Phone calls and video visits from Orange County jails
Calls and video visits go through a contractor’s system and can be monitored and recorded. Private attorney–client phone calls have to be arranged first: read the official warning before an attorney calls.
The short answer
Phone calls and video visits are provided by ViaPath Technologies (Global Tel Inc., GTL), an outside vendor under contract. The system is not owned or operated by the Sheriff’s Department. All calls, messages and video visits can be monitored and recorded.
Calls with an attorney
The Sheriff’s Department’s phone and video page says, about calls with attorneys, in its own words:
Official wording, OC Sheriff’s Department
IMPORTANT – If you fail to have your telephone number vetted and approved, then your phone call will be recorded. DO NOT UTILIZE A “GETTING OUT” ACCOUNT.
Private attorney–client phone calls are arranged through the Sheriff’s Department’s phone and video page. Private, unrecorded video visits are not available, including for attorneys.
So: everything on the system can be monitored and recorded, private video visits are not offered, and an attorney’s phone call is private only once it has been arranged and the number vetted and approved.
Official: Inmate Phone Call and Video Visitation System (OC Sheriff’s Department), checked
Setting up calls and video visits
The Sheriff’s Department links to the vendor’s account setup and video visit booking from its phone call and video visitation page. Use the links on that official page rather than a search result, so you reach the contracted vendor.
At the James A. Musick Facility, the visiting hours cover in-person and video visits: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (in person and video), Friday to Monday.
Official: Inmate Phone Call and Video Visitation System; James A. Musick Facility - Visiting Hours & Information (OC Sheriff’s Department), checked
For in-person visits, see visiting someone in an Orange County jail.
Where to go next
- Visiting in person Booking, ID and rules for each jail.
- Jail phone numbers Every jail’s main and scheduling numbers.
Sources
Orange County Sheriff’s Department
- Inmate Phone Call and Video Visitation System
- James A. Musick Facility - Visiting Hours & Information
Every fact above links to the official page it comes from, with the date we checked it. We quote official wording only where the exact words matter. See how we check facts.