Visitation

Whether you are scheduling an in person visit or online visit you must first get a Keystone Login. This is a state service that once registered, you have access to several state service websites. Including but not limited to, the state unemployment system, Department of Human Services (SNAP, Medicaid, Etc..) You can register at this link for your Keystone ID. Copy and Paste this link into your browser. If you already have a Keystone Login, you can use those credentials to log into the scheduling system. ****TIP - WHEN YOU FIRST REGISTER - ONLY ENTER YOUR EMAIL FOR VERIFICATION. WHEN YOU COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS THEY WILL SEND YOU A VERIFICATION CODE. THEY TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES TO COME THROUGH ON EMAIL. IF YOU ENTER EMAIL AND A PHONE NUMBER THEY WILL SEND TWO DIFFERENT CODES - ONE TO YOUR EMAIL AND ONE TO TEXT - PROBLEM IS THE TEXTED ONE RARELY COMES THROUGH AND IT WILL NOT LET YOU CONTINUE YOUR VERIFICATION WITH ONLY ONE OF THEM. JUST AVOID THE PROBLEM MY ONLY ENTERING YOUR EMAIL. ONCE VERIFICATION IS COMPLETED IT WILL THEN ASK FOR YOUR PHONE NUMBER. IT IS NOT REQUIRED DURING THE FIRST STEP.

Once that is complete, then go to the Inmate Visitation Scheduler and Login with your Keystone ID Credentials. Copy and paste this link to your browser: https://inmatevisitation.cor.pa.gov/IVSForms/VLoginKeystone

Once logged in you the first thing you must do is add your inmate to your account. Your loved one will have had to submit and had a visiting list approved for you to add them to your account. ***Make sure when registering and entering your information as requested such as address, name - it must match exactly what your loved one filled out on their submitted visitor list. For Example, if you loved one submitted your name with your middle initial - Mary B. Smith - then this is how you must enter your information when registering on the DOC visitation system. Sometimes it will go through with small differences, it all depends on the officer verifying the information. The safest thing to do is make sure your information matches with what your loved one submitted. It is best not to use abbreviations, for example write out Drive instead of Dr. or Circle instead of Cir.

If your information matches immediately and you are an approved visitor, it will immediately come up and say approved in green letters. If it does not, it will say submitted in red letters and that means it will be reviewed by the visit officer for approval. If you are not on the approved visitors list, you will receive an email informing you that your request has been denied.

When you have the green approved sign, you can schedule a visit with your loved one!!

Once approved and logged in you will select if you are scheduling a video visit or in person. Then you will go through a series of yes or no questions regarding visitation policy.

Then you will be taken to a calendar for the current month, you can schedule 60 days in advance.

Video Visit scheduling will typically allow 6 visits per month and one of those can be on a weekend. Visits must be scheduled 3 days in advance is the policy, however, on the schedule system it is actually 4 days and this will be noted with those days blocked out and you are unable to click on them. Click on a blue date and it will list the times available for that day. All video visits are done on the zoom platform. When you have successfully scheduled a visit it will take you back to the scheduler home page. There it will list your upcoming visit. You will also receive an email confirmation with the zoom link. When it is time for you visit, you can log on 5 minutes prior to the start time of the visit. If you attempt to log on sooner, it will deny you and sometimes cause a glitch making it difficult to log in again. You do not have to open the zoom app to go to the visit. The link sent to you will open it with the proper DOC setting automatically. The visits are all recorded. You may have up to 6 people on a zoom at one time. If you lose or accidentally delete the email, you can just log in to the scheduler and use the link provided. Video visits last for 45 minutes. One common problem is sound, you must turn on your microphone when the zoom app is launched. It defaults to mute upon the app opening due to the institutions settings.

In person visits are scheduled the same way. When visiting in person, try not to wear anything that will set off the metal detector. For example, boots with zippers, costume jewelry etc.. it just make it a hassle and depending on the officer working an all around unpleasant experience. Women all like to look nice, but try to limit the jewelry. Depending on the officer, they may have you remove it all. Wash your hands, if the officers perform a test on your hands, there are lots of things that can make it pop positive for drugs. The number one thing is handling money. Cash is covered with trace amounts of various drugs. Don't try to sneak anything in - you will get caught and your loved one could lose their visiting privileges permanently and you could be prosecuted. It is NOT worth it. If you fail the skin test, you may be permitted a non contact visit or rejected from the visit completely. There are lockers available for your keys and identification (you must provide this upon arrival to be permitted your visit) Do not bring unnecessary items into the institution and absolutely NO CELL PHONES - you will be made to return this to your vehicle.

Call the institution prior to your visit to see if they have the vending machines for food available (they are not always stocked) and the photo kiosks. If so, I can guarantee your loved one will want items from the vending machines as these items are not available to them inside the institution. You must bring money to purchase a "card" the funds will be applied on. There is a kiosk for this inside the institution. You must also pay a deposit for this card. You will load it with the funds at the kiosk and use this to purchase vending machine items and photo's. You will get items from the vending machine and heat them if need and if a microwave is available (something to inquire about when you call) heat the food. Your loved one is not permitted to complete these transactions, it must be you. Typically you are not permitted to share food. In person visits may last up to three hours, however, you are only guarenteed 1 hour. This can change depending on unexpected circumstances at the institution.

If visiting with a young child or baby, contact the institution directly on items (diapers, bottles, baby food, wipes) you are permitted to bring for the child. There is written regulation on this subject, but it can vary slightly from institution to institution. It is best to call and verify this information prior to entering the facility.

If you have any additional question, please email and we will try to assist the best we can. If you have an occurrence or situation arise that is not listed here, please email us so we are aware and can update the site with the change. Thank you for your support.