Video Visits at Waukesha County Jail: Lobby Kiosks vs. Remote GTL Visits from Home
Waukesha County Jail uses video visitation for all public visits. Your choice comes down to location: the jail's lobby kiosks or remote visits from home through GTL. Here's how they differ—and the timing details that can make or break your plans.
All public visitation at Waukesha County Jail happens through video. Whether you show up at the facility or connect from home, expect a screen - not a face-to-face visit.
Even if you visit at the jail, you're still using video. The "in-person" part just means you're at the facility using their equipment - you won't be sitting across from your loved one.
One perk of going to the lobby: there's a public kiosk where you can deposit money into an inmate's account during normal visitation hours. If you want to handle a visit and add funds in the same trip, this saves time.
- ✓ Cash
- ✓ MasterCard
- ✓ Visa
- ✓ Debit card
Note: Kiosk deposits come with a vendor service fee based on the amount you deposit (for example: $3.95 for $5.00–$20.00; $4.95 for $20.01–$100.00; $5.95 for $100.01–$200.00).
Lobby kiosk deposits credit immediately - the funds are available right away. That matters if you need money in the account the same day.
Prefer to visit from home? Waukesha County Jail's remote visitation runs through GTL. Register at https://waukeshacountywi.gtlvisitme.com and follow the instructions to set up your visit.
Plan ahead: GTL visitor verification can take up to 72 hours, so same-day scheduling usually isn't realistic.
- Create your GTL account - Register at https://waukeshacountywi.gtlvisitme.com and follow the website prompts.
- Complete the visitor verification process - Submit what the site asks for and double-check your info so you don’t lose time.
- Wait for approval before counting on a visit - Verification can take up to 72 hours, so build that buffer in before you try to schedule.
Remote video visits are available daily - Sunday through Saturday - from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Keep that evening window in mind when you register, and plan around verification time.
Targeting a specific day? Start your GTL registration early. With verification taking up to 72 hours, the safest move is to register several days ahead - especially if you're trying to catch the evening remote-visit window.
- ✓ Test your camera and microphone before your visit time
- ✓ Use a stable internet connection (video will struggle on weak Wi‑Fi)
- ✓ Make sure the device you plan to use works with the GTL platform
If remote verification drags on longer than expected, the lobby is a solid backup - you'll still do a video visit, just at the jail. And if you need to add funds, the public lobby kiosk is available during normal visitation hours.
Mailing funds: The jail won't accept funds addressed to a specific inmate. If you send money by mail, use a certified check, cashier's check, or money order addressed to the Waukesha County Jail.
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