Video Visits from Home at Pima County Jail: How the 'Visit Now' Feature Works

At Pima County Jail, “Visit Now” is an on-demand video visit that your incarcerated loved one starts from inside the jail using the GTL tablet. There’s no need for you to schedule ahead of time for these calls - when they choose “Visit Now,” it sends the visit to you through the GettingOut Visits app.

That’s different from on-site video visits, which follow a more traditional schedule. Each inmate gets one free 30-minute on-site visit per week, and additional on-site time costs $9.00 for an extra 30 minutes per inmate, per day. On-site visits also have to be scheduled one to seven days in advance - same-day walk-in visits aren’t accepted - and scheduling is done online at pimacountyaz.gtlvisitme.com or at the kiosk in the main entrance lobby. For on-site visits, no more than four people may visit at one time, and juveniles must be accompanied by an adult.

Requirements Account App

• ✓ A GettingOut account
• ✓ The GettingOut Visits mobile app on an Android or iOS device
• ✓ You must be signed into the mobile app
• ✓ Push notifications must be turned on (this is how you’ll get the Visit Now alert)
• ✓ The account holder must be at least 18 years old
• ✓ If someone joining the visit is under 18, they must be accompanied on-screen by the adult account holder for the entire visit

Once your GettingOut account and the GettingOut Visits app are set up, your remote visits are tied into the jail’s visitation system. If you need to manage visits through the facility’s scheduling site, Pima County Jail directs visitors to pimacountyaz.gtlvisitme.com (and there’s also a scheduling kiosk in the main entrance lobby).

Remote (online) video visits are billed at $0.25 per minute. If you’re trying to budget ahead of time, that per-minute rate is what applies to “Visit Now” style remote calls.

Each remote (online) video visit can last up to 15 minutes at a time. If you want more time, plan for the call to end at the cap and for them to try again later if they’re able.

For quick comparison, on-site video visits are priced differently: one free 30-minute on-site visit per inmate per week, and then $9.00 for an additional 30 minutes per inmate, per day. Remote “Visit Now” visits are the ones charged by the minute.

Practical Prep Privacy

• ✓ Install the GettingOut Visits app on your Android or iOS device
• ✓ Sign into the app ahead of time (don’t wait until they call)
• ✓ Turn on push notifications so you actually see the Visit Now alert
• ✓ Keep your phone charged so you can answer when the call comes through
• ✓ Step into a quiet place before you accept, since the visit starts right away

Practically, that means you should treat a Visit Now call like a recorded jail visit, not a private conversation. Keep the discussion focused on family updates and anything you’re comfortable having monitored and recorded.

1. Open the GettingOut Visits app and sign in - Visit Now calls won’t come through if you’re not logged in.
2. Turn on push notifications - the alert is what tells you they’re calling.
3. Wait for them to try again - Visit Now is initiated from the jail, so your loved one will need to start another call attempt.
4. Use Visitor Support if you’re stuck - for scheduling help, use the Live Chat option or call 855-208-7349.

If you need help with scheduling, Visitor Support is available via live chat or by phone at 855-208-7349. For deposit and broader account support, the jail lists these contacts: AdvancePay Accounts (800) 483-8314 and GTL Customer Service (866) 230-7761. Hours of operation are Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Central, and Saturday–Sunday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central.