Scheduling Video Visits with Someone at Pontiac: ICSolutions Setup Guide
Video visits at Pontiac and other IDOC facilities go through ICSolutions. Once you're registered, the two things that trip families up most are the 7-day advance booking requirement and the strict daily and weekly visit limits.
IDOC switched video visitation from GTL to ICSolutions. You'll need to register with ICSolutions before you can schedule a video visit for someone at Pontiac - your old GTL account won't work.
Planning ahead is mandatory. All video visits must be scheduled at least 7 days in advance. If you're trying to line something up for a birthday, a milestone, or a weekend you know you'll be free, start looking for openings early. Time slots fill up.
IDOC caps how many video visits someone can receive, and these limits apply at Pontiac. A person in custody can only receive one video visit per day - so if two relatives try to schedule on the same date, one visit won't happen. There's also a weekly cap: two video visits per week, max. Think of it as a calendar-week limit on top of the daily rule. Once those two visits are used up, any additional visits scheduled that same week will run into problems.
Note: The 2-visit weekly limit applies even if your loved one is in restrictive housing. Those visits count against the same weekly total.
Assume every video visit is being watched and recorded. Rule violations or inappropriate conduct can end your visit immediately - sometimes without warning - and may affect future visiting privileges. One more thing: attorney-client privilege does not apply to recorded video visits. If you need to discuss legal strategy or anything you'd normally keep private with a lawyer, don't do it over a video visit.
Warning: Video visits are monitored and recorded. Don't discuss privileged legal matters during these calls.
Practical Tips
- ✓ Register with ICSolutions before you try to schedule anything.
- ✓ Count backwards 7 days before the date you want - Pontiac video visits must be booked at least a week ahead.
- ✓ Coordinate with your loved one (and other family members) so you don’t accidentally book more than 1 video visit in a day.
- ✓ Keep the “2 video visits per week” limit in mind - this weekly cap still counts if your loved one is in restrictive housing.
- ✓ Save your scheduling confirmation details so you can double-check the date/time you booked.
Want a specific time? Schedule as soon as the 7-day window opens. Having a couple of backup time options helps, especially if you're juggling multiple work schedules. Also, coordinate with family around the one-visit-per-day limit. If someone else already has a visit scheduled for a certain date, pick a different day instead of trying to squeeze in back-to-back visits.
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