Visiting at a jail knows that it can be a little overwhelming.

There is a lot of waiting, sometimes while standing outside and there are a lot of rules to follow.

At Monterey County Jail, visitors may soon have a much more convenient option for visitation video visits from home. This would allow loved ones to visit with friends or relatives who are in jail without having to go to the jail in person.

The county hopes to install 31 video stations inside the Monterey County Jail. Video visits can be done with people who have Internet access and a webcam at their home.

The downside to this option, though, could be the cost. Just like phone calls, the price of communicating with a loved one in jail could be higher than most people are willing to pay when there is the free option of a visit in person.

Sheriff Scott Miller says that he hopes to make the cost of video visitation easy for many families to afford so that it is an option for most people. One company that is contending to install the video call system has a cost of $20 for a 20 minute call.

The county has also included a request to have seven additional video stations set up in the jail for walk-up visitors.

There will be rules in place for video visitations similar to those that are set for in-person visits at the jail. All video calls will also be recorded.