Penmate Inmate Support Guides
Visitation

Video Visit Rules That Can Get You Suspended at Maricopa County Jail

Video visits at Maricopa County Jail are monitored, and rule violations can end your call fast. If you want to keep your account in good standing and protect your loved one from trouble inside, here are the behaviors that can get a visit shut down or your access restricted.

• 2 min read Verified from official sources

During Maricopa County Jail video visits, you cannot take photos or make video recordings of the inmate. That includes obvious recording and anything that captures the screen while the visit is in progress. Think of it as a live, in-the-moment conversation only. Anything else risks a suspension.

Social media is off-limits during the visit, too. Accessing platforms like Facebook or Snapchat while on a video visit is prohibited. Posting messages on behalf of an inmate carries a 30-day restriction, so don't use the visit as a way to draft, type, or share public updates for them.

Any nudity, self-stimulation, or sexual activity during a video visit is prohibited. This applies to both sides of the screen, visitors and inmates alike. If anything crosses into explicit territory, the facility will shut it down.

Breaking video visitation rules carries real consequences. A violation can lead to your visit being cancelled on the spot, a 30-day restriction on your visitor account, or a permanent ban from future visits at MCSO staff discretion. The inmate can face disciplinary action, too. Some penalties are automatic. For example, posting messages on behalf of an inmate triggers a 30-day restriction.

Practical Tips

  • ✓ Stay fully and properly dressed for the entire visit.
  • ✓ Do not wear see-through, sheer, or excessively revealing clothing.
  • ✓ Do not wear swimming attire.
  • ✓ Avoid clothing that sits above mid-thigh (including cutoff shorts).
  • ✓ Make sure no undergarments are visible.
  1. Turn off anything that records: Do not take photos or video recordings during the visit.
  2. Close social media completely: Do not access social media during your visit, even in the background.
  3. Do not post for them: Never post messages on behalf of the inmate, since that results in a 30-day restriction.

Age rule: You must be at least 18 to hold an approved MCSO/ViaPath "Friends and Family" account for remote video visits. If someone under 18 appears on-screen, an adult must be visible on-screen with them at all times.

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