How to Find and Contact Someone in Florida DOC: Inmate Locator, Phone Calls, and Sending Money

Florida's Department of Corrections is one of the three largest state prison systems in the United States, operating 73 facilities across the state. Navigating the system as a family member requires knowing the right tools — the official inmate search, the phone and money transfer vendors, and who to contact when you have questions. Here is a complete guide.

Finding Your Loved One: FDOC Offender Search

The official Florida DOC offender search is at fdc.myflorida.com — navigate to "Offender Search" in the main menu. You can search by:

• Name (first and last)
• DC number (the FDOC-assigned inmate ID)

The search returns the person's current facility, housing location, sentence information, projected release date, and basic identifying information. The database is updated regularly and is the authoritative source for current housing information.

If someone was recently sentenced and has not yet appeared in the FDOC system, they may still be in county jail awaiting transportation to a reception center. Florida's main reception and classification centers include:

• Reception and Medical Center (Lake Butler) — for men
• Lowell Correctional Institution — for women
• South Florida Reception Center

Allow one to two weeks after sentencing for the FDOC transfer and initial classification to complete.

Phone Calls: GTL / ConnectNetwork

Florida DOC uses Global Tel Link (GTL) / ConnectNetwork for inmate telephone services across its facilities. To receive calls from a loved one in Florida DOC:

1. Go to ConnectNetwork.com and create a free account
2. Register your phone number
3. Load funds into your AdvancePay account
4. Ensure your number is on your loved one's approved call list (set through the facility)

Inmates call out; they cannot receive incoming calls. Calls are monitored and recorded except for attorney-client calls. Call lengths are limited. Per-minute rates are set by FDOC's GTL contract.

Sending Money: JPay

Florida DOC uses JPay for inmate trust account deposits. To send money:

1. Go to JPay.com and create an account
2. Search for the inmate by name and DC number under "Florida DOC"
3. Deposit using a credit or debit card — fees apply per transaction

Money orders mailed to the facility are also accepted. Make the money order payable to the inmate with their name and DC number, and mail to the specific facility where they are housed. Mailed money orders take significantly longer to process than electronic transfers.

Mail and Letters

Mail goes to the inmate's specific facility. Address format:

[Inmate Full Legal Name] [DC Number]
[Facility Name]
[Facility Address]

All mail except legal mail is opened and inspected. Standard white envelopes with plain paper are safest. Florida DOC's mail policies on photos and cards vary by facility — confirm with the specific facility before sending anything other than plain letters.

Visiting

Florida DOC offers in-person visitation at all facilities. General requirements:

• You must be on the approved visitor list (the inmate submits the request through their officer)
• Valid government-issued photo ID required for all adult visitors
• Dress code enforced — avoid clothing colors similar to inmate uniforms (typically dark blue at many facilities), revealing attire, and excessive jewelry

Each facility sets its own visiting schedule. Check the specific facility's page at fdc.myflorida.com or call the facility directly for current hours. Visiting may be cancelled during lockdowns or institutional incidents — always call ahead before traveling.

The Case Manager: Your Primary Contact

Every Florida DOC inmate is assigned an officer in charge of their case (often called a classification officer or correctional probation officer for reentry). This person manages program enrollment, visitor list approval, and administrative needs. Call the facility's main number and ask to be connected to the officer responsible for your loved one's housing unit or block.

FDOC's Inmate Grievance System

If your loved one has a specific complaint about conditions, medical care, or treatment — and if internal resolution at the unit level has failed — the formal grievance process is documented in Florida DOC's Inmate Orientation Handbook. Formal grievances must be filed within the DOC system before external complaints can be filed with oversight bodies. Encourage your loved one to file grievances in writing and keep copies.

FDOC headquarters: 501 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Main line: (850) 488-5021. Offender search and family resources: fdc.myflorida.com.

Further reading for families

For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.

Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.