Video Visits at SCI Muncy: What to Expect During Your 45-Minute Zoom Call
Video visits at SCI Muncy run 45 minutes on Zoom, and a little prep makes all the difference. Here's what to expect—session length, who can join, how the Zoom link works, and how to sidestep last-minute tech headaches.
Each video visit at SCI Muncy is 45 minutes long. Because the time is fixed, it helps to be ready to join as soon as your window opens so you don’t lose minutes to setup or connection issues.
Video visits are free. Each inmate can receive up to six per month, including one weekend visit. These limits can shift based on custody status, so availability may look different from month to month.
Up to six authorized visitors can join a single video visit. Anyone who isn't on the approved visitor list won't be able to participate - even if you share the meeting link with them.
Video visits at SCI Muncy are monitored and recorded unless you're meeting with an attorney. Legal counsel visits are the one exception - those aren't recorded.
Privacy reminder: For non-attorney video visits, assume the audio and video are being recorded and may be reviewed by facility staff.
SCI Muncy uses Zoom for video visits (this has been in place since December 15, 2021). You'll join a Zoom meeting at your scheduled time - no separate visitation app required.
- ✓ Reliable internet connection
- ✓ A phone, tablet, or computer with a working camera and microphone
- ✓ Zoom installed (or the ability to join a Zoom meeting on your device)
To schedule a video visit, you need an IVS account and must be on the inmate's authorized visitor list. Once you've scheduled, watch the email tied to your IVS account - that's where your confirmation details land, and where any cancellation notices go. You can also find your visit info, including the Zoom link, inside IVS under upcoming visits.
Plan to join about 3–5 minutes before your scheduled start time (PA DOC guidance allows joining up to 5 minutes early). Jump in too soon, and you may get blocked from entering.
Scheduling window heads-up: The IVS Visitor Guide says visits must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance, but the PA DOC IVS webpage says 2 days. Play it safe - aim for 3+ days and double-check the current rule in IVS before locking in a date.
- Install Zoom ahead of time - don’t wait until the visit start time to download or update anything.
- Test your camera and microphone - open Zoom and confirm your audio/video work before the day of the call.
- Join 3–5 minutes early - PA DOC allows joining up to 5 minutes before the scheduled start time, which gives you a buffer without getting blocked for arriving too early.
- ✓ The confirmation email for the scheduled visit (so you can quickly find the call details)
- ✓ Your IVS login info (so you can check “upcoming visits” for the visit URL)
- ✓ Access to the email connected to your IVS account (cancellation notices are sent there)
Plan ahead (but not too far): Visits must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance and no more than 60 days out. Since other PA DOC guidance mentions a 2-day minimum, treat 3 days as your baseline and confirm the current window in IVS.
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