How to visit, scheduling, dress code, and visitor requirements
All contact and video visits at SCI Albion must be scheduled through the PA DOC Inmate Visitation System (IVS). You'll create a Keystone account to verify your identity—stick with one IVS/Keystone account to avoid approval or scheduling headaches. You can only add an inmate in IVS if you're already on their authorized visitors list, and children need a DC‑313 form on file before visiting. IVS says visits must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance and no more than 60 days out, though PA.gov mentions 2 days—check IVS and facility notices if you see conflicting info. Video visits run 45 minutes; contact visits are at least one hour, with monthly limits and attendance caps. Non‑attorney video visits are recorded and monitored, and sharing recordings is prohibited. Expect metal-detector screening, possible vehicle searches, and no on‑grounds waiting area. Lock your car.
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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,
Your first visit is easier to set up once you understand Pennsylvania's system. At SCI Albion, both in-person (contact) and video visits get scheduled through the PA DOC Inmate Visitation System (IVS)—and you'll log in through Keystone.
PA DOC video visits go smoothly when you have the right link, the right login, and a quiet, private space. This checklist helps you connect on time—and avoid privacy mistakes that can cause problems.
Schedule both contact and video visits through the PA DOC Inmate Visitation System (IVS). You’ll need a Keystone account to verify your identity, and it’s best to maintain only one IVS/Keystone account. You can add an inmate only if you’re on their authorized visitors list, and children need a DC‑313 form on file.
IVS states you must schedule visits at least 3 days in advance and no more than 60 days ahead. PA.gov also references a 2‑day notice, so check IVS and any facility notifications when you book.
Yes—video visits with non‑attorneys are audio/video recorded and monitored, while attorney visits are not recorded. Video visits last 45 minutes, and contact visits are a minimum of one hour.
Sending a letter or photos to someone at SCI Albion? Everything goes through Smart Communications first. Get the envelope details right, and your mail arrives without a hitch. Miss something, and you're looking at delays.
To schedule or join a video visit at SCI Albion, you'll need a Keystone Login for Pennsylvania's Inmate Visitation System (IVS). Once you're signed in, you can link your account to the person you want to visit and manage everything from one place.
If your loved one at SCI Albion wants a tablet, here's what you need to know: they order it through commissary, not you. Your job is getting funds to them and knowing who to contact when things go sideways.
