Phone & Video Calls in South Dakota (SD DOC)

How phone calls work

South Dakota DOC’s phone vendor is ViaPath Technologies (formerly GTL / Global Tel*Link), billed through ConnectNetwork, and families set up and fund accounts through ViaPath / ConnectNetwork. The per-minute call rate is set in the vendor contract and is subject to change, so confirm the current rate with ViaPath before funding an account.

Calls are placed on the housing unit’s phones, and the tablets described below can also place calls. The person in custody places the call; families cannot call in. There are two ways to pay for calls:

• AdvancePay — a prepaid account that you, the family member, set up to receive calls. Fund it online through ConnectNetwork or by phone at the toll-free line, 800-483-8314.
• PIN Debit — money deposited to the person’s own phone account, which they draw down when they place calls.

To set up an account, have the person’s full name and DOC number ready. ViaPath / ConnectNetwork lists the service fees that apply to deposits and account transactions; review those fees at the point of payment, as they are charged in addition to call costs.

Tablets and messaging

South Dakota DOC issues ViaPath / GTL tablets. In addition to placing phone calls, the tablets handle electronic messaging and other media services, and they are the device through which scanned personal mail is delivered. (Incoming personal mail is scanned before it reaches the tablet — see Mail.) Per-message and per-item prices are set by the vendor and change, so confirm them before sending. Wall phones on the housing units are an alternative for placing calls where a personal tablet is not in hand.

Tablet service in South Dakota has been interrupted in the past — phone, text, and e-message functions were suspended during a 2024 investigation and then reinstated — so confirm with the facility or ViaPath what tablet functions are currently available.

Video visits

South Dakota DOC offers video visits through the GTL / ViaPath video product, scheduled in advance at sddoc.gtlvisitme.com. Video visitation is a separate product from in-person visiting, and it is set up by registering for an account through the scheduler. Because the video app and any per-session price are set by the vendor and change, confirm the current per-session cost with ViaPath before booking, and confirm what is offered for the specific facility.

Sending money

Calls, tablet messaging, and the trust account that funds them are funded separately. Phone money goes to a ViaPath AdvancePay or PIN Debit account, as described above. For depositing to a trust account, see Sending Money.

Verify Before Acting

For the general, nationwide overview of this topic, see the national guide: Staying in Touch.