Video Visits vs. In-Person Visits in North Carolina Prisons: Which One Is Right for You?

If your loved one is in an NCDAC facility, you have two visit options: you can visit in person, or you can visit by video. Both are used across the prison system, so you can choose the option that fits your situation (or mix both, if that works best for your family).

Video visits in NCDAC prisons use the Getting Out Visits app. Your loved one connects using their electronic tablet or a video kiosk inside the facility. You can start a video visit on-demand or schedule one for later. Visiting from home? You will need a computer or smartphone, a stable internet connection, a webcam, a microphone, and a recent web browser.

• ✓ Make sure you are on your loved one’s approved visitors list before you try to video visit.

In-person visits are appointment-only. Call or email the prison where your loved one is housed to schedule a time. Even with an appointment confirmed, call the day before your visit to check the facility's visitation status. Schedules change, and that quick call can save you a wasted trip.

1. Prepare for screening at the entrance. If you are 16 or older, expect a pat/frisk search plus a search using an electronic device before you can enter any state prison.
2. Follow all search procedures. If you refuse to comply with the required searches, you will be denied entrance into the facility.
3. Leave your phone behind. Cell phones are considered contraband and are prohibited from all prison facilities.

Video visits are usually the easier option logistically. You can often visit from home, choosing on-demand sessions or scheduling a future time that works for you. The tradeoff: video visits are limited to people on the incarcerated person's approved visitors list, so you will need to be approved before you can connect. In-person visits can feel more grounding since you are physically there, but they require more planning. You will need to schedule an appointment by calling or emailing the prison, and anyone 16 or older should expect entrance searches. Keep contraband rules in mind, too. Bringing a cell phone onto prison property can end your visit before it starts.

1. Set up a video visit. Download the Getting Out Visits app, then follow the prompts to start a video visit or schedule one for a future date and time.
2. Set up an in-person visit. Call or email the prison where your loved one is housed and schedule an appointment.