How St. Joseph County Jail Monitors and Records Video Visits (What Families Should Know)
If you're using St. Joseph County Jail's remote video visitation, expect it to be watched and saved. The jail's policy is straightforward: these visits are monitored and recorded for the entire scheduled session.
Note: Video visits start with an approved visitor account. Once you’re registered, approved, and scheduled, the monitoring and recording applies during that scheduled visit.
Video-visit monitoring is part of the jail's broader security infrastructure. St. Joseph County Jail operates what it describes as a state-of-the-art security system with over 130 cameras recording around the clock. The facility also runs a video arraignment system used by judges and magistrates throughout the county - another sign that video and recording technology is woven into daily operations.
For families, the bottom line is this: a remote video visit isn't a private conversation. Because these visits are monitored and recorded, don't share anything you wouldn't want reviewed later. The rules cut both ways, too. The jail prohibits visitors from recording audio or video of the visit, and bans third-party communication during the call - including social media. No screen-recording, no "going live," no looping in other people through outside apps.
- ✓ Don’t try to record the call (audio or video) or involve third parties through social media during the visit.
- ✓ If you’re visiting from a Windows or Mac computer, use the required GTL VisBridge desktop application.
- ✓ Follow the facility’s video-visit rules closely - violations can end a visit immediately and can affect whether you’re allowed to visit in the future.
Tip: If you’re video visiting from a desktop computer, you’ll need the GTL VisBridge app. Use it as intended and avoid any recording or “sharing” features outside the visit.
If you think there's a problem with a recording or have a privacy concern, contact St. Joseph County Jail at 574-245-6500. For written concerns, reach Warden Andrew Finn at afinn@sjcpd.org.
- Write down the basics - note the date, start time, and who the visit was with.
- Capture what you can - save any confirmation details from your visitor account and take screenshots of error messages (if the platform allows it).
- Call the jail - explain the issue clearly and stick to the timeline you wrote down.
- Follow up in writing - send a short email with the same details so there’s a record of what you reported and when.
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