Step‑by‑Step: Scheduling Your First Video Visit at Sarasota County Jail

Before you can schedule a video visit, you'll need a video visitation account. Registration requires a valid email address - have one ready before you start. Also plan ahead for check-in. Sarasota County Jail requires valid photo identification for all visitors, so make sure your ID is current and accessible when your visit time arrives.

• ✓ Have a payment method ready for remote (online) video visitation.
• ✓ Sarasota County Jail advertises a remote visitation rate of $0.18 per minute.
• ✓ Refunds for online (internet) video visits are not issued.

1. Choose how you’ll register - Use the GTL visitation website, or register through the GTL VisMobile Android app.
2. Create your visitor profile - Complete the registration process and make sure you enter a valid email address.
3. Use the same account to schedule - Once your account is set up, you’ll schedule your video visits through the same website or app.

You can schedule visits up to two weeks in advance and as late as 24 hours before your preferred time. Want a specific day or slot? Book early - popular times fill up fast.

When picking a time slot, stick to the jail's published online video visitation windows: 08:30–11:00, 12:00–18:00, and 20:00–22:00 (Eastern). Those are the blocks you'll see available in the scheduler. Online video visitation isn't available between 22:00 and 08:30. The jail may also pause video visits periodically for safety and security reasons - if the scheduler suddenly shows fewer options, it's likely a temporary restriction, not something you did wrong.

Sarasota County Jail states that on-site (in-person) visitation is no longer available - your focus should be on online video visitation. You may still see older brochure language describing on-site video visit limits (visits per week, session length, number of visitors allowed). Treat the current jail statement as your guide, and verify available options directly in the GTL scheduler before you finalize and pay.

For context, an older brochure states inmates are allowed three 50-minute on-site video visitations per week. Since the jail now says on-site visitation is no longer available, treat that detail as outdated. Rely on what the GTL system currently offers when you schedule.

1. Check your email (and spam/junk) - Account creation requires a valid email address, and verification messages sometimes get filtered.
2. Confirm you registered the same way you’re trying to schedule - Sarasota County Jail supports scheduling through the GTL website and the GTL VisMobile Android app; if one isn’t working, try signing in on the other.
3. Re-check your email address for typos - If the email isn’t valid or can’t receive messages, you can get stuck before your account fully activates.
4. Save proof of what you’re seeing - Screenshot error messages and failed payment/scheduling screens so you can reference them if you need help.
5. Use GTL’s support options - From the website or app, use the available help/support tools for account, login, or scheduling problems.