If someone you love is locked up in Utah, video can save you a long drive, 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.
Utah splits custody three ways. The state prison system (UDC, the Utah Department of Corrections) runs the state's two prisons. County and city jails are run by sheriffs and local police and handle people awaiting trial and serving shorter sentences. And federal and immigration custody play by their own rules, with no federal prison in the state and no dedicated ICE detention center. Figure out which bucket your person is in first, because everything else flows from that.
Do Utah state prisons offer video visitation?
Yes. UDC offers both in-person and video visits at its two prisons, the Utah State Correctional Facility (in Salt Lake City) and the Central Utah Correctional Facility (in Gunnison). Video sessions generally run about 30 minutes, and access is tied to the inmate's privilege level (UDC uses a privilege matrix that affects how often and how someone can visit).
To use video, you first renew or complete your visitor approval and send a photo ID, then schedule. UDC has been moving toward an online scheduling portal, but scheduling may still run through email at your facility, so check the current method. Visits generally must be scheduled about two business days in advance, an inmate is limited to one visit per scheduled day, and visits cancelled for technical problems (an internet or power outage, for example) aren't made up.
In-person visiting is central to the state system and runs on a weekend-heavy schedule with some weekday evening blocks, set by facility and housing unit (the schedule rotates, and UDC adjusts it as housing units change). You must be on the approved visitor list, pass a body-scanner and security screening, bring a government photo ID, and follow the dress and conduct rules (Utah's dress standards are fairly detailed, modest, loose-fitting clothing, sleeves that cover the shoulder, and so on).
A Utah-specific change to know about: as of January 5, 2026, UDC routes personal (non-legal) mail to a processing center, where it's scanned rather than delivered to the prison directly, so use the correct processing PO box for personal letters. Legal mail is handled separately. Tablets are also part of how people stay connected.
To get on the approved visitor list, complete (or renew) the UDC visitor application and submit a photo ID, then wait for approval before scheduling.
County and city jails
Utah has 29 counties, and county and city jails are run locally, so each picks its own vendor and rules. Cost and platform vary.
You'll see a mix, with Securus common. Utah County (Spanish Fork) runs visitation entirely through Securus remote video, you set up a Securus account and connect from a computer, phone, or tablet, with a posted per-session price and daily time windows (and there's typically a short waiting period right after someone is booked in before visits can start). Salt Lake County's Metro Jail and the Weber County facility (Ogden) have their own schedules and procedures, some by appointment set by classification. 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 a different vendor (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.
Utah 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 UDC's video visiting (renew approval, then schedule by the current method). For a county jail, check the sheriff's site for the vendor (Securus, for example). Don't guess.
2. Create the right account and verify your identity, usually with a government photo ID.
3. Add your inmate and get on the approved list. You'll need the correct name and the UDC ID (state) or booking number (county), and for the state you must be approved first.
4. Schedule your visit (for the state, about two business days ahead), 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 (and at the state prisons, technically cancelled visits aren't always made up).
Federal and immigration custody
Utah does not have a Bureau of Prisons-owned federal prison. If your person is convicted of a federal crime in Utah, they're typically designated to a BOP facility in another state. While a federal case is pending, the person is usually held by the U.S. Marshals Service, often in a Utah county jail under contract, before being sent to a BOP institution. To find someone in federal custody, use the BOP inmate locator; if they're recently arrested and not yet showing up, they're likely still in Marshals custody, so contact the U.S. Marshals office or the federal court clerk for the district handling the case.
Immigration custody in Utah works without a dedicated detention center, and it's an active, fast-changing area, so be careful with older information. There is no standalone ICE detention facility in Utah. Instead, several county jails (including in Salt Lake, Tooele, Washington, Davis, and Weber counties) hold small numbers of ICE detainees for short periods, both people arrested directly by ICE and people held briefly past a local release date at ICE's request. From there, detainees are typically transferred out of state, traditionally to ICE facilities in the Aurora, Colorado area and the Las Vegas, Nevada area, and, when those are full, to other locations (a jail in Evanston, Wyoming, just across the state line, has been used to hold detainees from Utah and nearby states). Immigration enforcement activity in Utah increased sharply in 2025. Because people in immigration custody are frequently moved across state lines, 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 in a state where the prison in Gunnison can be a long way from home, a 30-minute video visit can keep you close between in-person trips.
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. (In Utah's state system, remember personal mail now goes to a processing center to be scanned, but it 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/utah
FCC 2026 call and video rate caps guide
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Do Utah state prisons offer video visits?
Yes. UDC offers in-person and video visits at its two prisons, the Utah State Correctional Facility (Salt Lake City) and the Central Utah Correctional Facility (Gunnison). Video access is tied to the inmate's privilege level.
How long is a Utah state video visit?
Video sessions generally run about 30 minutes, and how often someone can visit is tied to their privilege level. Visits are usually scheduled about two business days in advance, one per scheduled day.
What vendor does the Utah DOC use?
UDC runs its own video-visiting program (scheduling has been moving toward an online portal, with email scheduling at facilities in the meantime). County jails pick their own vendors, often Securus, so confirm per facility.
Is in-person visiting still allowed in Utah?
Yes, and it's central, weekend-heavy with some weekday evening blocks, set by facility and housing unit. You must be on the approved list, pass a body scanner, bring photo ID, and follow dress rules.
How do I get on the approved visitor list?
Complete or renew the UDC visitor application and submit a photo ID, then wait for approval before scheduling. The same approval generally covers both in-person and video visits.
How does Utah handle inmate mail now?
As of January 5, 2026, UDC routes personal (non-legal) mail to a processing center to be scanned, rather than delivering it to the prison directly. Use the correct processing PO box; legal mail is handled separately.
What vendor do Utah county jails use?
It varies. Utah County (Spanish Fork) uses Securus for remote video; Salt Lake County and Weber County run their own schedules. Always confirm the vendor and rules on the specific county jail's page.
Are county jail video visits free in Utah?
Sometimes onsite lobby video is free, while remote video from home is paid (Utah County, for example, charges per session). It depends on the county and vendor, so check your specific 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 UDC offender search for state prisons and the county jail (or its roster) for local facilities. For federal, use the BOP locator. For ICE, use the Online Detainee Locator.
Is there a federal prison in Utah?
No. Utah has no BOP-owned prison. Federal defendants are usually held by the U.S. Marshals in a county jail while their case is pending, then sent to a BOP prison in another state.
Where are ICE detainees from Utah held?
Short-term in county jails (Salt Lake, Tooele, Washington, Davis, Weber), then usually transferred out of state, traditionally to the Aurora, Colorado and Las Vegas, Nevada areas, and sometimes elsewhere.
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, and most county jails offer onsite or remote video. Federal and ICE custody have their own, often more limited, rules.
What do I need to set up a video visit?
For the state: approval on the visiting list and a photo ID on file, plus a device and internet. For a jail: the vendor account (often Securus), the inmate's name and ID, and a tested device. ====================================================================
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