GTL VisitMe makes things easier when it comes to video visitation in prison. It is such a great solution that can help inmates and their families or friends connect face-to-face remotely. To have a video visit, they can use their devices, either mobile phones or computers.
Specifically for video visits via desktop, GTL has developed a program called VisBridge that users can use after being installed on their computers and before taking a video visit. So, how does it work and how do you use it?
Okay, here’s everything you can know about it!
What is GTL VisBridge?
VisBridge is a shareware software that GTL added to their database on October 3, 2021. This is included in the miscellaneous category and can run on some operating systems, such as Windows, Mac, and Android.
This software is incorporated into the system of GTL video visitation so that users can manage it on the GTL website.
Guide to Downloading and Installing VisBridge on Windows 10 or 11
As we’ve mentioned earlier, you’ll have to download and install the VisBridge software first. But no worries! It’s a very simple thing you can do, as long as you already have a GTL VisitMe account.
Let’s get started!
Step 1: Log into Your GTL VisitMe Website
Access the GTL VisitMe website here.
Then, log into your account using your credentials, i.e., your visitor ID or email and password that you’ve set when registering.
If you do not have it yet, you can create one first by clicking “Register Today.” And make sure to follow on-screen instructions until your account has been successfully set up.
Step 2: Download VisBridge
Once you’ve logged into your account, you can click “Internet Visit Tester” to test.
From this page, you can select “Download for Windows.”
After the VisBridge software is downloaded, you can select the “Keep” option from three horizontal dots.
If the pop-up window appears, you can click “Show More” and choose “Keep anyway.”
Step 3: Install the VisBridge
Now, you can locate the VisBridge file in your computer library, and it is usually in the Downloads folder.
Once the file is found, you can right-click on it and select “Open” to install it.
If a new window appears, you can click “Run Anyway.”
Now, VisBridge has been successfully installed, and the shortcut will be placed on your desktop.
Step 4: Run the VisBridge
It’s best for you to run the VisBridge to test the camera and make sure everything goes well before you really take a video visit.
Open the VisBridge software.
For the first time, you’ll be required to select the facility. Ensure that you correctly choose the facility where the inmate you’d like to contact is incarcerated.
Then, log into your GTL VisitMe account again.
Click “Internet Visit Tester” again.
If the VisBridge software is well-installed on your computer, a small camera screen will appear, confirming that it is working.
Last, you can click “Allow.”
Congratulations! You’ve successfully downloaded and installed VisBridge on your computer.
How to Schedule a Visit on GTL VisitMe
After you’ve installed VisBridge on your computer and it goes well, you can then make a visitation schedule.
To do so, you can take the following steps:
Select an Inmate
-
- First, log into your GTL VisitMe account.
- Click the “Visitation” tab.
- From the “Choose Visitor” page, you can choose an additional visitor you’d like to take part in the visit. Then, click “Next.”
- From the drop-down menu, you can select the inmate you want to visit from the list of inmates.
- If you have not added inmates to your inmate list, you can click the “Search for an inmate” link. Make sure to enter the inmate criteria in the available fields. Choose one who is suitable for your search, and the inmate will be automatically added to your inmate list.
Select the Date, Time, and Location
-
- After you’ve selected an inmate, you have to choose the time and location.
- You can click the calendar icon to select a date, or you can enter the date for your visit.
- Keep in mind that certain days may not be available for selection, such as special events like Christmas, weather closures, etc.
- Then, click “Search.”
- A message will appear if there are no visitation times available based on your selection. Of course, you should change your time by clicking “Search” again.
- You can click the “Select” link, which corresponds to the time you desire.
Review Your Schedule
-
- After choosing the time for the visit, you can select “Relationship” to confirm your relationship with the inmate.
- Now, you can review your schedule to see if there’s any mistake.
- Make sure to check the box confirming that you agree to the facility’s visitation policy.
- If the information about your schedule is correct, you can click “Confirm.”
- The following page will show a summary of your video visitation schedule that states your schedule has been confirmed.
Receive a confirmation email
-
- If your video visitation schedule is successfully set up, you’ll receive a confirmation via email.
- If you do not receive it, you may need to reselect the date, time, and/or location of the visit.
- And if your visit status changes to conflict, you can select “Change” beside the “Time and Date” section. Then, you’ll be taken to the time selection page to reselect your desired visitation time.
Well, that’s step-by-step to making a video visitation schedule on GTL VisitMe.
Why is There No Visitation Time Available to Choose from?
There are a few reasons why there’s no visitation time available in the selection of date, time, and location section, including:
-
- All time slots have been filled.
- The time you selected is not permitted by the facility.
- The number of permitted inmate visits has expired during the selected time period.
- The visitor has exhausted the permitted number of visits during the selected time period.
- There are restrictions on visits for prisoners due to certain incidents, such as prisoners breaking the rules.
- Visitors are not permitted to schedule visits with inmates for selected time periods.
About GTL VisitMe
GTL VisitMe is a service provided by GTL that allows every federal, state, county, city, and private facility to bridge communication between inmates and their family or friends via face-to-face meetings remotely.
Additionally, this service can also help facilities improve security regarding inmate visits. Through this system, facilities can know who is visiting because each user is required to provide their personal information to the system when creating an account.
For inmates’ families, this can make it easier for them to schedule visits without having to queue, so that at every visit, they have comfort and convenience.
The VisitMe GTL service is very easy to access because users only need to choose the location and time of visit. However, visiting places for inmates can take place in each housing unit so that they do not need to be moved.
Each visit session via GTL VisitMe is monitored by prison staff using monitoring tools to detect any prohibited activities being carried out.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
