How to send messages, photos, and packages
Remote communication at SCI Forest includes video visits, phone calls, secure messaging, and tablet-style services through third-party vendors. These services are generally monitored. To get started, create a visitor account with the facility's approved vendor, complete identity verification, and link your account to the person in custody through the vendor's portal or app. Setup typically involves uploading a government photo ID, requesting a connection, and waiting for facility staff to approve it before visits or messaging can begin. Even after your vendor account is ready, the facility controls final approval and available time slots. Most services require prepayment or credits, and payment methods and refund policies vary by vendor.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Start by creating a visitor account with the facility's approved vendor and completing identity verification. This may include uploading a government photo ID and a selfie. After you request to connect with the person in custody, facility staff must approve the connection before visits or messaging are allowed.
Usually, yes. Most vendors require prepayment or credits for calls, video sessions, or messaging. Accepted payment methods and refund policies vary, so review the vendor's terms before adding funds.
Facility staff have the final say on approving visitor connections and which time slots are available. The vendor processes your request but doesn't control approvals or scheduling.
Reaching someone at SCI Forest is usually straightforward once you confirm where they are and what communication options are available. Start by verifying the person's status, then check the facility's current rules for phone, mail, and visits.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections monthly population report uses a few different counts that can look contradictory at first glance. Here's how to read SCI Forest's numbers from the December 31, 2025 report, and what each line actually measures.
Looking at the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections monthly population report and confused by the numbers? You're not alone. SCI Forest often shows fewer people "physically present" than the "total institution population" — that's because the total includes people who were temporarily away on the report date.
