Public guide · Anyone can use this file

Loved ones’ guide—SCI Camp Hill & Pennsylvania DOC (phone)

Optimized for portrait scrolling on iPhone and Android. Same facts as before; layout avoids wide tables so nothing squeezes off-screen.

Who this is for: family and friends using a phone or tablet—you do not need a DRYCE login or membership to read or share this HTML. Facility focus: SCI Camp Hill; many steps apply statewide.

Always re-check fees and rules on official Pennsylvania sites before you act.

Official pages disagree on scheduling lead time: the short Visit an inmate Opens in a new tab. HTML currently says visits must be scheduled two days ahead; the Visitor Guide PDF Opens in a new tab. tells visitors to schedule at least three calendar days ahead (and not beyond sixty days). Always follow the Visitor Guide plus whatever IVS allows when you pick dates—not the HTML summary alone.

If the short Visit an inmate Opens in a new tab. page disagrees with the Visitor Guide PDF Opens in a new tab. on other details, trust the PDF and whatever IVS shows when you schedule.

Easy sharing: save or send only this file (AirDrop, email attachment, USB). Open with Safari, Chrome, or Edge on phone or computer. In-page links scroll inside the document offline; website links open when Wi‑Fi or cellular data is on.

SCI Camp Hill

SCI Camp Hill is the diagnostic and classification center for males entering the Pennsylvania state prison system. Your loved one may transfer after classification. Confirm current location on the inmate locator Opens in a new tab..

Street address: 2500 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Main number: 717-737-4531.

SCI Camp Hill on pa.gov Opens in a new tab.

Apps (stores)

Portal pages if you prefer to search manually: Apple App Store Opens in a new tab. · Google Play Opens in a new tab.

Zoom (IVS video visits)

Securus Mobile (incoming calls)

ConnectNetwork by GTL (DOC messaging path)

JPay (PADOC deposits)

Notes: For Pennsylvania DOC money, follow Send money Opens in a new tab. (JPay). ConnectNetwork’s app may show funding options used in other states; do not substitute that for PADOC’s official deposit path unless the DOC directs you.

If a store link breaks, search the store by app name.

Before you start

Crisis: if you believe someone is suicidal or in acute mental health crisis, call the institution immediately. DOC guidance Opens in a new tab.. SCI Camp Hill: 717-737-4531.

You will need:

  1. Inmate full name and DOC number—from them or the locator Opens in a new tab..
  2. Visitor-list approval for visits. Staff cannot tell you whether you are on the list. If you are not on it, the incarcerated person must submit the correct paperwork; do not ask the SCI to shortcut that (Visitor Guide PDF Opens in a new tab.).
  3. Acceptable photo ID for in-person visits—visitation rules Opens in a new tab..
  4. A payment method for vendor fees where applicable.

Locator

iPhone (Safari)

  1. Open the PA DOC locator Opens in a new tab..
  2. If needed: Settings → Safari → turn Block Pop-ups off for this session.
  3. Search by last name or inmate number.
  4. Save institution and number somewhere secure.

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open the locator Opens in a new tab..
  2. If it breaks: menu → Desktop site, or adjust pop-ups for the site.
  3. Search and save results.

Help: ra-contactdoc@pa.gov · Locator page Opens in a new tab.

Visits—IVS browser

Scheduling uses Safari or Chrome plus Keystone Login. The actual video call uses the Zoom app (next section).

Entry points:

Help: RA-CRDOCINMATEVSS@pa.gov · SCI Camp Hill 717-737-4531 · facility page Opens in a new tab.

Scheduling rules (short)

Use the Visitor Guide PDF Opens in a new tab. for detail.

Visitor Guide (verbatim scheduling window): “Visits must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance but cannot be scheduled beyond 60 days in advance.”

Cancellations: cancel as far in advance as possible, at least 3 days where that applies.

  • Primary rule: match the PDF and whatever dates IVS actually offers. The short HTML Visit an inmate Opens in a new tab. page sometimes says two days—treat that as a quota/overview hint only.
  • Contact visits: general-population pattern up to four per month; at least one hour; up to four visitors on contact visits (Quehanna Boot Camp: two visitors—statewide exception in DOC overview materials).
  • Video visits: free per DOC overview; up to six per month for GP in the Visitor Guide pattern; each video visit 45 minutes; up to six visitors on video. Custody level can reduce quotas.
  • Watch IVS email for cancellations. Non-attorney video visits are monitored and recorded by DOC (attorney visits are handled differently); visitors must not record, upload, or share the feed themselves.

IVS—iPhone / iPad (Safari)

  1. Open IVS Opens in a new tab..
  2. Log in with Keystone, or Register first on Keystone, return to IVS, then log in.
  3. First-time IVS: email → Next.
  4. Personal info (must match visitor record) → Next.
  5. Contact info → Next.
  6. Inmate search (DOC number best) → Add → Next.
  7. Summary → Register (first time only). Watch for confirmation email.
  8. Schedule a New Visit.
  9. Choose Video or Contact; pick inmate → Continue.
  10. Answer eligibility questions truthfully.
  11. Add other approved visitors if needed.
  12. Pick date in the 3–60 day window → time slots → Confirm / Schedule.
  13. For video: save email with Video URL, Meeting ID, passcode.
  14. Optional: IVS → Upcoming Visits → resend details.

Tip: allow IVS mail past spam filters; use a password manager for Keystone.

IVS—Android (Chrome)

Same flow: log in → first-time registration if asked → Schedule New Visit → pick type → questions → visitors → date → slots → confirm.

If layout breaks: Desktop site, or Samsung Internet / Firefox.

Change or cancel

Log into IVS Opens in a new tab. → Change/Cancel or Upcoming Visits. Cancel ≥3 days ahead when possible. Email notices go out.

Visits—Zoom app

DOC uses Zoom for video visits (Visitor Guide; effective December 2021). Join as a guest; paid Zoom not required.

Join only three to five minutes before the start. Leave promptly when the visit ends.

Install

iPhone / iPad: App Store Opens in a new tab.. Allow notifications, microphone, camera.

Android: Play Store Opens in a new tab.. Allow camera, microphone, notifications.

First open: you usually do not need to sign in. Skip extras like contact sync if offered.

Join—tap link (Method A)

Do this in the 3–5 minute window before start.

iPhone: Mail → tap Video URL → Open in Zoom → your name → join with video if asked → passcode from email if asked → wait in waiting room if shown. Do not screen-record. DOC records non-attorney visits per Visitor Guide; do not record or redistribute the visit yourself.

Android: email app → Video URL → open with Zoom → name → video/audio on → join → Wi‑Fi preferred.

Join—Meeting ID (Method B)

If the link fails: open Zoom → Join → Meeting ID → passcode → internet audio (not dial-in unless instructed).

During and after

Use mute/camera only as rules allow; follow staff. Tap Leave when done. If dropped, rejoin with the same link or ID during your window.

Problems: force-close Zoom, reboot phone, update app, try Wi‑Fi, try Method B.

Scheduling help: RA-CRDOCINMATEVSS@pa.gov · 717-737-4531 · Zoom Help Opens in a new tab.

Calls—Securus

PADOC directs families to Securus for calls: Contact an inmate Opens in a new tab..

Install: iPhone Opens in a new tab. · Android Opens in a new tab.

iPhone (in app)

Open Securus → allow notifications → sign up or log in → AdvanceConnect / Phone / prepaid → add funds for your receiving mobile number → pay → save incoming DOC caller ID into Phone contacts → consider turning Silence Unknown Callers off temporarily → optional: ask carrier not to block correctional numbers.

Android (in app)

Same idea: fund AdvanceConnect for your number → save caller ID → check spam filters → optional battery unrestricted for Securus.

Support: 800-844-6591 · customer_service@correctionalbillingservice.com

Messages—ConnectNetwork

DOC uses ViaPath / ConnectNetwork for messaging: Contact an inmate Opens in a new tab.. Messages are reviewed.

Install: iPhone Opens in a new tab. · Android Opens in a new tab.

Also: ConnectNetwork web Opens in a new tab.

iPhone

Sign up → verify email → log in → add facility → United States → Pennsylvania → PADOC → SCI Camp Hill or current SCI (locator Opens in a new tab.) → add inmate DOC number and name → Messaging → buy credits → compose → send.

Android

Same sequence after install; enable notifications if you want alerts.

Support: 1-877-650-4249—DOC does not troubleshoot vendor apps for you.

Money—JPay

Overview: Send money Opens in a new tab.. Phone: 800-574-5729. Lobby kiosks at SCIs. Do not hide cash in Smart Communications mail.

Install: iPhone Opens in a new tab. · Android Opens in a new tab. · site jpay.com Opens in a new tab.

iPhone app

Open JPay → sign up or log in → Send Money → Pennsylvania → Department of Corrections → SCI Camp Hill or current SCI → enter DOC number and name → amount → pay → obey limits Opens in a new tab. → save receipt.

iPad or Safari on iPhone

jpay.com Opens in a new tab.—same path without relying on the iPad-native app gap.

Android app and Chrome

Same payment path; confirm facility after transfers via locator.

Deposit limits

PADOC publishes caps that change—always read the live Guidelines on Send money Opens in a new tab. before sending.

  • Credit/debit card: up to $300 per card every 72 hours toward an inmate account (PADOC wording as of last review).
  • Money order: up to $999.99 per money order; multiple money orders allowed; money orders go through JPay, not Smart Communications.
  • MoneyGram / some walk-in channels: the same page lists higher per-transaction caps for certain paths—confirm there rather than guessing.
  • Restitution / fines / costs: PADOC states that part of what you deposit may pay court-ordered obligations before remaining funds are available for commissary-style spending—this is policy, not something families “did wrong.”

Money order

English slip PDF Opens in a new tab. · Spanish slip PDF Opens in a new tab.—mail only as JPay instructs, not to Smart Communications.

Mail

No DOC-required mail app. Optional alerts: MailGuardTracker Opens in a new tab.

General letters and photos go to Smart Communications (see mail rules Opens in a new tab.):

Smart Communications/PA DOC
[Full legal name] / [DOC number]
SCI Camp Hill
PO Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733

Timing (DOC’s published model—confirm on mail rules Opens in a new tab.): general correspondence through Smart Communications is often on the order of about 6–8 days door-to-door under normal conditions; publications routed through the Bellefonte Security Processing Center may reach the person about 2–3 weeks after SPC receives them.

If a postcard vendor truncates lines: DOC examples allow shortening “Smart Communications” to “Smart Comm” and sometimes omitting the institution line—match the FAQ examples on the mail-rules page.

Label wording: pa.gov templates use both Smart Communications/PA DOC (mail rules) and Smart Communications/PADOC (some facility pages)—use whichever block you are copying verbatim.

Publications tracking: after USPS/FedEx/UPS shows delivery to SPC, DOC directs families to the SPC tracking tool Opens in a new tab. (see mail-rules wording).

Books and magazines: Security Processing Center, 268 Bricker Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667—per mail rules, not the Smart PO Box.

Official papers: business-office format on mail rules Opens in a new tab.; Camp Hill mail address on SCI Camp Hill Opens in a new tab. (P.O. Box 8837 line).

Something broke

Contacts

Fact-check notes

Verified against Commonwealth pages (SCI Camp Hill, Contact an inmate, Send money, Mail rules, IVS PDFs, Locator, Visitor Guide PDF text extract) as of .

Official conflict: HTML “two days” versus Visitor Guide “three days” for scheduling—follow PDF and IVS; scheduling/cancel quotes under Visits match Visitor Guide PDF extraction.

Forums can help emotionally but are not authority. Do not mix up ConnectNetwork (messages) with JPay (PADOC deposits).

Third-party directories may be outdated; scams target families—see warnings on Send money Opens in a new tab..

Store name “ConnectNetwork by GTL” matches DOC’s ViaPath wording on Contact an inmate Opens in a new tab..

Disclaimer

This guide summarizes public Commonwealth and vendor information. Policies change. Not legal advice. Legal mail: mail rules Opens in a new tab..