still be able to visit in person. And if you're already visiting in person, video visits can be an additional way to stay connected when available.