How to Schedule Your First Visit at Shelby County Jail: Online, Phone, or Lobby Kiosk

You have three ways to schedule a visit at Shelby County Jail. Online at www.ncic.com is often easiest if you're planning ahead. Prefer talking to someone? Call 1-800-943-2189 for help while you book. Already at the Sheriff's Office? Use the Visitation Kiosk in the lobby.

A few rules apply no matter how you schedule. Visits must be booked at least 24 hours ahead - same-day scheduling isn't an option. You'll also need to be an approved visitor before you can book anything. And bring a valid, government-issued photo ID; staff will check it before your visit starts.

For the most direct option, schedule online at www.ncic.com. This works well when you already know what day you want and just need to grab an available slot - no phone wait, no trip to the lobby.

Rather talk to a person? Call 1-800-943-2189 to schedule. This can help if availability is tight and you want to confirm what's actually open before committing to a time.

If you're already at the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, use the Visitation Kiosk in the lobby. Helpful if you want to handle everything in person. The lobby video visit itself is free for both you and the inmate.

First things first: make sure you're approved to visit. Shelby County Jail requires visitor approval before any visit can happen. If you're not on the approved list, the visit won't go through - even if you've already scheduled.

Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID. Staff will verify it before your visit starts, so have the actual ID you plan to use at check-in.

Plan ahead: all visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Want to visit tomorrow? You'll need to book today or earlier to avoid getting blocked by the 24-hour rule.

When scheduling, you'll pick from Shelby County's posted video visitation time slots. The jail publishes specific days and times for video visits, and your visit needs to fit one of those windows.

Some slots fill up faster than others. Availability depends partly on how many visitation monitors are in each housing area, so check what's open before locking in a day and time.

Seeing fewer openings than expected? It's probably not you - it's capacity. The number of visitation monitors in each housing area limits how many slots are available. Check the published video visitation times first, then look for openings within those exact windows.

Most scheduling headaches come down to timing and method. Online (www.ncic.com) and phone (1-800-943-2189) both work, but neither can bypass the 24-hour advance booking rule. The lobby kiosk is another solid option if you're on site - just make sure you're still booking far enough ahead.

Quick Checklist

• ✓ A valid, government-issued photo ID (you’ll show it before the visit starts)
• ✓ Confirmation that you’re an approved visitor
• ✓ Your scheduled visit details, with the reminder that visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance