How 'Visit Now' Works at Maricopa County Jail (And Why You Can't Start One)
If you keep looking for a way to press "Visit Now" yourself, you're not missing a button. At Maricopa County Jail, "Visit Now" is an on-demand remote video visit that only the incarcerated person can start. Your job is simply to be ready when it comes through.
Think of "Visit Now" at Maricopa County Jail like an incoming call, not an appointment you book from home. Only your incarcerated loved one can start an on-demand "Visit Now" remote video visit. Friends and family on the outside can't launch one through the system. So if you've been trying to trigger a Visit Now session from your phone or computer, that's why nothing happens.
Identification check: Both the inmate and the visitor must be identifiable on camera during a video visit. If either person can't be identified, the visit may be terminated, and discipline or restrictions may follow.
Visit Now calls can only happen during the jail's daily remote visiting window: 7:00 am to 9:30 pm. Keep your device nearby and notifications turned on during that range so you don't miss it.
Even when your loved one starts the visit, the session isn't open-ended. Each remote visit is limited to 30 minutes. Having a rough plan for what you want to talk about helps you make the most of that time once the call connects.
Before any of this works, you need the right account on your end. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office requires visitors to have a validated ViaPath (GettingOut) account to receive a remote visit. That same validated account is also required if you want to schedule an onsite visit through MCSO.
Remote video visits through GettingOut cost $0.25 per minute. You're only charged for the time you actually use, so a shorter conversation costs less than a full 30-minute session.
Practical Tips Ready
- ✓ Keep your phone or tablet charged and connected to a reliable internet signal
- ✓ Turn on GettingOut notifications so you do not miss an incoming Visit Now request
- ✓ Make sure your ViaPath (GettingOut) account is validated before you expect a call
- ✓ Be ready to clearly show who you are on camera, since visitors must be able to be identified during the visit
- Set up good lighting: Sit where your face is easy to see, with light in front of you, not behind you.
- Frame the camera before you answer: Make sure your face is in the shot and the image is steady so you can be identified.
- Reduce background distractions: A calmer setting helps avoid confusion about who is on screen.
- Stay visible throughout the call: If either party cannot be identified, the visit may be terminated and restrictions or discipline may be applied.
Budget and timing tip: Visits cost $0.25 per minute, and each session maxes out at 30 minutes. Have your topics ready so you're not spending paid time troubleshooting tech issues.
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