Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit

The Florida Department of Corrections maintains a searchable public database of all of the inmates they have in custody.

The prison that an inmate is assigned to depends on factors such as security classification, remaining time of their sentence, gang affiliation, and location of their residence.

Florida's first prison with the Department of Corrections was established in 1838.  Florida has 143 facilities statewide, including 50 correctional institutions, seven private partner facilities, 16 annexes, 33 work camps, three re-entry centers, 12 FDC operated work release centers, 18 private work release centers, two road prisons, one forestry camp and one basic training camp. 

The number of inmates in custody fluctuates, however as of the end of 2023, they number just under 80,000, with 291 inmates on death row, overseen by 24,000 staff.

There are almost 150,000 more on parole and supervised release.

The following will explain the instructions, tricks and hacks you can use to find any inmate in custody with the Florida Department of Corrections.

Florida Department of Corrections Inmate Search Instructions

The Florida DOC provides every bit of information you want to know about any inmate in their system. 

To look up an inmate, you don't even need to know the spelling of their name.

• You can list all 20,000 inmates in the system by entering % in the last name field.
• You can list all inmates whose last name begin with any letter by entering that letter in the last name field.
• You can list all inmates whose first name begin with any letter by entering that letter in the first name field.
• You can list all Offenders in Supervised Release.
• You can list all Offenders who have been released.
• You can list all Offenders who are currently fugitives; currently over 24,000 people!

THE ABOVE MENTIONED OPTIONS WILL ONLY APPEAR IF YOU ENTER A COMMON NAME, OR A PARTIAL NAME WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE RESULTS.

SEE BOTH IMAGES BELOW.

Results of your Florida Inmate Search

• From this list, choose the inmate you want to know more about.

The results of your inmate search will look something like the image below. From this page, you can apply to visit, and schedule a visit with an inmate

Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit uses the services of JPAY for you to send money to an inmate's trust fund / commissary account. 



You can send money to an inmate/offender's commissary/spendable account through the Send Money page.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate/offender.

1. Online payments
2. Over the phone by calling 800-574-5729
3. MoneyGram
4. If you wish to send cash you can use MoneyGram. MoneyGram has many convenient locations nationwide.
   The following establishments will always have MoneyGram services:
   Walmart
   7-11
   CVS Pharmacy

You will need:
Inmate's Correctional ID number and last name
The facility name or receive code.
You can visit the MoneyGram website to find locations near you.

        5. Money Order - Inmate's Name must be on the Money Order

        6. Lobby Kiosk
            You can use a debit or credit card in the lobby kiosk to send funds to an inmate/offender.

Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit Inmate Visitation Instructions

Before you can visit an inmate at the Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit you must become an 'APPROVED VISITOR'.

First, you must complete the Visitation Application

** Complete the Visitation Application Form in either English or Spanish.

Application Requirements:

• Application must be completed by ALL visitors 12 years of age or older
• Application must be filled out completely or it will be denied
• When items do not apply, write in NA (not applicable)
• Make sure you understand the visitor information rules.

Submit your Visitation Application via one of the following ways:

• Mail to the Classification Department at the inmate's current location.
  NOTE:You can only apply once the inmate gets to his/her permanent facility.
• E-mail attachment to the inmate's current location. Herer is a list of the Application Email Addresses.

DECISION PROCESS
Once the application is processed, in approximately 30 days, a notice is given to the inmate regarding the decision. The inmate can notify you either by phone or correspondence about this.

VISITATION SCHEDULE

• Complete the Visitation Scheduling Form, which you can do directly from their inmate page.
• You must complete the Visitation Scheduling form prior to visiting each week. It is only available and must be completed between Monday 5:00 AM EST and Wednesday 5:00 PM EST. No walk-up appointments will be accommodated without a Visitation Scheduling form submission.
• To access the Visitation Scheduling form, search for the inmate you are approved to visit on the Offender Search.
• If the inmate is eligible for visits, you will see a button that says, "Schedule a Visit," underneath the inmate's Visitation Status.
• If the inmate is ineligible for visits or in a status that requires special coordination by the facility, there will be no button.

Regular visiting is held on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (8:00 a.m. through 2:00 p.m. Central Standard Time).

Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. (7:15 a.m. CST) on both days.

Visitors will not be processed after 2:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. CST) unless authorized by the duty warden.

Visitors will be allowed to park in designated spaces no earlier than 7:30 a.m. EST and 6:30 a.m. CST on visiting days.

The FDC will be allowing visitation on both Saturday and Sunday, as well as approved holidays.

Visitors can apply for any, or all, available days. Approval is subject to availability of seating.

Thursday and Friday are offered as additional visitation days each week for all Incentivized Prisons statewide

There are three Ways to Communicate with an Inmate in the Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit by Phone

To get started you must first open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)

• Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
• Pin Debit  -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
• Voicemail  -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

How to deposit money for Inmate Communications:

• Online
• By phone by calling 877-650-4249
• Deposit by cash, visa or mc debit and credit cards in the Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit lobby kiosk
• By mail... Check or Money Order made out to:
  AdvancePay Service Department
  P.O. Box 911722
  Denver, CO 80291-1722
• Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are also available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.

Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit Inmate Phone Hours - **All times are EST

Florida Inmate Mail Instructions

All inmate mail to Inmates must be received at the following address:

Inmate’s last name, first name, DC#
PO Box 23608
Tampa, FL 33623

Once received the mail will be scanned into digital format and forwarded to the inmate so it can be viewed on a tablet or kiosk.

All correspondence addressed to an inmate must be sent by U.S. Postal Service mail. Correspondence sent by any other method will be refused.

All mail should have your name and return address clearly written on the front of the envelope.

No packaging other than standard envelopes shall be accepted.

The following types of incoming mail packaging will be rejected and returned to the sender unopened:

• envelopes that have metal parts,
• boxes,
• padded envelopes,
• plastic bags,
• card stock type envelopes (e.g., U.S. Mail Priority or U.S. Mail Express cardboard envelopes),
• multi-layer packaging,
• bubble wrap,
• packing peanuts and similar packaging.

Mail should be written in English, Spanish, or Creole unless the inmate has prior written approval from the warden to receive correspondence in another language. All routine mail sent to an inmate is opened, examined, and read by designated department staff.

Central Florida Reception Center, South Unit uses Securus eMessaging for Inmate Email.


Register here. (You are already registered if you signed up with Securus for Phone or Remote Visitation).

Steps: 
1.  Sign up for eMessaging
2. Find your inmate.
3. Purchase a book of Securus ‘stamps’.
4. Type & Send message.

Things you CAN do:
1.  You CAN ONLY send messages from the Securus website, or with the app (links below).
2. You CAN transfer ‘stamps’ to your inmate.
3. You CAN deposit money to your inmate, and they can purchase ‘stamps’ on their end.
4. Each time you send a message, you CAN pay for them to reply.
5. You CAN send photos. (Jail staff will review for appropriateness) 

Things you CANNOT do:
1.  You CANNOT use your own personal email to send messages.
2. You CANNOT send any message or photo that would normally be rejected by regular mail.

Other Things:
1.  Photos must be .jpg, .jpeg or .png.
2. eMessages and photos must meet the jail’s standards for regular mail.
3. If your eMessage or Photo is rejected you will be notified of the reason, but you will NOT get a refund.

Contact Information and Help:
eMessaging FAQ  
eMessaging Signup & Helpful Information  
Online Customer Service Support 
Phone Support: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591
iphone app
Android app

Check payments
Securus Correctional Billing Services
PO Box 650757
Dallas, Texas 75265-075

Once an inmate is convicted and sentenced for a violation of that state’s felony laws (and their sentence is more than one year in length), they are moved from the City or County Jail and sent to a State Prison in Florida. If the violation they are convicted of is a federal crime, they will be sent to a Federal Prison, but will not necessarily be doing their time in Florida.

Florida State Prisons are operated and maintained by the state government and are used to confine and rehabilitate criminals. State prisons are funded by state tax money. The fund is used to provide food and clothes to inmates and to hire employees to keep the prison running. Inmates in state prison enjoy certain privileges such as TV use and recreation, both indoor and outdoor. The number of privileges allowed depends on the security level of the prison, the inmate and the overall needs of the prison on a specific day.

Florida has minimum, medium and maximum security prisons. The Corrections Department in Florida also maintains low (or no) security residential settings and camps where inmates assist in state property maintenance and duties such as fighting fires. Almost all prisons provide ‘jobs’ where an inmate can earn a small hourly wage and even learn a trade. Some prisons even contract with call centers and handle phone calls on issues related to their state government. Criminals who have committed a violent crime or killed someone are likely housed in a maximum security prison. If the inmate in these prisons behave, they are also eligible to recreate and/or work as well.

In Florida Prisons rehabilitation is the stated goal but the reality is that they exist to punish inmates for their crimes and keep them from hurting or harming innocent people on the outside who follow the laws and live and act responsibly. The fact is that most prison systems are underfunded, overcrowded and are not able to spend time and money rehabilitating offenders. This is not the fault of the people hired to work in prisons, they are just victims of the lack of resources due to budgeting constraints.

State Inmate

Most states have Department of Corrections websites that allow you to type in a felon's first and last name and pull up inmates in that state.

If you need to find a sentenced inmate serving time in a state other than Florida, go here. To find an inmate in Florida, just scroll to the top of the page and click on the Inmate Search button.

Once you locate them click next to the inmate's name or on the link provided and it will show you which prison the inmate is housed in. If the inmate is no longer incarcerated, but is on parole/probation or discharged, it will tell you that as well. In addition, many state prison inmate pages show recent mug shots.

Federal Inmate

The federal prison system has its own inmate locator called the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Type in the inmate's name and it will tell you where he or she is incarcerated and their projected release date. It also lists released federal prison inmates and the date they were released.

Federal inmates who are moved from one prison to another will show as "No longer in federal custody" on the system until they reach their next federal prison destination. This movement can take a few days to several months to complete, so keep checking back to find out where the inmate was taken.

ICE Inmates

The ICE Detainee Lookup allows friends, family members and interested parties to locate illegal and/or undocumented immigrants that are in the United States without permission.

Has the Inmate been recently arrested?... Try a County Jail

In many cases, the person you are looking for has either not been convicted or sentenced or has been sentenced and is awaiting transport to a State or Federal Prison and is still incarcerated in a City or County Jail.

To locate that person, go here to first find the State, and then the County where they were originally arrested or have been transported to. From there you can begin your search in our databases that contain the names and information of millions of inmates.

Jailexchange.com has all information on every jail and prison in the United States.