If someone you love is locked up in Oregon, video can save you a long drive across a big state, but how it works depends on which kind of facility they're in. So the first thing to nail down is whether your person is in a state prison, a county jail, or federal or immigration custody, because that determines the vendor, the cost, and the rules.
Oregon splits custody three ways. The state prison system (ODOC, the Oregon Department of Corrections) runs the state's prisons. County jails are run by sheriffs and handle people awaiting trial and serving shorter sentences. And federal and immigration custody play by their own rules, with one federal prison in the state and, because Oregon is a sanctuary state, an immigration-detention picture that looks different from most places. Figure out which bucket your person is in first, because everything else flows from that.
One bit of Oregon vocabulary up front: the state corrections system calls incarcerated people "adults in custody," or AICs, so you'll see that term on official pages instead of "inmate."
Do Oregon state prisons offer video visitation?
Yes. ODOC uses ICSolutions, on a platform called The Visitor, for video visits. You register for free (after validating your phone number), and you can do video either onsite at a kiosk in the facility or offsite from home using a computer, Android, or iOS device, you download and test the app first, then schedule and conduct the visit at a time that works for you. Video supplements in-person visiting rather than replacing it.
A couple of Oregon specifics worth knowing. Tablets in ODOC have been provided by the vendor (Telmate, part of the ViaPath family) and are used for messaging, calls, and content, with some free and some paid services. And a notable change is coming: ODOC has announced it's moving to issue tablets to all adults in custody and to shift to digitally scanned mail (incoming letters scanned and delivered electronically rather than handed over on paper), a transition the department has said it expects to roll out around the end of 2026. If you mail letters, watch for that change so yours go to the right place.
In-person visiting is central to the state system. You must be on the approved visitor list first, which means submitting a visitor application and being approved before you can schedule. Approved visitors typically include spouses, parents, guardians, adult children, and vetted friends. You'll need a government photo ID, and dress and conduct rules are enforced. Some prisons allow contact visits; others are non-contact through glass.
To get on the approved visitor list, complete the ODOC visitor application for the facility where your person is housed and wait for approval before scheduling. Always check the specific facility's page on the day you travel, since hours and formats can change for staffing or safety.
County and city jails
Oregon's county jails are run by sheriffs, and each picks its own vendor, so cost and platform vary.
You'll see a mix, with Securus and ICSolutions both common. The Multnomah County jails in the Portland area (the downtown Detention Center and Inverness Jail) use Securus Video Visiting, with visits scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. Washington County (Hillsboro) and Marion County (Salem) run their own social-visit rules and schedules. The only way to be sure of any county's setup is to check that 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 a Securus jail to an ICSolutions jail (or into the state system), 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, when a jail offers it.
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.
Oregon 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 (where offered) is often free or cheaper, remote tends to cost, and there are usually advance-registration rules.
Setting up a video visit
The steps are roughly the same whichever system you're dealing with:
1. Find the system for that exact facility. For the state, that's ICSolutions / The Visitor. For a county jail, check the sheriff's site for the vendor (Securus or ICSolutions). Don't guess.
2. Create the right account and verify your identity, usually with a government photo ID (for the state, you validate your phone number to register).
3. Add your inmate and get on the approved list. You'll need the correct name and the SID number (state) or booking number (county), and for the state you must be on the approved visiting list first.
4. Schedule your visit, choosing onsite (where offered) or remote, and pay for any paid remote session.
5. Test your device and log in early. Get on about 15 minutes ahead. Check your camera, microphone, speakers, and internet. A failed connection on your end usually still burns the visit slot.
Federal and immigration custody
If your person is in federal Bureau of Prisons custody, Oregon's one federal complex is FCI Sheridan, in Yamhill County, a medium-security men's prison with an adjacent minimum-security camp and a detention center on the grounds that holds people awaiting trial in Oregon's federal court. The BOP runs primarily in-person visiting with only limited video, so use the BOP inmate locator to find the institution and check its specific visiting rules. If someone was recently arrested on a federal charge and isn't in the BOP locator yet, they're likely still in U.S. Marshals custody during the designation period.
Immigration custody works differently in Oregon than almost anywhere else, because Oregon is a sanctuary state. Under Oregon's Sanctuary Promise Act, state and local agencies are prohibited from entering into agreements with federal immigration authorities to detain people for civil immigration purposes. In practice, that means there is no routine ICE detention housed inside Oregon, an Oregon jail (NORCOR, the regional jail serving several north-central counties) used to hold ICE detainees under contract but ended that arrangement in 2020. As a result, people detained by ICE in Oregon are typically transferred out of state, most often to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, a large privately run detention facility. This remains an active area of litigation and advocacy. Because people in immigration custody are frequently moved, 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 facility.
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 being able to visit from home, the way ODOC's offsite option allows, is a real help when the prison is hours away.
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. (Keep an eye on Oregon's shift to scanned mail, but the letter still matters just as much.) Phone calls are the backbone of staying in touch, the thing you'll actually do most weeks. 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/oregon
FCC 2026 call and video rate caps guide
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Do Oregon state prisons offer video visits?
Yes. ODOC uses ICSolutions, on a platform called The Visitor. You register for free after validating your phone number, then do video either onsite at a facility kiosk or offsite from home via app or computer.
What vendor does the Oregon DOC use?
Video runs through ICSolutions (The Visitor). Tablets have been provided by Telmate (ViaPath family) for messaging, calls, and content. County jails pick their own vendors, so confirm per facility.
What does AIC mean in Oregon prisons?
AIC stands for "adult in custody," the term Oregon's corrections system uses instead of "inmate." You'll see it on official ODOC pages and vendor forms.
Is in-person visiting still allowed in Oregon?
Yes, and it's central. You must be on the approved visitor list first. Some prisons allow contact visits, others are non-contact. Check the facility page, since hours and formats can change.
How do I get on the approved visitor list?
Complete the ODOC visitor application for the facility where your person is housed and wait for approval before scheduling. Bring a government photo ID, and follow dress and conduct rules.
What vendor do Oregon county jails use?
It varies. Securus and ICSolutions are both common. Multnomah County (Portland) uses Securus Video Visiting, scheduled at least 24 hours ahead. Always confirm on the specific sheriff's page.
Are county jail video visits free in Oregon?
Sometimes onsite lobby video is free, while at-home remote sessions are paid. It depends on the county and vendor, so check whether a free onsite option exists at your jail.
What is onsite vs remote video visiting?
Onsite means you go to the jail and use a terminal there, often free where offered. 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 ODOC inmate/AIC locator for state prisons and the county sheriff (or jail roster) for local jails. For federal, use the BOP locator. For ICE, use the Online Detainee Locator.
Is there a federal prison in Oregon?
Yes, one complex: FCI Sheridan in Yamhill County, a medium-security men's prison with a minimum-security camp and a detention center on the grounds. Use the BOP inmate locator.
Where are ICE detainees from Oregon held?
Usually out of state, most often at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. Oregon's sanctuary law keeps routine ICE detention from being housed inside the state.
Does Oregon hold ICE detainees overnight?
Generally no. Under Oregon's Sanctuary Promise Act, state and local agencies can't contract with ICE for civil immigration detention. A regional jail (NORCOR) ended its ICE contract in 2020.
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 quickly, often across state lines.
Is video the only way to see an inmate?
No. State prisons offer in-person plus video (onsite or from home), and most county jails offer onsite or remote video. Federal custody is mostly in-person with limited video.
What do I need to set up a video visit?
For the state: approval on the visiting list and an ICSolutions/The Visitor account, plus a device and internet. For a jail: the vendor account, the person's name and ID, and a tested device. ====================================================================
Stay Connected with InmateAid
Reach Your Loved One in Oregon
InmateAid helps families stay in touch. Set up discounted calls, send letters and photos, add money, or send approved magazines - all in one place.