Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center COVID-19 Coronavirus Visitation Policy

Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center

Address:
1701 North Washington
PO Box 5244
Grand Forks, ND 58206-5244

Phone:

701-780-8224

New Visitation Policies in Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus

Because of concerns for the safety and wellness of both staff and inmates at the Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota, contact visits of any type may be suspended. Even if they have visits, from time to time, face masks may be required.

Approved Non-contact visits with family, friends and the inmate’s lawyers may still be allowed when at-home or onsite video visitation is not available, however given that new guidelines are changing daily please check the visitation page or call 701-780-8224 for updates.

Video Visitation at Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center

At-home and onsite video visitation guidelines for Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center, when this service is available, can be found by going to the visitation information page.

We highly recommend that you call 701-780-8224 first for any changes due to staff shortages or other unforeseen circumstances, including whether your inmate has become ill and is unable to be in the general population where video kiosks are available.

How Long Will These Changes Last?

Experts in the study of the COVID-19 are anticipating that spread of the virus will be a ongoing concern for Grand Forks County, the state of North Dakota and the entire United States until well into 2024 and maybe even beyond. We are witnessing the virus becoming more contagious, but less deadly over time. Many people think that the 'more contagious, but less deadly' variants will infect so many people that a higher level of natural immunity for the majority of Americans will be the end result.

Will the Inmates in Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center Be Safe from Getting Sick With COVID-19 Coronavirus?

Whether the inmates are safe from contracting the coronavirus depends entirely on two things:

  1. The Virus being introduced into the facility by a staff member or inmate who is unaware that they have it.
  2. How easily it spreads.

At this stage most people who get the coronavirus show very few symptoms beyond what you might experience with a bad cold or a mild case of the common flu. Newer variants are turning out to be less deadly than the common flu we experience every year.

Studies that have been done are showing that the hardest hit are those 60 years of age and older, those with pre-existing medical issues like diabetes, leukemia or obese individuals. Young men and women rarely become very ill, and when they do, seem to recover quickly.

Given the close proximity of inmates and staff to each other in this lockup, it is going to be very difficult to prevent the spread of COVID-19 once it is introduced into the facility as the virus can spread via the microscopic vapor that we release every time we speak, cough or sneeze.

We will continuously update this page as the virus changes and new policies are instituted.

Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center now offers Homewav ComPAS™ (Portable Access System) tablets to their inmates.


 
Homewav is the same company that handles the inmate phone system, video visitations, email and texting and digital letters.

The tablets can be rented on a monthly basis and while not directly connected to the internet, the inmates can use them for phone, visits, messages, education, self-help and entertainment.

Questions:

To learn more about Homewav tablets, the dozens of features, cost and how to get one delivered to your inmate, check out our Inmate Tablet page.


 

How Do Inmates in Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Grand Forks County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

  • Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center uses the services of HOMEWAV.
  • Register with them online or call them at 844-394-6639
  • Agents are available from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM CST, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and speak both English & Spanish.
  • Services for Grand Forks County inmates and their families and friends include Collect Calling, PIN Debits or Purchasing Calling Cards.

For all the information regarding phone calls with Grand Forks County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, video, messaging, time limits and more, visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Visit or Email an Inmate in Grand Forks County North Dakota or visiting an inmate at the jail

To visit or email an inmate in Grand Forks County follow these steps:

  • In addition to visiting inmates at the jail, Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center uses a video visitation service called HomeWav.
  • Register and Sign Up Here.
  • Complete all steps of the registration process to get full access to Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center inmate communication services.
  • Add ‘Talk to me Funds’ to your account using your credit or debit card.
  • Then you just wait for your Grand Forks County inmate to communicate.
    How do you add Funds to your account?
  • Once you are logged in, click “Add Talk to Me Funds".
  • Type in the amount of dollars you want to add to your account.
  • Click “Update”.
  • Choose a way to pay (Credit, debit, or prepaid card).

Who do you contact if you are having any problems arranging the remote video visit, phoning or emailing of an inmate in Grand Forks County?
Call HomeWav support at 314-764-2872, or toll free 844-394-6639.
Monday – Friday 
9:00AM to 6:00PM EST
Saturday – Sunday 
8:00AM to 6:00PM EST

NOTE: All communications between you and your inmate at Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center will be recorded and stored. Do not discuss your inmate's case or other sensitive information as it can be used against them (or you) in court.

For full instructions on all the benefits of using Homewav to visit a Grand Forks County inmate, visiting an inmate at the jail itself, email and texting an inmate, rates, policies, rules, dress codes, bringing children, attorney and clergy visits and more, go to our official Visit Inmate Page. 


 

How Do You Schedule and Visit an Inmate in Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center?

To set up an account to schedule and visit your Grand Forks County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • Register and set up a new account with RELIANCE, or log in if you already have an account.
  • Select Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center, then select your inmate who you will be visiting.
  • Your identity will have to investigated and approved by the Grand Forks County staff.
  • Once approved, you can schedule a visit.

For all the information you need in order to schedule and visit your Grand Forks County inmate, or to assist them in visiting with others, including instructions, fees, cost of each visit, requirements for free visits, tablet rentals that can be used for visits, payment methods and times that your inmate can have a visit, check out our Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your visits with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when discussing sensitive information about their pending case.


 

How Do Inmates in Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center Make Phone Calls?

To set up your Grand Forks County inmate to make to make phone calls to you and others, follow these instructions:

For all the information you need in order to receive phone calls from your Grand Forks County inmate, or to assist them in making calls to others, including instructions, fees, cost of calls, payment methods and times that your inmate can use the phone, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when discussing sensitive information about their pending case.


 

How Do Inmates in Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center Send and Receive Texts and Emails?

To set up your Grand Forks County inmate to make to send and receive texts and emails to you and others, follow these instructions:

  • Register and set up a new account with RELIANCE Telephone, or log in if you already have an account.
  • Review your communication options and choose the option for sending secure messages.
  • Select Grand Forks County Jail & Detention Center, then select your inmate who you will be funding.

For all the information you need in order to send and receive texts and emails from your Grand Forks County inmate, or to assist them in sending and receiving secure messages to and from others, including instructions, fees, cost of each message, tablet rentals, payment methods and times that your inmate can send messages, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: All of your communication with your inmate will be monitored and recorded. Use discretion when communicating sensitive information about their pending case.