How Virtual Visit Pricing Works (what families of inmates at Leath should know)

SCDC has published two different statements about what a virtual visit costs, and they don't match. The Virtual Visitation FAQ lists a flat rate of $10 for a 50-minute visit. A separate memo dated Feb. 1, 2025 says the rate changes to $0.16 per minute, with billing based on the actual length of the visit (it even gives the example that a full 50-minute slot would come out to $8). Because both documents are still out there, treat the price as something you should confirm right before you schedule or pay.

The Feb. 1, 2025 memo lays out a per-minute price: $0.16 per minute, effective Feb. 1, 2025. It also says virtual visits will still be scheduled in 50-minute time slots, but the cost is billed based on how long the visit actually runs. So you may still reserve a 50-minute slot on the calendar, but the total you pay could be less if the visit ends early.

1. Plan around the start time: All virtual visits start on the hour.
2. Assume the charge starts at the start: The visitor is charged when the visit begins.
3. Be ready before the hour: If you are rushing at the start time, you risk losing minutes you have already started paying for.

Here's the simplest way to think about the math. Under the older FAQ pricing, a 50-minute virtual visit is a flat $10. Under the Feb. 1, 2025 memo, the per-minute rate is $0.16, so a full 50-minute visit would be 50 x $0.16 = $8. The big practical difference is what happens when a visit ends early. The FAQ is clear: if the visit doesn't last the full 50 minutes, there's no partial refund. You still pay $10. The memo says billing is based on actual length, so the total could be lower for a shorter visit. Since those two ideas don't line up, verify what the system is actually charging before you rely on either approach.

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• ✓ Make sure you are on the inmate’s approved visitation list.
• ✓ Set up your visitor account at scdoc.gtlvisitme.com/app.
• ✓ Schedule at least three days in advance.
• ✓ Do not schedule more than seven days in advance.

Before you hit "confirm" on a paid visit, take a minute to verify the rate and billing method currently in use. One published SCDC document describes a flat $10 charge for a 50-minute visit, charged when the visit begins, with no partial refund if it ends early. Another published SCDC memo says the rate changes to $0.16 per minute, billed based on actual length. That's why the safest move is to check what price is shown at booking and read the billing language for your session. Also plan your timing. Visits start on the hour, and the FAQ recommends being in front of your device 15 minutes before the visit starts. Getting ready early helps you avoid losing time at the beginning of the slot, especially since charges begin the moment the visit starts.