Warren County Jail to replace in-person visitation with video visitation

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Beginning next Thursday, visitors to the Warren County Regional Jail will no longer be able to have face-to-face interaction with inmates.

That means no more conversations over a phone through a glass window.

Instead, the jail is launching a new program where visitors can communicate with inmates via video through their cellphone or an on-site kiosk with video chat.

Launching Thursday, video visitation will provide increased visitation opportunities in a remote environment, saving visitors from having to travel and deal with issues such as parking.

“We are trying to give them more access to more frequent visitation, better times, but also limit the amount of contraband that comes into the facility through visitation. Also, any time we can decrease inmate movement inside the facility, it is safer for the staff,” said Warren County Jailer Stephen Harmon.

This system will also create additional revenue for the jail.

The cost of each 20-minute friends and family remote visit will be $7.95 plus tax.

If a visitor does not want to pay the fee, they still have an option available.

Visitors can also choose to come to the jail and video chat with an inmate via a kiosk in the lobby, and there will be no cost.

The Simpson County Jail already has video visitation kiosks in use.

Simpson County Jailer Eric Vaughn says since the governor requested jails suspend in-person visitation due to the coronavirus, this system has eased the frustration of those impacted.

“You know, with the video visitation, the animosity doesn’t hit an all-time high with the inmates because they can still visit with their families, they can let them know ‘hey, don’t come down here today because we are on restriction until further notice,’ and it is just very convenient,” said Vaughn.

Harmon says he will still allow the last in-person visitation days as scheduled over the weekend and next Wednesday.

The on-site visitation kiosk at the Warren County Regional Jail will go live next month after remote visitation is running smoothly.

Whether you are visiting on-site or remotely from the comfort of your home or other location, you will have to schedule an appointment via Securus’s website at least 24 hours in advance to ensure that all inmates have adequate access to visitation.