How Many People Can Join Your Michigan Video Visit? (Why MDOC and the Scheduling Portal Disagree)

MDOC's Video Visiting Standards cap video visits at five people total. That means up to five people can join a single video call with the prisoner - at least according to the department's written policy.

Good news for bigger families: children under two don't count toward that five-person limit. So if you're trying to fit everyone on one call, that infant in the room won't take up a slot the way an older child or adult would.

But headcount isn't the only hurdle - everyone who joins needs to be approved. Prisoners can designate immediate family, qualified clergy, attorneys, outreach volunteers, and up to ten other people for visits. Even if someone qualifies as family, they still need to be added to the prisoner's Visiting List at the prisoner's request. If they're not on that list, they can't participate - regardless of how many slots are open.

Here's where things get confusing. The GTL / ViaPath scheduling portal often shows a different limit - stating that a maximum of four visitors may visit a prisoner at one time. That directly contradicts the MDOC standard allowing five (with under-twos not counted). Since the portal is what you actually use to book and join, treat whatever it displays as the real enforcement point. Then verify before visit day so you're not scrambling at check-in.

1. Check the limit shown while you book - if the scheduling screen is only allowing four, plan around that even though MDOC’s standard allows five participants.
2. Confirm who’s actually approved to visit - only qualified visitors who have been added to the prisoner’s Visiting List at the prisoner’s request should be counted in your group plan.
3. Have everyone log in early for verification - registered and approved visitors should log into the ViaPath Visitor Website 10 minutes before the scheduled time so they can be verified and approved.

Trying to bring a bigger group? Or counting an under-2 child and unsure how they'll apply the limit? Confirm current practice before visit day. And if someone needs to be added to the Visiting List, remember - the prisoner has to request it. Build in time for that step instead of assuming you can add people last minute.

Quick Checklist

• ✓ Make sure each person who plans to join is a qualified visitor on the prisoner’s Visiting List (the prisoner has to request the add).
• ✓ When scheduling, look at what the portal is actually allowing - some screens state a four-visitor maximum.
• ✓ Use MDOC’s written standard as your baseline: up to five people may participate in a video visit.
• ✓ Remember: children under two years old are not counted toward the five-person limit.

Timing matters, especially if you're splitting a group across multiple visits. Video visits can be scheduled no more than 7 days in advance and no less than 48 hours beforehand. That means you usually can't book a backup visit at the last minute.

Each scheduled video visit is 20 minutes long. The cost for that scheduled 20-minute visit is $3.20, and it has to be paid in advance by the person who schedules it. If you decide to split your group into two visits, plan for two separate paid appointments.

One more scheduling detail: starting October 25, 2025, MDOC is releasing time slots at 8:00 a.m. instead of midnight. If your family usually stays up late to grab openings, this change could affect how quickly you lock in a spot - especially when coordinating multiple visitors.