If someone you love is locked up in Vermont, video can make staying in touch easier, but how it works depends on which kind of custody they're in. Vermont is unusual, though, in a way that simplifies one part and complicates another: the state runs one unified corrections system (so there's basically one set of rules), but it also houses a chunk of its population out of state in Mississippi.
Here's the lay of the land. Vermont does not have county jails. The Vermont Department of Corrections (VT DOC) runs a single statewide system of six correctional facilities that hold everyone in state custody, pretrial detainees, people serving short sentences, and those serving long terms. Municipal police lockups only hold people very briefly and don't host social visits. Because of in-state crowding, Vermont also contracts to house some incarcerated people at a private prison in Mississippi. And federal and immigration custody play by their own rules. So the first thing to figure out is where your person actually is: a Vermont DOC facility, the out-of-state facility, or ICE custody.
Does the Vermont DOC offer video visitation?
Yes. VT DOC offers both in-person and video visits, and video runs through the GTL VisitMe system (part of ViaPath/ConnectNetwork). You create a VisitMe/ConnectNetwork account, get approved, and schedule sessions online. Each of the state's facilities posts its own visiting blocks by unit, so the schedule depends on where your person is housed and their unit.
In-person visiting is offered at all VT DOC facilities once you're approved. You complete the approval steps, show a government photo ID, and follow the dress and conduct rules. Visiting can be limited for protective orders, certain convictions, pending cases, or safety reasons.
A few Vermont specifics. Money goes through Access Corrections (the Keefe trust account), and property/packages go through the Vermont package program. Tablets (ICS tablets) have been distributed at all facilities, with features like timed "gold pass" access. And for legal contact, confidential communication with an attorney is available by in-person visit, video, legal mail, and attorney phone lines.
To get on the approved visitor list, complete the VT DOC visitor approval process for the facility where your person is housed, then create your VisitMe account and schedule.
A note on how Vermont's system is different
Because Vermont is a unified system with no county jails, you don't deal with the usual patchwork of county vendors and rules. Whether your person is pretrial or sentenced, they're in a VT DOC facility, and you're working with VT DOC and GTL VisitMe. That part is simpler than most states. The wrinkles are the out-of-state facility (below) and the fact that immigration detainees are sometimes held in these same VT DOC facilities, also covered below.
If your person is housed out of state (Mississippi)
This is one of Vermont's most distinctive features. Because its own facilities are crowded, VT DOC contracts with the private prison company CoreCivic to house some Vermont incarcerated men (roughly 120 to 130 in recent years) at the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility (TCCF) in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Vermont has relied on out-of-state housing in various states since the late 1990s, and has used the Mississippi facility since 2018.
If your person is at TCCF, they're more than 1,300 miles from Vermont, so in-person visiting usually isn't realistic for most families, which makes phone, mail, tablet messaging, and video especially important. VT DOC maintains a dedicated page and FAQ for families of people housed out of state, and the agency sends staff to the facility periodically. Confirm the current video and phone setup for the out-of-state facility specifically, because the vendor and scheduling there can differ from the in-Vermont facilities, and check VT DOC's out-of-state family information for the exact process.
How video visitation usually works
There are two flavors, and the difference matters for your wallet.
Onsite (or "onsite video") means you go to the facility and use a video terminal there to talk to the person, who's on a screen inside. Onsite video is frequently free or low-cost, when a facility 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.
Vermont video rates shift around, partly because the FCC has been capping these rates through 2024 to 2026 and partly because pricing changes by vendor. 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 current rate on the vendor's 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 facility you're dealing with:
1. Find the right system. For VT DOC facilities, that's GTL VisitMe (ViaPath/ConnectNetwork). For the out-of-state facility, confirm its specific setup. 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 DOC ID, and you must complete VT DOC's visitor approval 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
Vermont does not have a Bureau of Prisons-owned federal prison. If your person is convicted of a federal crime in Vermont, they're typically designated to a BOP facility in another state, and while a federal case is pending, they're usually held by the U.S. Marshals Service (often in a contracted facility) 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.
Immigration custody in Vermont has a twist tied to the unified system: because the state runs all its own facilities, ICE detainees in Vermont are generally held in VT DOC state facilities rather than a separate ICE detention center. In practice, immigration detentions in Vermont occur mainly at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans and the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington (the women's facility). Vermont falls under ICE's Boston field office, which covers all of New England. People are often held only briefly in Vermont before being moved into the regional system and frequently transferred out of state (sometimes far away). This is an active, fast-changing area. Because people in immigration custody are moved quickly, confirm where your person actually is before making 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 (the St. Albans facility, for example, handles ICE detainee visits and legal contact under specific procedures), 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 when your person is housed far away, in Mississippi, or wherever a transfer takes them, video can be the closest thing to being in the same 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 they matter even more when distance rules out in-person visits. 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/vermont
FCC 2026 call and video rate caps guide
Arrest Record Search (affiliate)
Frequently asked questions
Does the Vermont DOC offer video visits?
Yes. VT DOC offers both in-person and video visits at its facilities. Video runs through the GTL VisitMe system (ViaPath/ConnectNetwork). You create an account, get approved, and schedule online.
What vendor does the Vermont DOC use?
Video and scheduling run through GTL VisitMe (ViaPath/ConnectNetwork). Money goes through Access Corrections (the Keefe trust account), and tablets are provided (ICS tablets). Confirm details on the VT DOC site.
Does Vermont have county jails?
No. Vermont is a unified system, all adult custody (pretrial, short-term, and long-term) is run by the Vermont Department of Corrections across six facilities. Municipal lockups only hold people briefly.
Is in-person visiting still allowed in Vermont?
Yes, at all VT DOC facilities once you're approved. Each facility posts its own visiting blocks by unit. Bring a government photo ID and follow dress and conduct rules. Visits can be limited for safety reasons.
How do I get on the approved visitor list?
Complete VT DOC's visitor approval process for the facility where your person is housed, then create a GTL VisitMe account to schedule. The approval generally covers both in-person and video visits.
How do I send money to a Vermont inmate?
Through Access Corrections (also called the Keefe trust account). Property and packages go through the Vermont package program. Follow the deposit instructions and coupon format on the VT DOC site.
Why is my person held out of state?
Because Vermont's facilities are crowded, VT DOC contracts to house some incarcerated men out of state, at a CoreCivic-run prison in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Vermont has used out-of-state housing since the late 1990s.
How do I visit someone housed in Mississippi?
In-person visiting is usually impractical given the distance (over 1,300 miles), so phone, mail, tablet messaging, and video matter most. Check VT DOC's out-of-state family page for the facility's specific video and phone setup.
Is there a federal prison in Vermont?
No. Vermont has no BOP-owned prison. Federal defendants are usually held by the U.S. Marshals while their case is pending, then designated to a BOP prison in another state.
Where are ICE detainees held in Vermont?
Because Vermont runs all its own facilities, ICE detainees are generally held in VT DOC prisons, mainly Northwest State Correctional Facility (St. Albans) and Chittenden Regional (South Burlington), before often being transferred out of state.
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. Vermont is under ICE's Boston field office. Check often, since people are moved quickly.
How do I find which facility someone is in?
Use the VT DOC offender locator for state custody (including the out-of-state facility). For federal, use the BOP locator. For ICE, use the Online Detainee Locator.
What is onsite vs remote video visiting?
Onsite means you go to the facility and use a terminal there, often free where offered. Remote means you connect from your own device at home, which typically costs money.
Is video the only way to see an inmate?
No. VT DOC facilities offer in-person plus video. For people housed out of state or in ICE custody, in-person is often impractical, so video, phone, and mail do the heavy lifting.
What do I need to set up a video visit?
Approval through VT DOC, a GTL VisitMe (ConnectNetwork) account, the person's name and DOC ID, and a device with internet. For the out-of-state facility, confirm its specific account and process.
How does mail work in Vermont prisons?
Send mail by U.S. Postal Service to the facility (or processing address) per VT DOC's instructions; legal mail is handled separately. For people housed out of state, follow the out-of-state mailing guidance on the VT DOC site. ====================================================================