Target URL: /information/video-visitation-in-florida (confirm path with Selva)
Links up to: /prisons/florida (state hub)
Editorial: no em dashes, plain former-insider voice, FAQ headings under 60 chars, NO hardcoded per-minute prices in body
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Inmate Video Visitation in Florida
If you are trying to see someone who is locked up in Florida, the first thing to understand is that video visitation in this state is mostly a county jail service, not a state prison one. That surprises a lot of families, so it is worth getting straight before you set up any account or pay for anything.
Florida runs on three separate systems when it comes to visiting: the state prison system run by the Florida Department of Corrections, the county and city jails run by sheriffs, and the federal and immigration systems. Each handles video differently, and only some of them use it at all. This guide walks through each one, tells you which jails actually offer video, and shows you how to set it up without wasting money.
Do Florida state prisons offer video visitation?
For most families, the short answer is no. The Florida Department of Corrections, or FDC, runs in-person visiting at its state prisons, not video. As of mid-2023, FDC moved its adult institutions to three days of in-person weekend visiting, Friday through Sunday, and stopped offering weekend video visits at those prisons. Some institutions add Thursday as an extra day. The only places in the state system that still run a video option are the smaller conservation camps, sometimes called fire camps, which use a hybrid of in-person and video because they do not have a full three-day schedule.
So if your loved one is serving a state prison sentence in Florida, plan on an in-person visit. You schedule it through the Department's online visitation scheduling system, after you have been added to the inmate's approved visitor list and cleared the background screening. Visits require approval in advance, and physical contact rules vary by institution and security level. The FDC facility's page is where you confirm the days, hours, and rules, because they differ from prison to prison.
The rest of this guide is about county jails, which is where video visitation in Florida really happens.
Which Florida jails use video visitation?
Most of Florida's larger county jails use video visitation, and many of them have replaced in-person jail visits with it entirely. This is the opposite of the state prison system, and it is the single most important thing to know about visiting someone in a Florida jail: at many jails, video is the only way to see them.
A few examples of how common this is. Miami-Dade conducts all of its jail visits remotely by video, with no in-person option, through the GTL/ViaPath VisitMe system. Broward County runs a Video Visitation Center that supports both onsite and remote video. Hillsborough County, in Tampa, runs onsite video daily. Orange County, in Orlando, operates a Video Visitation Center open seven days a week and allows a set number of video visits per week. Pinellas County closed its in-person visitation center in October 2025 and moved to a fully remote, video-based system through Smart Communications, with kiosks and tablets in the housing units.
Your county may run things differently, so the facility's own page is always the place to confirm. But across Florida, if you are visiting someone in a county jail, expect video to be the primary or only option.
How county jail video visitation usually works
There are two formats, and the difference matters for your wallet.
Onsite video is when you travel to the jail's video visitation center and use a kiosk there to talk to the person, who is elsewhere in the building. You are still on a screen rather than face to face, but onsite sessions are very often free. You usually still have to schedule them in advance.
Remote video is when you connect from home using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, through the jail's vendor app or website. This is the convenient option, and it is the one that usually costs money, charged either per minute or as a flat fee per session. Remote sessions also have to be scheduled ahead of time, typically at least a day in advance, though some jails offer an on-demand option during set hours.
Because the price depends entirely on the vendor and the specific jail, this guide does not quote rates. Federal rules that took effect through 2024 to 2026 pushed video visitation costs down at many facilities, so the current price is whatever your jail's vendor lists at the time you book. Always check the rate on the facility's page or in the vendor app before you pay.
Setting up a video visit
The steps are similar from jail to jail, even though the vendor changes:
First, find out which vendor your jail uses. Common ones in Florida include GTL/ViaPath (often branded as VisitMe or GettingOut), Securus, Smart Communications, and HomeWAV. The jail's page lists the one it uses. Do not create an account with the wrong vendor, because they do not transfer.
Second, create an account with that vendor and verify your identity. You will need a valid government photo ID.
Third, add your incarcerated person to your account using their full name and booking or jail number, and make sure you are on their approved visitor list. Many jails require you to be approved before you can schedule anything.
Fourth, schedule a session, choosing onsite or remote, pick an open time slot, and pay for the session if it is a paid remote visit. Save the confirmation.
Fifth, for a remote visit, test your device, camera, and internet ahead of time, and log in a few minutes early. If the technology fails on the jail's end, ask the vendor about a credit or refund.
Federal and immigration custody
If your person is in federal prison in Florida, that is the Bureau of Prisons, which runs its own visitation system, primarily in-person, with video used in limited circumstances. You arrange it through the specific federal facility, not through any county or state vendor.
If your person is in immigration custody, ICE facilities and the county jails that hold ICE detainees handle visitation under their own rules, which may include video. You confirm the process through the facility holding them. In all of these cases, find the specific facility on InmateAid and follow the instructions on its page.
A note on staying connected
Video visits are one piece of staying in touch, and they are not the cheapest or most reliable one. Mail still reaches almost everyone in custody, it is the steadiest form of contact, and a person who hears from home regularly does easier time. Phone calls are the other backbone. Many families use a mix: mail as the constant, calls for regular contact, and video visits when they want to actually see each other's faces. To set any of this up for the specific facility holding your loved one, find that facility on InmateAid and follow the instructions on its page, since the vendor, the rules, and the costs are different at every facility.
[Internal link block to render at foot of article:]
- See every prison, jail, and detention center in Florida: /prisons/florida
- Understand the new 2026 call and video rates: link to FCC Prison Phone Rate Caps 2026 guide
- Search arrest records across Florida: Arrest Record Search (honestly labeled affiliate)
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Frequently asked questions
Does Florida offer inmate video visitation?
Yes, but mostly at county jails, not state prisons. Many Florida county jails use video visitation as the primary or only way to visit, while the state prison system runs in-person visiting instead.
Do Florida state prisons have video visits?
Generally no. The Florida Department of Corrections moved its adult prisons to three days of in-person weekend visiting in 2023 and stopped weekend video at those institutions. Only the smaller conservation camps still use a hybrid video option.
How do I video visit someone in an FDC prison?
In most cases you cannot, because state prisons use in-person visiting. You schedule an in-person visit through the Department's online scheduling system after being added to the inmate's approved visitor list. Check the specific prison's page for days and rules.
Which Florida jails use video visitation?
Most larger county jails, including Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, and Pinellas. Many have replaced in-person jail visits with video entirely, so at those jails video is the only way to see someone. Confirm on the facility's page.
How much does jail video visitation cost?
It depends on the jail and its vendor. Onsite visits at the jail's video center are often free, while remote visits from home usually cost a per-minute or per-session fee. Federal rate changes through 2026 lowered costs at many facilities. Check the current rate before you book.
Are onsite video visits free in Florida jails?
Often yes. Many jails let you use a kiosk at their video visitation center for free, while charging only for remote visits done from home. You usually still have to schedule the onsite session in advance.
How do I schedule a jail video visit in Florida?
Find the jail's vendor, create an account, verify your ID, add your person by booking number, and make sure you are on their approved list. Then pick onsite or remote, choose a time slot, and pay if it is a paid remote visit. Save the confirmation.
What do I need for a remote video visit?
A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and a stable internet connection, a verified account with the jail's vendor, and approval on the inmate's visitor list. Log in a few minutes early and test your device beforehand.
Which vendor does my Florida jail use?
It varies by jail. Common Florida vendors are GTL/ViaPath (VisitMe or GettingOut), Securus, Smart Communications, and HomeWAV. The jail's page lists the one it uses. Do not set up an account with the wrong vendor, since accounts do not transfer.
Can I still visit in person in Florida?
At state prisons, yes, in-person is the standard. At county jails it depends. Many Florida jails have ended in-person visits and use video only, while some still offer both. Check the specific facility's page before you travel.
Can my kids join a video visit?
Usually yes, when a minor is accompanied by an approved adult, but rules vary by facility. Some jails require minors to be listed in advance. Confirm the rules on the facility's page before scheduling.
Why was my video visit denied or cut off?
Common reasons include not being on the approved visitor list, an ID mismatch, a dropped internet connection, a rule violation during the session, or the inmate being on a disciplinary or medical hold. The vendor can explain a refund if the failure was on the jail's end.
Can an attorney use video visitation?
Yes. Most Florida jails that use video allow attorney and professional visits through the same vendor, often with a separate registration and confidential procedures. Attorneys should check the facility's professional-visit instructions.
What if my facility is not listed?
Find the specific jail or prison on InmateAid and follow its page, since each facility sets its own vendor, rules, and costs. If video is not offered there, the page will show the in-person or other contact options available. =====================================================
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