Florida Department of Corrections (FL DOC) — Inmate Records & Recent Arrests

Florida Department of Corrections: Inmate Search & How to Help

This page holds the inmate records we have on file for the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), one of the largest state prison systems in the country, holding tens of thousands of people across a statewide network of major institutions, work camps, and annexes. Because FDC is a system rather than a single site, the person you are searching for could be housed anywhere in Florida and may be transferred during their sentence. Treat the records below as a historical directory and a starting point — a way to identify the right person and then act — not a live count of any one prison. For more on this facility — history, programs, and what to expect — see our full facility profile.

How to search the Florida system

Florida runs a free public Offender Search through the Department of Corrections, where you look someone up by name or by their six-digit DC number and see their current facility, custody level, and release date. The DC number is the key identifier: it stays with a person throughout their time in FDC custody and is required for mail, deposits, and visiting paperwork. On this page you can also browse the records we hold by last name (A–Z), gender, or age to narrow a common name, then confirm the current facility and status through the state's Offender Search. If a recently sentenced person does not appear, they may still be in a county jail awaiting transfer or moving through a reception center, so check again after a few days. Our inmate search guide for this facility walks through this in more detail.

How reception and assignment work

People entering the Florida system typically pass first through a reception center, where they are evaluated, receive medical screening, and are classified before being assigned to a permanent institution — a process that usually takes several weeks. Understanding this helps explain why a newly sentenced person may show at a reception center and then move: it is normal, and the Offender Search is where you will see the reassignment. Once at a permanent facility, a person's custody level and program needs determine where they are held and what their daily life looks like.

Getting approved to visit

Getting on the visiting list in Florida is a process that runs through the incarcerated person: they must request Form DC6-111A (Visiting Privilege Request) from their classification officer and mail it to you, and you complete it and mail it back to the classification department at their facility. Background checks commonly take 30 to 60 days, so start early. Each institution sets its own visiting days and hours, so once you are approved and know where your person is held, confirm that facility's specific schedule. Bring valid photo identification, expect a dress code and screening, and be aware that many facilities require you to complete an inmate search to reach the online visitation scheduling form in the week before your visit. Planning ahead — especially the 30-to-60-day approval window — is the single biggest thing that prevents a wasted trip.

Sending money across the system

Money is sent through JPay. Money orders must be made payable to JPay and mailed with a deposit slip to JPay, P.O. Box 260010, Hollywood, FL 33026, and a small state processing fee applies; note that since 2022 you generally must be on the person's approved visitor list to send funds. Funds let a person buy commissary items, phone time, and JPay tablet services, and because the account follows the DC number, money you send remains available if your loved one is transferred. Always double-check the DC number so a deposit reaches the right person, particularly given how many people move through the system.

Mail and messaging

Incarcerated people in Florida can receive letters through the U.S. mail, and every piece is opened and inspected for contraband. Address mail with the person's committed name and DC number, include a return address, and keep enclosures simple — no stickers, glitter, or adhesive. Florida also uses JPay tablets for monitored electronic messaging, which is often faster than paper mail for short notes and photos. Between visits, a steady rhythm of letters and messages is one of the most reliable ways to support someone.

Phone calls and staying connected

Calls are placed by the incarcerated person out to approved numbers, so set up and fund a phone account with the system's provider before the first call. For families who talk frequently, lower-cost calling arrangements can meaningfully reduce the expense over a long sentence. Consistent phone contact, in addition to visits and mail, is strongly associated with smoother reentry, so it is worth building a sustainable routine early.

Understanding the different kinds of Florida facility

The Florida system is not just large prisons. It includes major institutions, annexes attached to them, work camps, work-release centers, road prisons, and re-entry centers, each with a different security level and daily routine. Where a person is held reflects their custody classification, program needs, and sometimes their proximity to release — someone may move from a higher-security main unit to a work camp or re-entry center as they progress. This matters when you are locating and supporting someone: the type of facility affects visiting logistics, program availability, and how close to home your loved one is housed. Whenever a person is reassigned, re-checking the Offender Search will show the new facility, and it is worth noting the facility type so your expectations about visits and contact match the setting.

What the records mean, and next steps

The entries on this page are compiled from public data and reflect a point in time, not a live feed. In a system this large, records frequently lag behind transfers and releases, and some fields may be incomplete — a limit of the source, not a statement about the person. Everyone listed is presumed innocent or is serving a sentence after conviction. If your loved one is still pre-trial in a county jail rather than in FDC custody, bail through the court may be an option; once in state custody, the focus shifts to communication, commissary, programs, and reentry. Confirm the DC number and current facility through Florida's Offender Search, then use this page to keep track and take the next step.

Sources: www.fdc.myflorida.com/, pubapps.fdc.myflorida.com/, www.fdc.myflorida.com/visit