Sci Somerset Pennsylvania
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Guides for This Facility
Your First Video Visit with Someone at SCI Somerset: A Step‑by‑Step Setup Guide
Your first video visit goes much smoother when you handle account setup and Zoom prep ahead of time. Follow these steps to get registered in Pennsylvania DOC's system, schedule your visit, and join without last-minute surprises.
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How to schedule a visit at SCI Somerset (step-by-step IVS & Keystone guide)
To schedule a visit at SCI Somerset, you'll use Pennsylvania's Inmate Visitation System (IVS) and log in through Keystone Login. The system cross-checks your registration details against the incarcerated person's authorized visitor list—so everything you enter needs to match what the facility has on file.
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Where to Send Letters, Photos, and Cards to an Inmate at SCI Somerset
Mail to SCI Somerset doesn't go directly to the prison. Pennsylvania DOC routes all incoming personal correspondence through a central processing center, so your letter, card, or photos need to be addressed to Smart Communications' P.O. Box in Florida. Include the institution name (SCI Somerset), your loved one's full name, and their inmate number to avoid delays.
Read GuideAt a Glance
Visitation
- Visitors must register and verify identity in IVS using a Keystone login; registration information must be accurate because IVS validates authorized visitor lists.
- The IVS Visitor Guide states visits must be scheduled at least three days in advance and cannot be scheduled beyond 60 days.
- Video visits last 45 minutes and contact (in‑person) visits are a minimum of one hour.
Communication
- Visitors may join a PA DOC video visit up to 5 minutes before the scheduled start time using the provided Video Call URL or Zoom meeting details.
- The Department of Corrections uses Zoom as the video platform for DOC video visitations (effective Dec 15, 2021).
- All video visits with non-attorneys are audio/video recorded and subject to review; video visits with attorneys are not recorded.
Mail & Letters
- All non‑privileged incoming mail for SCI Somerset is processed by Smart Communications and must be mailed to P.O. Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733 with the inmate’s name, number, and institution name.
- Letters and general correspondence must include a full return address and the inmate’s full and correct name and number, be printed on 8½ x 11 paper, and must not be bound like a book.
- Photographs are limited to 25 per mailing; original photos cannot be returned and will be securely destroyed after 45 days.
Sending Money
- Tablets must be ordered by the inmate via the DOC commissary at SCI Somerset.
- Family or friends can send money to inmates at SCI Somerset, but a JPay account is required to do so.
- Common deposit methods include online or phone services, lobby kiosks, and mailed money orders—confirm the facility’s accepted options before sending.
Contact Info
- Inmates may purchase DOC-approved tablets through ViaPath Technologies and family or friends can call ViaPath at 877-650-4249.
- Facilities publish main phone numbers plus direct lines or emails for records, medical, visitation, and inmate accounts.
- Third-party vendors commonly handle tablet, phone, and deposit services and list vendor support contacts separately from the facility switchboard.
Facility Info
- All visitors and visitor vehicles are subject to search and all visitors must pass through a metal detector.
- Visits are scheduled through IVS; one source indicates visits should be scheduled at least two days in advance.
- If a visit is canceled the IVS system will send an automatic email to the email address on the visitor's IVS account.
Based on official sources and community feedback. Learn how we verify
Topic Overviews
Visitation
To visit at SCI Somerset, register in Pennsylvania's Inmate Visitation System (IVS) and verify your identity with a Keystone login. Make sure your registration details are accurate—IVS uses that information to validate authorized visitor lists. Book visits at least three days in advance, but no more than 60 days out. IVS emails you if a visit is canceled or its status changes. Video visits run 45 minutes; contact (in-person) visits are a minimum of one hour. Each inmate can have up to four in-person visits per month (including one weekend visit), with up to four visitors per session. On-site rules: lock your vehicle, keep windows closed on prison property, limit affection to a brief hug and kiss at arrival and departure, and don't create multiple IVS accounts for the same person.
Read full guideCommunication
SCI Somerset runs PA DOC video visits through Zoom. You'll receive a Video Call URL or Zoom meeting details for each scheduled visit, and you can join up to five minutes early. All non-attorney video visits are recorded and may be monitored; visits with legal counsel are not recorded. Inmates can purchase DOC-approved tablets sold through ViaPath Technologies, but the order must go through the DOC commissary. Family and friends can help fund tablet purchases and related services by sending money through a JPay account. Questions about tablets? Contact ViaPath at 877-650-4249. After release, the DOC tablet must be returned to ViaPath to remove the mortality timer and restore Wi‑Fi and camera functions.
Read full guideMail & Letters
All non-privileged incoming mail for SCI Somerset routes through Smart Communications and must be sent to P.O. Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Include the inmate's full name, number, and institution name. General correspondence needs a full, legible return address, must be printed on 8½ x 11 paper, and can't be bound like a book. Photos are limited to 25 per mailing—originals can't be returned and are securely destroyed after 45 days. Publications (books, magazines, calendars, photo books) go to the DOC Security Processing Center at 268 Bricker Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667. Photo books must be soft cover, no more than 25 pages (excluding the cover), and no larger than 8x11 inches. Privileged legal mail has separate requirements and must use the institution's legal mailing address.
Read full guideSending Money
To add money for someone at SCI Somerset, you'll need a JPay account. Tablets must be ordered by the inmate through the DOC commissary—there's no process for families to order them directly. Deposits are commonly made online, by phone, at lobby kiosks, or by mailing a money order. Confirm which methods SCI Somerset accepts before sending anything. Deposited funds typically go into specific balances (commissary/trust, phone/prepaid, or tablet) and cover commissary purchases, phone time, tablet access, and medical co-pays. Always include the inmate's full name and DOC/ID number so funds post correctly.
Common Questions
Showing 6 of 18How do I schedule a visit at SCI Somerset?
First, have the inmate add you to the authorized visitors list, then create an IVS account and complete identity verification with a Keystone login. Adults need their own IVS accounts; minors are added under a parent/guardian account, and once someone turns 18 they must create their own account. Schedule your visit in IVS at least three days ahead (and no more than 60 days out) and watch your email for confirmations, cancellations, or status changes.
VisitationHow long are video and in‑person visits at SCI Somerset?
Video visits are 45 minutes. Contact (in-person) visits are a minimum of one hour.
VisitationWhat account and ID requirements do visitors need for SCI Somerset?
Adult visitors must use IVS and verify identity with a Keystone login; minors should be listed under a parent/guardian account. Enter your information accurately because IVS uses it to validate the authorized visitor list, and it will email you about cancellations or status changes. When you arrive, follow on-site rules like locking your vehicle and keeping windows closed while on prison property.
VisitationHow do I join a video visit with someone at SCI Somerset?
Join using the Video Call URL or the Zoom meeting details provided for your scheduled visit. You can enter up to five minutes before the start time; the IVS iOS instructions direct visitors to use the Zoom Cloud Meetings app and join with the link or meeting ID/password.
CommunicationAre video visits at SCI Somerset recorded or monitored?
Yes. All non-attorney video visits are audio/video recorded and subject to review. Video visits with attorneys are not recorded.
CommunicationHow can I buy or fund a DOC-approved tablet for an inmate at SCI Somerset and who do I contact with questions?
The inmate must order a DOC-approved tablet through the DOC commissary, and you can fund purchases by sending money through a JPay account. For tablet sales or order questions, call ViaPath Technologies at 877-650-4249. After release, former inmates are instructed to return the DOC tablet to ViaPath to remove the mortality timer and restore Wi‑Fi and camera functions.
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Did You Know?
SCI Somerset is a state correctional institution in Somerset, PA. To schedule or confirm visits, you'll need to create a Keystone Login through the Inmate Visitation System (IVS). The state uses this to verify visitor identity.
This guide is based on feedback from dozens of families and official facility documentation. Learn how we verify