Video Visits vs. In-Person Visits at Tabor: Which Option Is Right for Your Family?
Choosing between a video visit and an in-person visit at Tabor usually comes down to three things: how far you'd have to travel, scheduling flexibility, and whether an in-person visit would be contact or non-contact. Here's how both options work under NCDAC rules—and how to set up a video visit through Getting Out Visits.
Tabor Corrections Institution allows both in-person and video visits under NCDAC policies. Either way, you'll need to be on the incarcerated person's approved visitor list before you can schedule anything.
Reminder: Video visits (and in-person visits) are limited to people who are on the incarcerated person’s approved visitors list.
Video visits at Tabor go through the Getting Out Visits app. You can either connect on-demand when you both have time, or schedule an appointment for a specific date and time.
Your loved one connects from inside the facility using an electronic tablet or a video kiosk.
- ✓ Personal computer
- ✓ Internet connection
- ✓ Webcam
- ✓ Microphone
- ✓ Recent/modern web browser
Video visits make sense when travel is the hardest part. If you're balancing work, childcare, transportation, or a long drive, connecting from home can make regular contact more realistic. You'll need a computer, internet, a webcam, a microphone, and a recent browser. Video visits also work as a backup when you can't make an in-person appointment but still want face-to-face time.
In-person visits can feel very different depending on your loved one's classification. Under NCDAC rules, someone validated as Security Threat Group (STG) Level 2 can have contact visits with approved immediate family. STG Level 3 means non-contact visits only - with approved immediate family members. That contact vs. non-contact difference matters when you're deciding whether the trip is worth it, and it's one reason some families lean toward video visits.
Tip: Before you plan travel, confirm the current availability and any restrictions for in-person or video visiting with the facility.
- Schedule an appointment - In-person visits at Tabor are by appointment only, so you’ll need to call or email the prison where the person is housed to set it up.
- Confirm the day before - Call the prison the day before your scheduled visit to confirm the facility’s visitation status.
- Use Getting Out Visits - Download the Getting Out Visits app to conduct a video visit.
- Choose on-demand or scheduled - Video visits can be on-demand or scheduled for a future time/date, depending on what works best for you and what’s available.
- Treat it like an appointment when required - If your visit needs to be scheduled, set it up ahead of time so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Troubleshooting Verification
- ✓ Test your webcam and microphone before the visit starts
- ✓ Check your internet connection (a weak connection can cause freezing or dropped audio)
- ✓ Use a recent/modern web browser on your computer
- ✓ Confirm your video visit shows up correctly in the Getting Out Visits app if you scheduled it
Keep your loved one's offender ID (often called an OPUS number) handy when scheduling or searching the system. You can also use the NCDAC Offender Public Information Search to look someone up by name or offender ID. If a scheduled video visit doesn't show up correctly in the Getting Out Visits app, contact the facility for help.
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