Phone calls, tablet messaging, and video accounts

The communication tools you use depend on the jail. Some facilities direct families to GettingOut for video visitation and related services. GettingOut offers customer care by phone if you get stuck during sign-up or troubleshooting. Other facilities may use a different provider for messaging and photos, such as SmartInmate (Smart Communications), which handles online communication and is free to sign up. The key: match your account to the vendor used by that specific facility. Otherwise your messages, visits, or payments won't connect to the right place.

Expect your communication to be monitored unless it's handled as a properly placed attorney call. In some systems, attorney and public defender access follows special procedures, including specific weekday hours for a public defender direct line and rules about updating an attorney's contact information. For video, some GettingOut facilities offer an on-demand option that lets you start a visit without scheduling. If the person is unavailable, you can schedule for later. You're charged only for the time you use. GettingOut also advertises no upfront costs and no penalties for its remote video option, which helps if you're trying to connect quickly without guessing how much time you'll actually get.

Call availability depends on the facility's schedule. Some jails allow calls daily from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, but hours vary. Check the schedule for the specific jail where your loved one is housed, since housing status and facility rules can affect when calls go through.