What video visits cost at Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (and how the free weekly visit works)
Video visits at Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (MSDF) are free once a week, with a set price if you need extra time. Here's how the free weekly visit works, what paid visits cost, and what limits to plan around.
At MSDF, every person in DOC care (PIOC) gets one free video visit per week. MSDF guidance frames this as available for the first six months, and it's not automatic. The visit still depends on whether institution operations can accommodate it. So plan on using your free weekly visit, but stay flexible. If staffing, scheduling, or other facility operations reduce available time slots, that can affect whether the free visit actually gets scheduled in a given week.
Heads up: Some Wisconsin DOC materials describe "one free video visit per week" without a time limit, but an MSDF-specific DOC FAQ says the free weekly visit applies for the first six months. For planning purposes, go with the MSDF-specific wording. If you're budgeting visits long-term, re-check current DOC notices periodically.
MSDF uses ICSolutions (ICS) for video visitation. You'll schedule through the ICSolutions website or by calling 1-888-506-8407. MSDF staff do not schedule visits for you.
Want visits beyond the free weekly one? MSDF charges $2.50 per paid video visit. That price was set effective June 19, 2023.
Across Wisconsin DOC facilities, the general cap is 12 paid video visits per month. MSDF has an exception: it offers the opportunity for up to three paid 26-minute video visits seven days per week, as long as institution operations allow and time slots are available. That "operations allow" language matters. Even with the MSDF exception, your actual options depend on what's open to schedule in the system on the days you need.
Keep in mind: MSDF generally offers three 26-minute video visit slots daily, seven days a week. But the schedule can tighten when the facility can't accommodate all visit demand.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Try to schedule the free weekly video visit first, then add paid visits only if you still need more time that week.
- ✓ Build in a backup plan in case available slots change due to institution operations.
- ✓ If you are budgeting for several weeks, remember the MSDF guidance frames the free weekly visit as available for the first six months.
- Start with ICSolutions - Use the ICSolutions website or call 1-888-506-8407 (MSDF staff do not schedule video visits).
- Check what is actually available - Look for open time slots for the free weekly visit first, then see what paid options are available after that.
- Plan within the scheduling window - MSDF video visits must be scheduled no less than 48 hours and no more than 4 weeks before the visit date and time.
Before you buy extra visits: Availability and limits are tied to institution operations. Check the schedule in ICSolutions first so you're only budgeting for time slots you can actually book.
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