In June 2025, the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility in Wichita, Kansas rolled out a comprehensive overhaul of how incarcerated people communicate with their families. The changes — announced through the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and covered by KSN News — replaced the jail's existing phone, video visitation, and mail systems with a new integrated platform operated by ICS Corrections, Inc. The transition affected every channel of communication between inmates and their families simultaneously, and understanding what changed is essential for families trying to stay connected.
The Timeline of the Transition
- June 16, 2025: ICS Corrections, Inc. began rolling out the new phone, video visitation, and mail systems at SCDF
- June 23, 2025: All video visitation services — both on-site at the facility and remote — went offline for a transition period
- June 30, 2025: Video visitation services expected to resume on the new ICS platform
The week-long video visitation blackout (June 23–30) was the most disruptive element of the transition for families who relied on regular video contact with loved ones at the jail. During that period, video visits were simply unavailable regardless of prior scheduling or account status.
Why the Switch?
The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office framed the transition as aimed at "improving security and modernizing services." The prior communication vendor was replaced by ICS Corrections, a company that provides integrated communication and correctional management platforms. Officials emphasized that the new system would bring enhanced monitoring capabilities, improved service reliability, and a consolidated platform for phone, video, and mail services.
Transitions of this kind in county jails typically reflect a combination of contract renewal cycles (vendor contracts typically run 3-7 years before competitive rebid), technology upgrades, and in some cases, pricing structure changes that affect what families pay per call or per visit.
What Changed for Families: Phone Calls
The jail's telephone system moved to ICS Corrections' platform. If you had a pre-funded account with the previous phone vendor, those funds may not automatically transfer to the new platform. Check with ICS Corrections (through the Sedgwick County Sheriff's website at sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff) about whether your prior balance is transferable or needs to be re-established in a new account.
The fundamental mechanics of phone communication remain the same: inmates call out, you cannot call in, calls are monitored and recorded, and you need a pre-funded account with the current vendor to receive calls.
What Changed for Families: Mail
Sedgwick County's jail went digital for mail — a transition covered by KSN News under the headline "No more letters: Sedgwick County jail goes digital." Physical paper letters are no longer accepted in the traditional sense; instead, correspondence goes through the ICS platform's digital mail system. Families compose messages electronically through the ICS portal; those messages are printed and delivered inside the facility as physical documents, or in some implementations, displayed on a device. Inmate responses similarly go through the digital platform.
This change eliminates some of the practical challenges of physical mail — no worrying about whether a letter will arrive, no concern about mail being rejected for a prohibited item in the envelope — but it also means families accustomed to handwritten letters must adapt to a digital interface and potentially pay per-message fees.
What Changed for Families: Video Visitation
Video visits moved to the ICS platform as well. Remote and on-site video visits now go through ICS's scheduling and payment system. If you had credits or a pre-paid balance with the prior video provider, confirm the transfer status with the Sheriff's Office or ICS directly.
Practical Steps for Families
- Go to the Sedgwick County Sheriff's website (sedgwickcounty.org/sheriff) for the current ICS Corrections portal link and setup instructions
- Create a new account in the ICS system if your prior account does not transfer
- Fund your account before your loved one attempts to call — calls to an unfunded account will not connect
- Schedule video visits at least 24 hours in advance through the ICS platform
- For questions, call the facility at (316) 660-5245