How to send messages, photos, and packages
Rensselaer County Jail handles phone calls through ConnectNetwork. To receive calls, you'll need to create and fund an AdvancePay account. Remote video visits also run through ConnectNetwork—register and fund a ConnectNetwork Video Visit account before trying to schedule a session. Incarcerated people may have access to tablets for messaging and other services. Families can deposit money into an inmate's tablet account to add credit or enable features. Keep in mind that calls, video sessions, and tablet communications are typically monitored and recorded. Facilities often limit who can communicate with an incarcerated person. Before signing up with any vendor, have a valid government-issued photo ID ready.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Rensselaer County Jail stopped accepting inmate property at the front window back on March 25, 2020. You can't drop anything off in person—everything has to be shipped through approved vendors.
Trying to send property, books, or other packages to someone at Rensselaer County Jail? The most important thing to know: drop-offs at the front window are no longer accepted. Shipping rules matter too—packages that don't come from the right kind of seller get sent back.
To receive calls, create and fund an AdvancePay account with ConnectNetwork. Follow the vendor’s registration steps and have a valid government-issued photo ID ready for setup.
Register and fund a ConnectNetwork Video Visit account before scheduling remote video visits. After setup, check the vendor’s scheduling rules for available time slots and any session limits.
Yes. Families can make deposits to an inmate’s tablet account to add credit or enable additional tablet services. Use the tablet vendor’s accepted deposit methods when adding funds.
You can deposit cash 24/7 at the automated KIOSK in the Public Safety Building lobby, but a transaction fee applies. You can also mail a postal money order to the facility.
Yes, but publications and softcover books must be mailed directly from a company that normally sells and ships them (or from approved vendors). Hard-cover books are not permitted.
The package will be flagged and investigated. It may be held or returned to the sender within 90 days, and the inmate may face disciplinary action or criminal charges.
Need to add money to someone's account fast? Rensselaer County Jail has an automated KIOSK in the lobby of the Public Safety Building that accepts cash deposits 24 hours a day. It's a solid option if you can't make it during regular hours or need funds posted the same day.
Setting up calls and video visits comes down to having the right accounts funded. Here's what Rensselaer County Jail uses and the deposit options families rely on most.
Sending clothes to someone in jail is stressful—one small detail can get your package rejected. Here are the exact clothing, footwear, and shipping rules Rensselaer County Jail uses, so your order has the best chance of getting through.
