Attention:

Video Visitation may be scheduled on any device that can access the web: including an iPhone or iPad. However, the video visit cannot take place on a device that uses iOS such as an iPad or iPhone.  Please use a home computer (Windows or Mac) or a mobile device that uses an Android or Windows operating system for your video visit.

THE MDOC RECOMMENDS USING HEADPHONES FOR VIDEO VISITS TO ELIMINATE BACKGROUND NOISE AND IMPROVE AUDIO QUALITY.

Technical or billing issues: 

Should be addressed with GTL Support at:

Call: (855) 466-2832

Email: visitorsupport@gtl.net

In-Person Visitation In-Person Visits During COVID-19

Only persons approved to visit (see PD 05.03.140 Prisoner Visiting) will be permitted to schedule a visit. If you are not approved to visit, you may apply to be approved by completing a MDOC Visiting Application CAJ-103 and returning the completed application to the facility where the prisoner you would like to visit is housed.  

Scheduling: All individuals who are approved to visit are required to schedule an appointment using the GTL Scheduler before visiting a prisoner.  Visitors are required to schedule the visit at least 72 hours prior to the visit, but not more than 7 days prior to the visit.  A maximum of two visitors may visit a prisoner at one time.  The duration of a visit shall not exceed two hours.  The MDOC recommends visitors arrive at the facility 45 minutes before their scheduled visit.

Safety: For the safety of the employees and the public, in-person visits are not permitted for prisoners who are housed in a facility under a COVID outbreak or housed in a COVID quarantined/isolation unit. All visitors, including a minor child’s parent or legal guardian, and prisoners shall sign a liability waiver and have an antigen test before an in-person visit takes place.  All existing MDOC policies, procedures, manuals, and rules that govern in-person visits and gate security apply unless otherwise outlined in this DOM.

Number of Visits Allowed: Social distancing requirements decrease the number of available visitation slots because less individuals can be in the visiting room at the same time. As a result, the number of in-person visits a prisoner is allowed per month is as follows:

Level I - Four

Level II - Three

Level IV (General Population and Protection) - Two

Level V and STG I - Two

Segregation and STG II - One non-contact visit

Entering a Correctional Facility: MDOC screening process includes a temperature check and an antigen rapid test for anyone two years and older. All visitors are also required to pass the MDOC screening process for COVID-19 before entering the facility. Visitors shall follow the instructions for providing an antigen test. If a visitor is dropped off at the facility and then tests positive for COVID-19 or fails the screening process they must have arrangements made in advance for someone to pick them up or a means of contacting someone to pick them up. Individuals who test positive or fail the screening process will not be able to enter or occupy the facility's lobby.

Video Visits

Only persons approved to visit, as outline in PD 05.03.140 Prisoner Visiting, will be permitted to schedule a visit. If you are not approved to visit, you may apply to be approved by completing a MDOC Visiting Application CAJ-103 and returning the completed application to the facility where the prisoner you would like to visit is housed.

Visitors and prisoners who are subject to a visiting restriction will not be permitted to participate in a video visit.

Scheduling: All individuals who are approved to visit are required to schedule an appointment using the GTL Scheduler before visiting a prisoner.  Visitors are required to schedule the visit at least 48 hours prior to the visit, but not more than 7 days prior to the visit.  A maximum of five persons may be scheduled to participate in a video visit. The names of all visitors must be provided at the time the visit is scheduled.

A minor must be accompanied on a video visit by the child’s legal guardian; by an immediate family member of the child or by a DHHS/Friend of the Court/contractor employee on official business or conducting a family visit. An unaccompanied minor is not permitted to participate in a video visit with a prisoner.

Video Visit Rules

 ALL video visits are monitored and recorded, the use of video visitation and acceptance of the rules is both consent to the video recording as well as agreement to the MDOC Video Visitation Standards. There is no expectation of privacy during video visits. 

The video visit should be a positive opportunity to connect with the prisoner; to ensure that the visit goes as planned please be aware of and in compliance with the standards of dress and behavior identified in the MDOC Video Visiting Standards: Video Visiting Standards

Standards include the following (Please be aware that this list is not inclusive of all behaviors which may be of concern and/or prohibited):

Only those persons approved for the video visit may be allowed to participate or be seen during the visit. Allowing unscheduled visitors to participate in a video visit is prohibited.

Visiting from a public venue (e.g. church, school, restaurant, party, reunion, etc.) is prohibited.

All parties must remain seated throughout the entire visit.

All parties must remain completely clothed throughout the entire visit.

Obscene or sexually suggestive gestures are prohibited.

Use of electronic devices and telephones during a video visit is prohibited.

Display of money, drugs, or weapons during a video visit is prohibited.

Participating in a video visit in a moving vehicle is prohibited.

Additional Video Visiting Information: Video Visitation

Canceling a Visit

Video Visits may be canceled up to 48 hours in advance of a scheduled visit without counting against the prisoner’s monthly allotted visits. Video Visits canceled less than 48 hours in advance will be counted as a visit, and the visit will be deducted from the prisoner’s monthly visit allotment.

Video visits cancelled up to 48 hours in advance of the scheduled visit will be refunded the entire visit cost.

Video visits cancelled less than 48 hours and up to 24 hours prior to the visit will be refunded 50% of the visit cost.

Video Visits canceled by the MDOC facility or due to VERIFIED technical difficulties with the Video Visiting platform will not be counted against the prisoner’s monthly visit allotment and a 100% refund will be applied.

In-Person Visits may be canceled up to 72 hours in advance of a scheduled visit without counting against the prisoner’s monthly allotted visits.

In-Person Visits canceled by the MDOC facility will not be counted against the prisoner’s monthly visit.

Check-in for the Video Visit

Prepare to check-in for the video visit 15 minutes prior to the start of the visit. Each visitor will be asked to produce required identification at that time.