How to deposit funds, commissary, and payment options
Incarcerated people at SCI Albion can use PA DOC‑approved tablets, but they must order the device through commissary—family members can't buy or bring one in. Want to help with costs? Fund tablet balances through JPay. These tablets don't include Wi‑Fi or cameras by default, so services are limited. There's also a 30‑day mortality timer: the tablet must sync at a facility kiosk to stay active. Miss that window and access lapses, even with money in the account. For tablets or other inmate accounts, use approved deposit options like online/phone payment services, lobby kiosks where available, or mailed money orders. Always include the inmate's name and facility ID. Funds go to specific accounts—commissary/trust, phone/prepaid, or tablet balances.
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No. Tablets must be ordered by the inmate through the commissary. You can fund a tablet balance, but you can’t purchase or directly supply the device.
Use an approved deposit method such as an online or phone payment service, a facility lobby kiosk where available, or a mailed money order. Make sure the deposit includes the inmate’s full name and facility-specific ID/number and follows the facility’s payment instructions.
The tablet must sync at a facility kiosk at least every 30 days to stay active. Skip that sync and access locks—even if there's money in the tablet balance.
PA DOC sets clear limits on how many people can join a visit — plus monthly quotas that affect how often your loved one sees visitors. Here's how the numbers break down for in-person and video visits, so you can plan ahead.
SCI Albion video visits run through the Pennsylvania DOC Inmate Visitation System (IVS). You'll verify your identity with Keystone Login when signing in, but the visit itself happens on Zoom—so every join method ultimately launches a Zoom meeting.
Trying to schedule a visit at SCI Albion? You might hit a confusing snag. One PA DOC page says,
