If someone you love is locked up in Montana, video matters more here than in most states, because Montana is huge and empty, and the drive to a prison or a rural county jail can eat a whole day. The good news is the state system gives every inmate some free video time. But how video works, and what it costs, depends on which kind of facility your person is in. So the first thing to nail down is whether they're in a state prison, a county jail, or federal custody.
Montana splits custody three ways, and each handles video differently. The state prison system (Montana DOC) runs and contracts its institutions, including Montana State Prison at Deer Lodge and Montana Women's Prison in Billings. County jails, run by sheriffs, handle people awaiting trial and serving shorter sentences. And federal custody works differently here than almost anywhere else, because Montana has no federal Bureau of Prisons institution. Figure out which bucket your person is in first, because everything else flows from that.
Do Montana state prisons offer video visitation?
Yes, and there's a free piece built in. At Montana DOC facilities, each inmate gets a tablet, and video visitation runs through that tablet using the GettingOut platform (operated by ViaPath). The way it works: the inmate initiates contact by sending you an email invitation, and only then do you create a GettingOut account, so don't set one up until you've been invited. The inmate connects their tablet to a docking station in their housing unit for the video visit.
On cost, each inmate gets one free 10-minute video visit per week; beyond that, video runs about 25 cents per minute. Phone calls work similarly, one free call a week, then paid. One quirk worth knowing: online self-scheduling of video visits has been discontinued, so visits are initiated by the inmate from the tablet rather than booked by you on a website. And tablet access can be switched off at any time, sometimes for days, for security reasons, so build in flexibility.
In-person visiting is also offered. To visit, you must be approved by the facility, which means completing an online Visitation Application (Montana routes this through an Okta account you create first). The review can take up to about 90 days, though it's often faster, so apply well ahead. Once approved, if you need to change your information later, there's a separate visitor information update form.
To get on the approved visitor list, complete that online application for the specific facility where your person is held, and wait for approval before trying to visit or set up tablet contact.
County and city jails
Montana's county jails are run by sheriffs, and each picks its own vendor and rules, so this is where cost and platform vary.
You'll find different setups county to county. Many Montana jails use ICSolutions ("The Visitor") for video, with onsite and remote options; others use GettingOut/ViaPath or another provider. The bigger detention facilities, like Yellowstone County (Billings), Missoula County, Cascade County (Great Falls), and Flathead County, each post their own rosters and run their own visitation systems. The only way to be sure is to check the specific jail's page or call.
The vendor is facility-specific, so the company that works for one county won't necessarily be the one next door. One warning that saves people money and grief: accounts do not transfer between vendors. If your person moves from an ICSolutions jail to a GettingOut jail (or into the state system, which uses GettingOut), your funds and account don't follow. You set up fresh with the new vendor.
How county jail video visitation usually works
There are two flavors, and the difference is the whole ballgame for your wallet.
Onsite (or "onsite video") means you drive to the jail and sit at a video terminal in the lobby to talk to the person, who's on a screen inside. Onsite video is frequently free or low-cost.
Remote video means you connect from your own phone, tablet, or computer at home. That convenience is what you pay for. Remote sessions are charged per session or per minute, you typically prepay into a vendor account, and you usually reserve a slot in advance.
Montana jail video rates shift around, partly because the FCC has been capping these rates through 2024 to 2026 and partly because every facility prices differently. I'm not going to print a per-minute number here, because by the time you read it, it'll be wrong. Look up the rate on your specific jail's vendor page before you pay. What's stable is the structure: onsite is often free or cheaper, remote tends to cost, and there are usually advance-registration rules.
Setting up a video visit
The steps depend on whether it's a state prison or a county jail:
1. Find the system for that exact facility. For the state, video runs through the inmate's GettingOut tablet, the inmate invites you, you don't schedule it yourself. For a county jail, check the sheriff's site for the vendor (often ICSolutions or GettingOut). Don't guess.
2. Get approved, then create the right account. For the state, complete the online visitation application (via Okta) and wait for approval; create your GettingOut account only after the inmate invites you. For a county jail, register with the listed vendor and verify your identity, usually with a government photo ID.
3. Confirm your inmate's details. You'll need the correct name and DOC or booking number, and you must be on the approved list.
4. Connect or schedule. State video is initiated by the inmate from the tablet. At a county jail, schedule onsite or remote and pay for any paid remote session.
5. Test your device and be ready early. Get set about 15 minutes ahead. Check your camera, microphone, speakers, and internet. A failed connection on your end usually still burns the visit.
Federal and immigration custody
Federal custody works differently in Montana than in most states, because Montana has no federal Bureau of Prisons institution of its own. Federal prisoners with Montana cases, and people in U.S. Marshals custody awaiting federal court, are often held at the Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby, a privately operated prison (run by CoreCivic) that contracts with both the Montana DOC and the federal government. So a "federal" inmate in Montana may physically be in a private prison in Shelby, while others are designated to BOP institutions in other states. Use the BOP inmate locator to find someone in BOP custody and check that institution's visiting rules; for someone held at Crossroads, confirm visiting and video procedures with that facility directly, since it runs its own system.
Immigration custody is more limited in Montana than in many states. Montana does not have a large dedicated ICE detention center, and people detained by ICE in or near Montana are frequently held briefly in local jails or transferred out of state to larger detention facilities elsewhere. (It's worth noting that CoreCivic, the company that runs the Shelby prison, is one of the country's largest ICE detention contractors nationally, but that's about the company, not a sign that Montana itself hosts major ICE detention.) Because people can be moved quickly and far, confirm where your person actually is before making any plans. To locate someone in ICE custody, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator, which needs the person's A-Number (the nine-digit alien registration number) or their name plus country of birth. Each facility sets its own visiting and video rules, so confirm directly, and remember immigration bonds are handled through ICE, not posted at the jail.
A note on staying connected
Video is good for one thing money can't really replace: seeing a face, watching a kid wave, reading an expression. And in a state as big and spread out as Montana, where the prison or jail might be several hours of highway away, that free weekly video visit can be the closest thing to being in the room.
But be honest with yourself about what carries the weight day to day. Mail is the steadiest line there is. It doesn't drop the call, doesn't need a scheduled slot, and the person can hold it and read it again at 2 a.m. when the walls close in. Phone calls are the backbone of staying in touch, the thing you'll actually do most weeks (and there's a free one each week in the state system). Video is the bonus on top, the face-to-face when you can get it. Build your routine around mail and calls, and treat video as the thing that makes the distance feel a little smaller.
Related pages:
/prisons/montana
FCC 2026 call and video rate caps guide
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Do Montana state prisons offer video visits?
Yes. Montana DOC inmates get a tablet, and video visits run through the GettingOut platform. The inmate sends you an email invitation to start, then you create an account.
Are Montana state prison video visits free?
Partly. Each inmate gets one free 10-minute video visit per week. Beyond that, video runs about 25 cents per minute. There's also one free phone call a week.
How does tablet video visitation work in Montana?
The inmate connects their tablet to a docking station in their unit and initiates the visit. Online self-scheduling has been discontinued, so the inmate starts the visit, not you.
Is in-person visiting still allowed in Montana?
Yes. You must be approved first, by completing an online visitation application (through an Okta account). Review can take up to about 90 days, so apply early.
What vendor does the Montana DOC use?
GettingOut (operated by ViaPath) for tablet messaging, phone calls, and video visits. The state switched to this platform in late 2023 from its prior vendor.
How do I get on the approved visitor list?
Create an Okta account, complete the online visitation application for the facility, and wait for approval (up to about 90 days). Don't create a GettingOut account until the inmate invites you.
What vendor do Montana county jails use?
It varies by county. Many use ICSolutions ("The Visitor"); some use GettingOut/ViaPath or another provider. Always confirm on the specific sheriff's website.
Are county jail video visits free in Montana?
Sometimes onsite video at the jail is free or cheaper. Remote video from home is usually charged per session or minute. Confirm with the specific facility.
What is onsite vs remote video visiting?
Onsite means you go to the jail and use a terminal there, often free. Remote means you connect from your own device at home, which typically costs money at county jails.
Do vendor accounts transfer between jails?
No. Accounts and funds don't move between vendors. If your person transfers to a facility using a different company, you set up a new account with that vendor.
How do I find which facility someone is in?
Use the Montana DOC offender search for state custody and the county sheriff's roster (or VINELink) for local jails. For federal, use the BOP locator. Confirm before scheduling.
Is there a federal prison in Montana?
No BOP institution is located in Montana. Federal and U.S. Marshals detainees are often held at the private Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby, or designated to BOP prisons out of state.
Are ICE detainees held in Montana?
Montana has no large dedicated ICE detention center. People detained by ICE are often held briefly in local jails or moved out of state to larger facilities.
How do I find someone in ICE custody?
Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator. You'll need the person's A-Number, or their full name plus country of birth. Check often, since people are moved frequently.
Is video the only way to see an inmate?
No. State prisons and most county jails offer in-person visits alongside video. Federal custody (including the Shelby private prison) has its own visiting rules.
What do I need to set up a video visit?
For the state: an approved visitor application and a GettingOut account (after the inmate invites you). For a jail: the vendor account, the inmate's name and ID, and a tested device with good internet. ====================================================================
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