How to Schedule Your First Video Visit at Shelby County Jail

Each inmate at Shelby County Jail gets one scheduled visit per week. Try to book a second, and the system will block it. Coordinate with other family members so you're not competing for that single slot.

You'll need to be an approved visitor before you can schedule anything. Have a valid government-issued photo ID ready for registration and check-in - Shelby County specifically accepts a passport or state ID. If you're not approved yet or your ID doesn't match your registration, scheduling (or check-in) will stall.

1. Go to www.ncic.com - this is one of the official ways friends and family can schedule a visit.
2. Follow the scheduling prompts - enter the information requested and choose an available time.
3. Confirm the booking details - double-check you selected the correct inmate and the time you want before you submit.

1. Call 1-800-943-2189 - this is the phone option for scheduling.
2. Follow the prompts (or ask for help if you reach a person) - have the inmate’s information and your ID details handy so you can complete the booking.
3. Write down your visit details - keep the date/time you scheduled so you can check in on time.

1. Go to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office lobby visitation area - you can schedule using the Visitation Kiosk on-site.
2. Use the kiosk to schedule your video visit - follow the on-screen prompts and enter your information carefully.
3. Plan to visit from the lobby - on-site video visits from the lobby are provided at no cost to the inmate or visitor.

First, you must be approved before the system lets you schedule. Shelby County also requires visits to be booked at least 24 hours in advance - no same-day bookings. Build in some lead time, especially if you're working around a job or childcare.

You can schedule visits up to two weeks in advance. If you know you’ll need a specific day, booking early gives you a better shot at getting the time you want.

Checkin ID Requirements

• ✓ Be an approved visitor (approval is required before you can schedule)
• ✓ Bring valid photo ID for registration and at check-in (passport or state ID)

Can't schedule? The most common reason is the weekly limit - each inmate gets one visit per week, and the system blocks anything beyond that. Scheduling can also fail if the inmate is on privilege restriction or if slots are full because the housing area has limited visitation monitors.

Running into GTL Vis/desktop scheduling problems? Call 901-222-4928 (Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m.). For technical issues, reach GTL directly at 855-208-7349. Have your account info and visit details ready so they can troubleshoot faster.

You can also schedule by phone at 1-800-943-2189. If online booking keeps failing, trying the phone option can help you figure out whether it's a system limitation (like the one-visit-per-week cap) or something support needs to fix.

1. Arrive early - check in about 15 minutes before your scheduled visit.
2. If you used the lobby kiosk, build in extra time - kiosk-scheduled visits won’t begin sooner than 15 minutes after scheduling is completed.
3. Keep your timing realistic - between check-in and the kiosk delay, showing up right at the start time can set you up to miss the window.

Once you've scheduled a visit, treat it as a firm commitment. If your plans change, sort it out early - don't wait until the last minute.