How to Contact an Inmate at SCI Phoenix (PA)

SCI Phoenix inmates are eligible for free video visits, which makes regular contact much more doable when travel is tough. The monthly limit is up to six video visits per inmate, and that total includes one weekend video visit. Limits can also depend on the inmate's custody status, so once you're set up to schedule, check what the system allows for your person specifically.

The group size for video visits is bigger than most people expect. Up to six visitors can join a single session. One thing to keep in mind: video visits are monitored and recorded, except for visits with legal counsel.

Both in-person and video visits must be scheduled in advance through Pennsylvania's Inmate Visitation System (IVS). You'll need an IVS account, and you must be on the inmate's authorized visitor list before you can book anything. Heads up: scheduling lead times can be confusing because different IVS pages sometimes show different minimum advance-notice requirements. Check the current requirement inside IVS before you pick a date.

Phone contact follows Pennsylvania DOC rules for the inmate telephone system. Inmates can place calls to numbers in the North American Calling Plan (the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean Islands). Calls to any U.S. state can be collect or paid with pre-paid time purchased at the commissary. Calls to Puerto Rico, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean Islands must use pre-paid time. International calls to numbers outside the North American Calling Plan are allowed but must also be pre-paid.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Create an IVS account so you can schedule visits.
• ✓ Make sure you are on the inmate’s authorized visitor list before you try to book anything.
• ✓ Schedule your in-person or video visit in advance using IVS.
• ✓ Check IVS for the current minimum lead time required to schedule (the posted requirement can vary by page and can change).

• ✓ Confirm your person is eligible for free video visits.
• ✓ Track the monthly limit: up to six video visits per month per inmate, including one weekend video visit.
• ✓ Plan your group: up to six visitors can join a single video visit.

• ✓ Assume video visits are monitored and recorded, unless it is a legal counsel visit.
• ✓ For phone calls, confirm what type of number you are receiving calls at (U.S. state vs Puerto Rico/Canada/U.S. Virgin Islands/Caribbean vs international outside the North American Calling Plan).
• ✓ Plan payment accordingly: U.S. state calls may be collect or pre-paid commissary time, while Puerto Rico/Canada/U.S. Virgin Islands/other Caribbean and international outside NACP must be pre-paid.

Double-check the scheduling lead time before you settle on a visit date. All in-person and video visits must be scheduled through IVS, and you need both an IVS account and authorized visitor status. The tricky part is that the required number of days' notice can change, and IVS sometimes displays it differently on different pages. Use the language shown in IVS at the time you book. If you see conflicting minimum-day requirements, follow the stricter one so your visit doesn't get blocked.

If phone contact is your main option, verify how calls will be billed for your specific destination before you count on it. Pennsylvania DOC rules allow calls across the North American Calling Plan, but the payment method depends on where the call is going. U.S. state calls can be collect or paid with pre-paid commissary time. Calls to Puerto Rico, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, other Caribbean Islands, and international numbers outside the North American Calling Plan all require pre-paid time. This is especially worth checking if your number is outside the continental U.S. or outside the calling-plan area.