visit inmate in jail

Your version of Internet Explorer is out of date and no longer compatible with GettingOut. Please try using another browser or upgrade your current version of Internet Explorer by clicking here .

schedule a visit

Three Types of Video Visits

At Facility

These visits are when you go to your facility and sit at a video visit station in the lobby. Your loved one or friend will be on a video visit station in their pod.

From Computer

At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own personal computers in the comfort of their own homes. You will need the following equipment to do a video visit from home:

• A computer.
• A webcam and a microphone, or a computer with these components built in (most laptops have these built in).
• An internet browser. Internet browsers Safari 4 and higher, or Firefox 7 and higher, are strongly recommended. Using other browsers may not load the page appropriately in order to begin your visit. We are not responsible for technical problems or issues that may arise from using an unsupported browser.
• For the best visit experience you should use headphones, but they are not required.
• High speed internet (DSL or Cable) connection (dial up and satellite are not supported).

From Android Device

Video visits go mobile with our Visit Now Android app. At select facilities families and friends can have video visits from their own Android devices.

How to Schedule a Visit

Free video visit policy.

Free visits are a benefit for the inmate and are credited to the  inmate’s account. Therefore the inmate is the only one who  can book a free visit . This allows the inmate at your facility full control of whom they want to use their free visit with. There are also advanced scheduling rules that control the timeframe that a free visit can be booked. These rules vary by facility. If an inmate books a visit outside this timeframe, they will not be allowed to use a free visit.

• Book the visit with their Friends & Family.
• Suggest a visit with their Friends & Family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time they confirm the suggested time. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted.
• Confirm a suggested visit from their friends and family. The Friends & Family must have no prepaid funds on their account at the time the inmate confirms the visit. The inmate’s free visit will then be deducted from their free visit allowance.

The only way Friends & Family can use a free visit is by suggesting a visit with the inmate. If the inmate has a free visit available and there are no prepaid funds on the Friends & Family account at the time the inmate confirms, the free visit will be deducted from inmate’s account.

What Services Are Available At My Facility?

Select your facility below, available services:.

• Phone & Voicemail
• Video Visit at Facility
• Video Visit from Home

• Photo Sharing
• Tablets Your inmate has access to tablets. Make a deposit to their account so they have more ways to be productive, and you have more ways to stay connected.
• Verification Required

What is Telmate Verified?

If you are asked to be Telmate Verified it means your facility requires verification of your identity prior to acceptance of inmates' calls. The purpose of verification is to ensure inmates are not connecting with inappropriate people on the outside. The verification process is simple and can be completed before or after creating an account.

To be verified, you can make a deposit , schedule a visit or download and complete the Telmate Verified form .

Did you know…

According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, inmates who

maintain strong relationships

with friends and family, greatly reduce their risk of recidivism.

Terms of Use governing use of GettingOut services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18.

To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18.

Video Visitation

Video visitation is a great way to connect with your loved one over the internet, without having to worry about unpredictable crowds and overly busy visitation hours.

Visits can be scheduled and paid for in advance, allowing you to visit with inmates at times that are convenient for you.

We offer two types of Video Visitation services:

At-Home Video Visits

These video visits can be conducted at home on your PC computer, laptop or mobile device (Android).

Save travel expenses, time, long lines and parking fees with at-home video visits.

Ease stress on children who can now communicate without visiting the facility in person.

On-site Video Visits

On-site video visits are conducted at visitation stations at the facility.

With these visits, you are still required to travel to the facility.

Through our easy-to-use website, you can schedule, register, and pay for (if applicable) the visit in advance. Then, conduct the visit in real-time over the internet.

Please note: These services can vary by facility and are not available at all locations.

How It Works

• Check to see if your inmate’s facility offers video visitation.
• If video visitation is offered at the facility, go to www.gtlvisitme.com . Register yourself and all visitors participating in the visitations.
• Select the facility where your loved one is located.
• Search for your inmate, and add them.
• Click “Schedule” to begin the scheduling process.
• You will see the cost associated with your visit at the time of scheduling. Enter your credit card or debit card information to complete the scheduling process. You will receive a confirmation email and receipt for your visit.
• For at-home video visits : sign in to the visitation scheduling site 15 minutes prior to your scheduled visit. Test your connection, and follow the steps to start your visit.
• For on-site video visits: arrive at the facility at least 15 minutes prior to check-in. A valid photo ID is required. Each facility has its own rules for on-site visits. Please review rules prior to arrival.

For additional helpful information and a list of useful questions about visitation, scheduling, and facility policies, view our v isitation FAQs .

What It Costs

Visitation costs vary by correctional facility and visitation duration.

Different types of visits may have different costs or no cost at all.

All costs associated with visits are clearly displayed at the time of scheduling. Visitors are aware of all the options and can choose based on their visitation preferences.

Ways to Pay

When scheduling fee-based video visitations through our visitation website , you will be asked to provide your payment information to complete the scheduling process.

We accept debit cards, charge cards, and Visa/Mastercard gift cards.

To get the best experience, you’ll need to upgrade to a newer browser.

Terms of Use governing use of ConnectNetwork services state that all services are intended to be used by persons over the age of 18.

To continue, please enter your date of birth to confirm you are over the age of 18.

• CDCR Facebook (opens new window)
• CDCR Twitter (opens new window)
• YouTube (opens new window)
• Instagram (opens new window)

Prepare to Visit

Visiting guidelines.

After you’ve received approval to visit and understand the scheduling process , get familiar with CDCR’s adult inmate visiting guidelines so you’re prepared to visit.

Here’s what you need to know :

• Types of Visits
• Vaccination/Testing Procedures for Visitors
• Identification Required for Visiting
• Attire Restrictions
• Items a Visitor May Bring
• Arrival for Visiting
• Processing of Visitors
• In the Visiting Room
• Prisoner’s Eligibility to Visit

City of Philadelphia

• An official website of the City of Philadelphia government
• Here's how you know
• An official website
• Feedback and support

Crime, law & justice

• Prisons, incarcerated people, and returning citizens
• Finding and contacting incarcerated people

Visit an incarcerated person

Service overview.

Incarcerated people can receive visitors in prison for one hour each week. Walk-ins are not permitted. You must schedule your visit at least 48 hours in advance.

If you are visiting an incarcerated person, you can bring an outfit for them to attend court in .

Philadelphia prison facilities are operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) .

Who can visit an incarcerated person

Friends and family members can visit incarcerated people.

Children that are six months and older can visit with a parent or guardian. The adult must provide proof of custody or a birth certificate. Children cannot visit during school hours.

No more than one adult and one child can visit with a person at one time.

Who can’t visit an incarcerated person

You cannot visit someone in jail or prison at a PDP facility if you:

• Are on probation, parole, or conditional release including furlough and work release.
• Were incarcerated in any Philadelphia Department of Prisons facility in the last six months.
• Are believed to have a potential detrimental effect on the person you are visiting, or pose a security threat to the facility.
• Have had your visiting privileges suspended.

If you have been denied a visit because of one of the reasons above, you can request special permission from the facility’s warden.

Requirements

Visitors must follow a dress code. You may not wear:

• Plain white t-shirts.
• Clothing that closely resembles an incarcerated person’s uniform (orange jumpsuits, blue scrub tops).
• Hoodies or jackets with hoods.
• Hot pants or short-shorts. (Bermuda shorts are permissible.)
• Torn jeans.
• Revealing clothing or see-through fabric anywhere on the torso.
• Mini-skirts or dresses (must be within two inches of the knee).
• Low-rise pants or skirts that reveal undergarments.
• Clothing with offensive or provocative language.
• Clothing with writing across the seat of pants or skirt.
• Open-toe shoes.

Visitors must wear:

• Shirts with sleeves.

If you’re wearing leggings or stretch pants, your top must cover your hips when you raise your arms above your head.

Where and when

Appointments for visits are first-come, first-served. You must make your appointment between 48 hours and seven days in advance.

Saturday visits are reserved for designated facility populations. Holiday visits are only allowed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.

Visitors must be at the facility at least ten minutes before the scheduled visit.

Friends and family members can collect personal effects from the cashier during the hours listed below. The cashier’s office is open 24 hours a day at release.

Visiting hours by facility

* To visit an incarcerated person at the Detention Center (DC), Alternative & Special Detention Center (ASD), or ASD MOD III, go to the Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF) visiting lobby.

In the visiting area, you can store your belongings in a locker. You must have quarters for the lockers. There is no change machine in the waiting room.

They may ask you to loosen undergarments to perform the search. You also need to go through a metal detector.

If you feel that a search was improper, ask to speak to a supervisor or contact the Office of Community Justice Outreach (CJO) at (215) 685-8909 or (215) 685-7288 .

If the person you are visiting doesn’t want to see you, you will not be allowed to visit them. The PDP will not force anyone to meet a visitor if they don’t want to.

Related content

• Locate an incarcerated person
• Contact an incarcerated person by mail
• Send clothes to an incarcerated person
• Send funds to an incarcerated person

Department of Corrections

Dc agency top menu.

• Agency Directory
• Online Services
• Accessibility

document.write(document.getElementById("site-slogan").innerHTML);

Search form

• Attorney Comment Form
• Automated Inmate Deposits
• Inmate Telephone Services
• Online Scheduling for Video Visitation
• Reasonable Accommodation
• Veterans Services
• Victim Information Services
• Attorney or Legal Visitor
• Community Services Provider or General Public
• Crime Victim Seeking Information
• Friend or Family Member
• Volunteer Service Providers
• Community Input
• District-wide Recidivism Reduction Plan
• Preparing Returning Citizens for Success
• Supporting Returning Citizens
• The READY Center
• DOC Program Statements
• Career Opportunities
• Correctional Officers Training
• DC DOC Vision
• Correctional Facilities
• DOC Frequently Asked Questions
• Director's Biography
• Open Government and FOIA
• Partner Agencies
• Budget and Financials
• Organizational Chart
• Media Contact
• Programs and Case Management (PCM)
• Programs and Services
• Staff Wellness Resources

Online Scheduling for Video Visitation/Scheduling for Face to Face Visitation

Effective Monday, January 9, 2023 , in-person visits at the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) and face-to-face visits at the Central Detention Facility (CDF) will resume for all residents and visitors according to scheduling services provided by DOC Operations Team. 

COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer required for DOC residents and visitors. 

The Video Visitation Center will be CLOSED on Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25, 2022. 

The video visitation center will be open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on new year’s day, sunday, january 1, 2023. , beginning monday, july 19, 2021 video visitation will be resume at the following dcpl satellite locations: .

• Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020 – Visits are conducted on Thursdays and Fridays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
• Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019 - Visits are conducted on Wednesday and Saturdays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

UPDATE: Saturday, April 4, 2020 – Your health and safety is extremely important to us. Together, everyone needs to play their part in helping to flatten the curve. To mitigate the possible spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) through DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) facilities, the Department will implement a medical stay-in-place, effective immediately , which will further limit movement of residents and help “flatten the curve”, as we anticipate the pandemic’s peak in the next several weeks. During the medical stay in place, DOC will cease all video visitations.

The VVC is located behind the Correctional Treatment Facility (1901 E Street, SE, Washington, DC 20009), on the ground level of The READY Center.

All visits will continue to be scheduled via the Internet or by calling 1 (888) 906-6394 or (202) 442-6155 (Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am-5 pm).

Social visits at the DC Jail are conducted at the Department’s Video Visitation Center, located at the DC General Hospital complex (adjacent to the jail), and in select community visitation locations. Visits may be scheduled via the Internet  or by calling 1 (888) 906-6394 or (202) 442-6155 (Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am-5 pm). Visits are conducted Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 11 am and ending at 10 pm. The last session begins at 9 pm. Visitation hours at the community locations differ. Please see below for visitation hours for each satellite location. DOC encourages all visitors to arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled visit. Visits must start on time and are automatically cancelled if visitors arrive late.

Effective Wednesday, September 12, 2012, inmates are allowed two (2) 45-minute social visits per week--visits are free and by appointment only. However, One adult and up to two minor children (under the age of 18) may enter the video visitation room to visit, effective November 6, 2012. Additional minor children may be rotated in during the forty-five (45) minute visitation period as long as they are supervised by an adult while in the waiting area.

About Face to Face Visitation

The D.C. Department of Corrections offers visitation for the families and loved ones of those incarcerated in our facilities. Most social visits for inmates housed at the D.C. Jail are conducted through video visitation. However, as an incentive for positive behavior, face to face visitation is now available for eligible inmates. This program began on June 22, 2015.

Correctional Treatment Facility:

There will be no weekend or Sunday visitation on Sunday, December 25, 2022, or Sunday, January 1, 2023.

Christmas Day (Observed) Monday, December 26, 2022 - Female Population Only.         Holiday Schedule - 8AM,  9AM, 10AM, 11AM, and 12PM

New Year's Day (Observed) Monday, January 2, 2023 - Female Population Only .         Holiday Schedule - 8AM, 9AM, 10AM, 11AM, and 12PM

Note:  All Mondays are reserved for the female population at the CTF.

En Español

1901 D Street, SE

More Resources

Alert: Click here for more information

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

• OFFENDER SEARCH
• VISITING INFORMATION
• INSTITUTIONS
• PROBATION SERVICES

Select the position you would like to apply for:

Correctional officer probational officer inspector general, visitor information.

For additional information and questions on visiting an inmate, Contact us .

Visitation is a privilege and as such is subject to suspension/revocation if circumstances dictate. For the complete rules governing visitation, please see Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 33, Section 601.711-737 .

How to Submit a Visiting Application & Become an Approved Visitor

Before you can visit an inmate, you must become an approved visitor . Please follow the below steps:

• Complete the Visitation Application Form (DC6-111A) for approval (either English or Spanish page).
• 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)
• For a summary of visitor information and rules, click here: Visitor Information Summary (DC6-111B)
• Mail to the Classification Department at the inmate's current location (see the Statewide Facility Directory for address information). If the inmate is in the reception process, you cannot apply for visitation. You can apply once the inmate gets to his/her permanent facility.
• E-mail attachment to the inmate's current location. For list of all institutional email addresses for visitation applications, click here: List of Application Email Addresses
• Notification of Decision
• Once the application is processed (approximately 30 days), a notice is given to the inmate regarding the decision. The inmate can notify you either by phone or correspondence.

How to Schedule a Visit with an Inmate

Once you receive confirmation that you are an approved visitor, you may schedule a visit with the inmate. Please follow the below steps:

• Complete the Visitation Scheduling Form
• 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, click the "Schedule a Visit" button below and search for the inmate you are approved to visit on the Offender Search.
• NOT SUSPENDED
• BY APPOINTMENT - CONTACT CLASSIFICATION [this visitation status is for inmates in Close Management (CM), Administrative Management Unit (AMU), on Death Row or in a medical or mental health status that requires special coordination by the facility. You must contact Classification at the inmate's facility directly to coordinate your visit if the inmate is in one of these special statuses. You will not fill out the Visitation Scheduling form if the inmate is in one of these special statuses].
• IN RECEPTION - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VISIT
• IN CONFINEMENT - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REGULAR VISITS
• OUT OF DEPARTMENT'S CUSTODY - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VISIT
• Do not call for a visitation appointment unless the inmate's Visitation Status is "By Appointment - Contact Classification". Institutions do not have sufficient staffing to handle heavy call volume.
• Please Be Advised! There are several non-authorized Websites providing outdated Visitation Forms. Make certain to use official forms only available through the Florida Department of Corrections.

SCHEDULE A VISIT

• Once you have successfully submitted a Visitation Scheduling form online, you will receive a confirmation email with the details of your visit to the email you provided on the form.
• Be advised, this is not a guarantee of visitation, as circumstances for the inmate or facility are subject to change (i.e., inmate is placed into confinement, facility is placed on lockdown, etc.).
• All visitors 16 years of age or older must present a valid form of picture identification for visitation registration. Acceptable forms of identification are identification cards that contain a photograph, current address, and date of birth and physical characteristics of the individual.

Visiting FAQs

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.

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:

• Everglades C.I. (does not include Everglades Re-Entry Center)
• Jefferson C.I.
• Lowell C.I. ( Dorms O and P only)
• Madison C.I.
• Marion C.I. (does not include Marion Work Camp)
• Santa Rosa Annex (Dorms L, M, N, O and P only)
• Sumter C.I.
• Tomoka C.I.

No. Each person wishing to visit must fill out a separate application.

To list a few, a criminal history, providing false or inaccurate information on a visiting application, mailing an incomplete application, etc. Possessing a criminal record will not automatically disqualify you for visitation. The nature, extent, and recency of criminal offenses are taken into consideration. However, as of January 8, 2007, offenders must be discharged from community supervision for at least one year prior to being eligible for consideration.

Pursuant to Rule 33-601.716, F.A.C., a visitor shall be permitted to be on the approved visiting record of all inmates who are family, as defined in Rule 33-601.713, F.A.C., as well as one non-family inmate.

Pursuant to Rule 33-601.723, Florida Administrative Code - Visiting Check-In Procedures: All visitors sixteen years of age or older must present a valid form of picture identification for visiting registration. Acceptable forms of identification are identification cards that contain a photograph, current address, and date of birth and physical characteristics of the individual. Signatures are not required if the identification otherwise complies with all other standards of proper identification.

A visitor seventeen years old or younger who cannot furnish proof of emancipation must be accompanied during a visit by an approved parent, legal guardian, or authorized adult and must remain under the supervision of that adult at all times, to include when the minor is subject to being searched under the provisions of Rule 33-601.726, F.A.C.

An authorized non-parental adult accompanying a visiting minor must provide a notarized document of guardianship from the minor's parent or legal guardian (neither of which may be an inmate except as provided below) granting permission for the minor to visit a specifically identified inmate. The document shall be notarized by someone other than the non-parental adult accompanying the minor and shall be updated every six months from the date of issue. In cases where it can be determined that legal custody remains with the incarcerated parent or legal guardian and has not been given to another adult by the court, a notarized statement from the incarcerated parent or guardian shall be acceptable for purposes of authorizing children of the inmate to visit. Any such authorization remains subject to any relevant court orders or relevant departmental rules regarding the inmate’s contact with the minor in question. Falsification of a document of guardianship shall result in the person being subject to suspension of visiting privileges pursuant to paragraph 33-601.731(9)(d), F.A.C.

Please note that inmates convicted of certain offenses may be restricted from visiting with any person seventeen years of age or younger. Complete specifics can be found in Rule 33-601.720, F.A.C.

Regular visiting is permitted on the following holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (third Monday in January)
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Veteran's Day (November 11th)
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving; and
• Christmas Day

If any of the holidays listed above falls on Saturday, the preceding Friday will be observed as a holiday. If any of these holidays fall on Sunday, then the following Monday will be observed as the holiday.

No. With the exception of foods purchased inside the visiting park, you may not exchange or give anything to the inmate. You may contact the on-duty warden to request a special exception to this rule.

Yes. You must submit an application for consideration. However, we urge the public to be cautious before establishing social or pen pal relationships with inmates. Please visit our web-site at www.fdc.myflorida.com/OffenderSearch/InmateInfoMenu.aspx to verify information about Florida inmates before engaging in correspondence with them.

Special visits are not given routinely but are reserved for extenuating circumstances and are granted at the discretion of the Warden. Contact the institution and speak with the inmate's Classification Officer.

You must contact the Classification Officer at the inmate's current facility (see the Statewide Facility Directory for address information).

The warden at each facility has the final approval or disapproval authority for each visitation request. (See the Statewide Facility Directory for contact information).

What to Expect When Visiting

• Brief Questioning
• Metal Detection
• Barrier Search

Upon entering the search area, each visitor will be asked a series of questions. The purpose of these questions is to ensure you as the visitor, or the minor child that is accompanying you, is not in violation of Florida Statute 944.47: Introduction of Contraband into a Correctional Institution . Examples include cash money, cell phones, drugs of any type, tobacco and weapons. If you don’t check it in with the staff, don’t bring it in!

Anyone violating this Statute is subject to arrest and may be charged with a third degree felony .

The following is a list of articles of clothing not permitted:

• Halter tops or bra-less attire

• Underwear-type t-shirts or tank tops

• Fishnet clothing

• Skintight clothing

• Shoes with removable parts

• See-through fabric without an undergarment

• Dresses, skirts or shorts more than three inches above the knee

• Clothing with a threatening picture or language

• Camouflage

• Any clothing with metal

What baby items can I bring into the visiting park? A maximum of five (5) diapers, three (3) clear plastic baby bottles or two (2) sipper cups for toddlers, one (1) clear plastic baby pacifier, three (3) clear plastic jars of baby food with the original seal intact, and baby wipes or towelettes (in a clear plastic bag). Also, you may bring in an infant baby carrier (subject to search), one (1) set of infant clothing, and one (1) non-quilted baby blanket to keep the infant warm.

How much money can I bring in during my visit? Up to $50.00, in $1.00, $5.00, $10.00 and $20.00 denominations only or silver change, per visitor, regardless of age, to purchase snacks and beverages from visiting park canteens or vending machines. All snacks and beverages shall be purchased and consumed in the visiting area. A small wallet or pouch may be used for containing the bills and any change received from the canteen or vending purchases.

What else may I bring into the visiting park? You may bring a vehicle key necessary to operate your vehicle. However, keyless entry devices are not permitted unless the duty warden or designee determines that the device is the only means for the visitor to access the vehicle and it does not pose a threat to institutional security.

What If I need my prescription medication? You may bring in medication, but only the dosage necessary. The medication must be in the original prescribed container and must be clearly marked. However, certain restrictions apply and the department reserves the right to prohibit certain prescriptions which may pose a threat to institutional security.

What if I require injections for medical purposes? If you have a medical condition, such as diabetes, which requires injections, you will be permitted to depart the visiting park and take the necessary medications. Needles and syringes must be secured in your locked vehicle and are not permitted inside the visiting park for security reasons. Do not dispose of needles and syringes on institutional grounds.

All of our institutions require that any person visiting an inmate be searched. All of these searches are performed with the safety of the visitors, staff and inmates in mind.

Our goal is to arrest anyone who deliberately introduces contraband into our institutions. Contraband creates violent incidents that could cause harm to your loved one, or even death.

Our procedures require that all persons (to include minor children) be subjected to some form of search. A parent or guardian will be present during the search of any minor child.

After a staff member has searched your authorized personal items, you will then be directed to pass through a form, or multiple forms, of metal detection. FDC currently utilizes a walk-through metal detector and a hand-held metal detector. Once you are scanned by a metal detector, you will be required to pass the Magneto Static Detector (a machine that detects cell phones and other devices).

All alerts must be verified. If you cannot pass both detectors without an alert, the source of the alarm must be isolated or you will not be permitted entrance. **Having wire in an undergarment will subject you to a more enhanced search .

If the alarm is caused by a medical implant that is not visible to the human eye, a note from a certified physician will be required. The physician whose name appears on the note will be verified.

After metal detection, you will be directed to a separate room for a clothed, pat search by a staff member of the same sex. During this pat search you will be asked to remove all exterior clothing such as jackets, sweaters, scarfs, shoes, etc.

You may be directed to an area where a canine handler is present. The canine is trained in the detection of drugs and cell phones. The handler, along with a highly trained canine will be standing behind a fence barrier. You will be asked to stand next to and in front of the barrier. If the canine alerts that contraband may be present, a more thorough search will be conducted, to possibly include an unclothed search and a search of your vehicle.

At any time during your visit that you utilize the restroom, you will be subject to another pat search upon entering/exiting.

You should ask to speak to the officer in charge (OIC) at the visiting park. If you are unable to resolve the issue, you may contact the on-duty warden.

QUICK LINKS

• Court Ordered Payments
• How to Send Inmate Funds
• Contact an Inmate
• Public Records
• File a Complaint
• Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence
• Prison Tips Line
• Organization Chart
• Corrections Foundation
• Parole Information
• Prison Rape Elimination Act
• Regulatory Plan
• 501 SOUTH CALHOUN STREET TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-2500 Online Contact Form 850-488-7052

Visit a Person in Custody

• Visit Schedule
• Visit Transportation
• Visiting with Children
• Visitors' Dress Code
• Visitor Satisfaction Survey

Beginning May 10, 2023:

• In-person visits are offered on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
• Wednesday and Thursday: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
• Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
• Visitors who arrive outside of the registration hours will not be eligible for a visit.
• In-Person visits follow the existing visitor schedule according to the last name of the individual in custody. Please view this schedule here .
• Visiting groups may consist of no more than two (2) adults and one (1) child who will sit on one of the adult’s lap; or one (1) adult and two (2) children, at least one of whom is small enough to sit on someone’s lap.
• Prospective visitors who are not feeling well are encouraged to say home and return for a visit on a different day.

Facility Locations

The Department operates several facilities across NYC. Please see the list of Facility Locations where names and address of all DOC facilities to inform your visit.

Things to Know

• Visitors will be subject to passive canine searches when arriving to the Rikers Island Visit Control Building or the Borough facilities, or any other facility including the Hospital Prison Wards.
• All visitors 18 years of age and older must present valid current identification that contains a photograph and signature. Acceptable forms of identification for all visitors are listed below.
• A 16-year-old or 17-year-old with valid identification (such as a birth certificate) may accompany a child under the age of 16 if that 16- or 17-year-old is the parent of the child and the inmate being visited is also the parent of the same child. In this case, the 16- or 17-year-old must produce a birth certificate for the child under the age of 16.

     PLEASE NOTE: All packages for persons in custody need to be mailed. Packages will not      be accepted during  in-person visits.      

Acceptable Forms of Identification

From any state or territory in the U.S.:

• Current driver’s license
• Valid Employment ID card with photo AND most recent employment paycheck/stub
• DMV Non-driver license identification card

Other Acceptable Forms of Identification

• Resident alien or permanent resident card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice
• Passport (from any country)
• NYS benefits identification card (Medicaid/food stamp photo ID)
• U.S. Armed Services identification
• Consulate-issued or diplomatic identification

If you have any questions while at a facility, please ask a Correction Officer or Supervisor.

Site Search

• Location and General Information
• Inmate Services
• Inmate Healthcare
• Jail and Inmate Healthcare FAQ
• How to Post Bond and Purge Child Support Back Payments
• Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA)
• Video Visitation
• Pinellas Safe Harbor
• Policy of Recorded Outgoing Inmate Phone Calls
• Number Request Form

Video Visitation Center

The Video Visitation Center for all inmates is located at 14500 49 th  Street North in the Pinellas County Jail Administration Support Building. All visitors and their guests (including minors) must schedule visits no later than midnight the prior day. Same-day visits will not be accommodated. Reservations to visit inmates will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. Reservations will be accepted up to one week in advance. Reservations are taken 24 hours a day, 7 days a week online.   Click here to schedule a visit .  For assistance using the website, please contact 727-464-6842 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., 7 days a week.

Three people may visit: one adult with two children – or – two adults with one child. No more than two adult visitors at one time.

You must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid photo ID to make an appointment. All adult visitors must present a valid photo identification card (State-issued ID/Driver License/Passport/Military ID) for admittance to the Video Visitation Center. Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted without an adult and must remain with an adult throughout the visit.

Video Visitation Hours:

All visits will be 40 minutes long.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please read the following information to avoid delays or cancellation of visitation.

The following criteria  MUST  be met to ensure safety, security, and a pleasant visitation period for all concerned:

• All adult visitors must present a valid photo identification card (State-issued ID/Driver License/Passport/Military ID) for admittance to the Video Visitation Center.
• No weapons of any kind.
• Drugs, alcohol, food, drink, tobacco, or vape products are  NOT  allowed.
• All electronic devices, including cell phones and tablets, must be turned off or visits will be terminated.
• No revealing or offensive apparel. No clothing which unduly exposes the shoulders, chest, back, stomach, midriff, or upper thigh. This includes but is not limited to: halter tops, strapless tops, tube tops, spaghetti strap tops, and bathing suits. The upper thigh should not be visible above an appropriate mid-thigh level (this includes shorts, rips in jeans, skirts, dresses, etc.)
• No transparent or revealing clothing which is intended to excessively accent the body will be permitted. (Nothing excessively form fitting will be permitted).
• Appropriate undergarments are required but should not be visible.
• Any shirt, jacket, hat, or other article of clothing with a picture or language that maybe considered profane or offensive, or is considered a Security Threat Group (STG) or gang related, will not be allowed.
• Some type of footwear must be worn in the Visitation Center.
• No standing or posing during the visit.
• Visit only the inmate you signed up for.
• Do not leave trash, etc. in the visiting booths or visitation area.
• Do not damage or deface visiting booths or phones.  Immediate termination of visit will occur. Future visits may be restricted or denied .
• Conduct by any visitor, including children, that is disruptive or disrespectful in any manner will not be tolerated. The visit will be canceled at any time due to disrespectful conduct if it is deemed necessary by the supervisor or member in charge.

These guidelines, as well as the posted rules and regulations, will be strictly enforced.

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Visitation Center now offers Remote Video Visitation. Visitors will have the option to visit remotely from a computer or smart device in lieu of reporting to the Visitation Center. Remote visiting hours will coincide with the on-site visiting hours. To conduct video visitations remotely, your computer must be equipped with a camera and microphone. The use of headphones or ear buds is highly recommended. Due to limited available time slots, visitors are encouraged to attend their scheduled visits. Any visitor who fails to show up for their assigned visit or cancels their visit on the same day, more than one time, will have their remote visit privileges suspended for 30 days for each future “no show” or “same day cancelation.” 

Prior to visiting remotely, visitors must:

• Established visitors do not need to create a new account.
• Simply log into the visitor profile and launch the visit from any internet browser.

Check in within 15 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time. Failure to do so will result in the visit being cancelled. Visitor must have their registered form of ID ready for verification.

DESKTOP VERSION:

1. Run Internet Visit Tester to check microphone, camera, and bandwidth.

2. Click Play button next to Start Visit .

MOBILE VERSION:

1.  Run Video Visit Tester to check microphone, camera, and bandwidth.

2. Click Launch Video .

Improper conduct that could compromise the security or orderly operation of the jail facility is not allowed and could result in the visit being terminated. Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Exposure of sexual organs (to include female breasts).
• Obvious impairment caused by drugs or alcohol, or use of either, during the visit.
• Video conferencing with a third party on a tablet or cellphone.
• Taking photographs or videos of inmates.
• Posing or positioning the camera to show chest level or below will not be permitted.
• Non-compliance with dress code (see above for reference).
• Any action deemed inappropriate by the visitation center staff.

A visitor who demonstrates inappropriate or disruptive conduct may be restricted, or permanently banned, from any future visitation.

PROFESSIONAL VISITOR INFORMATION

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office shall allow professional visitors (attorneys) to sign in and conduct video visitations remotely. If you are a professional visitor and would like to request access to conduct video visitations remotely, please follow the directions here,  How To Create A Professional Visitor Account For Video Visitation.pdf , to create an account. After your account has been created and you have received a verification that your account has been approved, please view the document here,  How To Schedule A Professional Visit In Video Visitation.pdf , to schedule a video visitation session. Once your account has been identified as professional in our video visitation system, your sessions will not be monitored or recorded. Please note that to conduct video visitations remotely, your computer must be equipped with a camera and microphone. The use of headphones or ear buds is highly recommended.

• CHECK CRIMINAL ACTIVITY NEAR ME
• JAIL VIDEO VISITATION INFORMATION
• OBTAIN ACCIDENT REPORTS
• File a Complaint or Commendation about a PCSO Member’s Conduct
• Obtain Fingerprints
• Impound Release
• Submit a Crime or Drug Tip
• NEWS RELEASES

Non Emergency Line: (727) 582-6200 | In an Emergency call 911 ADA info

• Annual Reports
• Agricultural Crimes Unit
• Aviation Unit
• Civilian Support Unit (CSU)
• Communications
• Community Response Unit (CRU)
• Corrections Bureau
• False Alarm Reduction Unit
• Internal Affairs
• Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC)
• Lee County Gun Range
• Marine Unit
• Narcotics Unit
• Patrol Bureau
• Public Information Office
• Sheriff’s Youth Activities League
• SWFL Crime Stoppers
• Traffic Unit
• Victim’s Advocate
• Command Staff
• LCSO History
• Sheriff Carmine Marceno Bio
• Active Shooter Response
• Animal Cruelty Task Force
• Business Crime Prevention
• Citizen Survey
• Citizens Academy
• Community Outreach Centers
• Crime Prevention Tips
• LCSO Explorer Program
• Nan’s Ranch
• Personal/Residential Crime Prevention
• Safe Students, Safe Schools
• Summer Youth Program
• Teen Driver Challenge
• Youth Boxing Program
• Accessibility Statement
• Animal Abuser Registry
• CIGNA Coverage Transparency
• Cold Case Podcast
• Derelict and Abandoned Vessels
• Off-Duty Details
• FDLE Sex Offender Alert System
• Crime Mapping
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Fingerprint Services
• Public Records Request
• Report Identity Theft, Fraud, Forgery
• Request Vacation Home Check
• School Threat & Safety Conversation Guide
• Sex Predator Relocations
• Arrest Search
• Incidents by Location
• Traffic Incidents
• Wanted Fugitives
• LCSO Fallen Deputy Memorial
• Home Front Heroes
• Join Our Team
• Job Openings
• Animal Cruelty / Abuse
• Facility Directory
• Unit Directory
• Search for: Search Button

Visiting Inmates

All visitors must register and schedule visits in the visitation program. https://leecountyfl.gtlvisitme.com/app.

On visitation day, visitors will be required to check in at the kiosk and confirm their identification at the visitation desk, 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visitation time. Each inmate will be allowed up to two visitors per visitation session. Names will be checked against the inmate’s visitation list. A valid photo identification that displays the date of birth, is required to be presented to the Clerk. If no identification is displayed, the visitor will not be permitted to visit. Juveniles must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the visit. Remote visitations can still be conducted via www.gtlvisitme.com

Inmate Visitation

All visitations for the Jail, Core and Community Program Units (CPU’s) are conducted through a video monitor. Each inmate will be allowed two (2) visitations per week for one (1) hour each. Up to two (2) visitors from the Inmate’s Authorized Visitation List will be allowed to visit with the inmate; children under one year of age will not be included in the count.

You Must Be an Approved Visitor

All inmates are given a packet that contains an INMATE VISITATION LIST. The inmate can then place up to five (5) names of family members/friends that they want to visit with. Children under the age of one year DO NOT need to be placed on this list. They also do not count as one of the visitors. The inmate can only update their visitation list every four (4) months from the day they sign up. Any add-ons or removals constitutes as an update. Visitors on the list will be the only persons allowed to visit the inmate with the exception of Clergy, Attorney, and infants under the age of one year. Our hours of operations are open Monday-Sunday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Where Do You Go to Visit an Inmate?

All visits for inmates at the Lee County Corrections facilities (Main Jail, Core and CPU’s) are conducted at the Visitation facility located on the Ortiz site:

2501 Ortiz Ave Fort Myers, FL 33905 (239) 258-3773

Corrections facilities, when you enter the corrections facillity you must:.

• Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled visitation time
• Visitors 16 years of age and older must present a Photo ID (Drivers License, Identification Card, Passport, Military ID, or Prison ID) with a D.O.B.
• Have your name checked against that authorized visitation list
• Abide by the Correction Visitor Regulations below

Violation of Visitation Rules: 

Visitors who fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the Visitation Facility will be escorted from the facility and denied the rest of the visitation. The visitor may be suspended from visitation or banned depending on the severity of the offense. An email will be sent to the Facility Commander detailing the violation and the action taken. The decision for future visitation will be at the discretion of the Correction Bureau Commander and/or designee.

Visitor Regulations:

If you bring any of these items with you on visitation, they will be confiscated and you could face prosecution.

If an inmate is going to appear in court and you wish to bring him/her clothes for trial, you can have the inmate’s Attorney or Public Defender call the Court Operations Office at (239) 258-3400 to make the necessary arrangements. Arrangements with the Court Operations Unit will not be made directly with the family. Visitors are not permitted to introduce cell phones, cigarettes, lighters, cameras, radios, record or tape players, gifts, purses, baby bags, water bottles, food or drinks, etc. into the visitation area. Any of these items thought to have been used during the visitation, will be subject to confiscation. A visitor may be searched at any time if there is reason to believe that they may be in possession of contraband. Contraband is any item not provided to the inmate by the Correction Facility or not purchased by the inmate through the Corrections commissary. You cannot bring the inmate anything else. Visitors wearing attire that is too brief or revealing will not be permitted to visit. Even bringing the following items to an inmate is prohibited: Books, Enveloped letters, Battery- or electronically-operated cards, Candy, Care packages, Clothing, Envelopes, Food, Glitter, Hygiene items, Magazines, Medication, Polaroid pictures, Snacks, Stamps, Stickers, Writing paper, etc. If you bring any of these items with you on visitation, they will be confiscated and you could face prosecution. If an inmate is going to appear in court and you wish to bring him/her clothes for trial, you can have the inmate’s Attorney or Public Defender call the Court Operations Office at (239) 258-3400 to make the necessary arrangements. Arrangements with the Court Operations Unit will not be made directly with the family.

Clergy Visits

Clergy visits must be scheduled through the Chaplain’s Office at (239) 477-1772.

•     911 Emergencies (Voice,Text,TTY)
•     (239) 477-1000 Non-Emergencies
•     (239) 477-1500 Main Jail
•     (239) 477-1700 Corrections Core
•     (239) 477-1299 HEARING IMPAIRED -Non Emergency-24hrs toll free voice and TTY
•     Phone Directory
• Headquarters
• 14750 Six Mile Cypress, Fort Myers, FL 33912
• 2115 Martin Luther King Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901

Quick Links

• Lee County Clerk Of Courts
• State Attorney's Office
• Tax Collector's Office
• Privacy Policy
• Accessibility

Follow the latest news and updates on our social media platforms.

Lee County Sheriff's Office

Copyright © 2024 Lee County Sheriff's Office. All rights reserved.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

The U.S. prison population is rapidly graying. Prisons aren't built for what's coming

Meg Anderson

Andre Gay spent more than 50 years in prison and watched himself and others grow older behind bars. By one measure, about a third of all prisoners will be considered geriatric by 2030. Nate Smallwood for NPR hide caption

Andre Gay spent more than 50 years in prison and watched himself and others grow older behind bars. By one measure, about a third of all prisoners will be considered geriatric by 2030.

When Andre Gay went to state prison in Pennsylvania in 1972, he was just 16 years old, sentenced to life without parole for murder and aggravated robbery.

"I was a kid when I came to jail," he says, "so I was basically a blank slate."

Gay learned from the older men there, whom he called his elders. They would hold classes together every day on all kinds of topics: politics, economics, religion, law.

Then he became an elder himself. There were some telltale signs of age — stiffness and pain in the joints, sciatica, flagging stamina — but he felt relatively healthy. For years, he saw his reflection only in a scratched-up metal mirror. One day, he caught a glimpse of himself in a real mirror.

"I literally did not recognize who I was looking at. I had changed so much. It was so disconcerting that it stayed in my head all this time," Gay says. "I didn't realize I had aged that much. I didn't realize I had that much gray."

Prison is a difficult environment, and people behind bars tend to age faster than people on the outside. For that reason, "geriatric" in prison can mean someone as young as 50, though it varies by state.

Any way you define it, the U.S. prison population is getting grayer — and fast.

"You don't usually build prisons with nursing home-type housing"

The proportion of state and federal prisoners who are 55 or older is about five times what it was three decades ago. In 2022, that was more than 186,000 people.

In Oklahoma, the geriatric population has quadrupled in the past two decades. In Virginia, a quarter of the state's prisoners will be geriatric by 2030. And in Texas, geriatric inmates are the fastest-growing demographic in the entire system.

Prison systems across the U.S. have a constitutional obligation to provide adequate health care, and they're racing to figure out how to care for the elderly in their custody — and how to pay for it.

The first people to tell you this are the ones running the prisons.

"When you think about geriatric medical needs, many of the prisons across the United States are not equipped or weren't designed that way, and so the systems are grappling with how to retrofit or make do with the facilities that we have," says Nick Deml, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections.

A wheelchair-accessible ramp and a stationary bike at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights, Minn., are physical accommodations made available for the aging population at the prison. Caroline Yang for NPR hide caption

A wheelchair-accessible ramp and a stationary bike at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights, Minn., are physical accommodations made available for the aging population at the prison.

"You see it visibly, but you see it in your health care budget and in your health care needs and your housing needs," says Bryan Collier, the executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. "You don't usually build prisons with nursing home-type housing or geriatric housing or even wheelchair housing."

As that population grows, he says, prisons have to adapt in all kinds of ways: making cells wheelchair accessible, accommodating prisoners who can no longer climb to an upper bunk, providing health care and food inside units when prisoners aren't mobile, installing more outlets for CPAP machines.

"Staffing is a challenge," says Heidi Washington, director of the Michigan Department of Corrections. "What I'm more focused on going into the future is some more specialized staff that have an expertise in dealing with the aging population."

A retrofitted prison unit

Some states have opted to build entirely new facilities to house elderly or sick prisoners. Others have retrofitted existing units. At the state prison in Oak Park Heights, Minn., the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) has expanded twice in the past 20 years.

Inside the 54-bed unit, there's a clinic on one end where prisoners can get dialysis and other medical treatments. Nursing care is available 24 hours a day.

Kristin Grunewaldt, a registered nurse clinical coordinator at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights, sits on a bed in the prison's Transitional Care Unit. This unit is for elderly and sick prisoners who need 24-hour care. Caroline Yang for NPR hide caption

Kristin Grunewaldt, a registered nurse clinical coordinator at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Oak Park Heights, sits on a bed in the prison's Transitional Care Unit. This unit is for elderly and sick prisoners who need 24-hour care.

"Every patient that we have in our TCU, or just incarcerated in general, is somebody's dad, somebody's brother, somebody's sibling," says Kristin Grunewaldt, a registered nurse clinical coordinator at the facility. "We really try to do things for each patient to kind of individualize them and to make them feel more comfortable and human."

In some ways, the rooms look exactly like what they are: prison cells. The small windows have bars obscuring the view to the outside. A metal toilet sits in the corner with no option for privacy. The doors lock from the outside.

In other ways, the cells are less typical: The sinks allow space for a wheelchair to pass under, and the bed looks more like one you'd find in a hospital. There's a nurse call button, and each cell has a glass door.

Cells in the Transitional Care Unit are built with accommodations such as wider doors, hospital beds, sinks that wheelchairs can go under and a nurse call button. Caroline Yang for NPR hide caption

Cells in the Transitional Care Unit are built with accommodations such as wider doors, hospital beds, sinks that wheelchairs can go under and a nurse call button.

"That way we can visualize what is happening with the patient as we walk by the door," says Joan Wolff, associate director of nursing for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, noting that "the doorways are substantially wider to allow for wheelchairs."

This unit is equipped to care for elderly prisoners, Wolff says. But it's small. There are just two specialized units in Minnesota's prison system that provide this level of care. Together, they can house just over 150 people. But the state's prisons have around 1,400 people over age 50, according to a department spokesperson.

Wolff acknowledges that the prison population is graying.

Joan Wolff, associate director of nursing for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, acknowledges that the prison population is aging. "We know that it's coming, and we want to be prepared on our end," she says. Caroline Yang for NPR hide caption

Joan Wolff, associate director of nursing for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, acknowledges that the prison population is aging. "We know that it's coming, and we want to be prepared on our end," she says.

"We know that it's coming, and we want to be prepared on our end," she says, adding, "There's been a lot of discussion about what resources we can provide for individuals to ensure that their needs are being met even in a general population."

"What happens is fellow inmates are their nurses"

Dan Pfarr, CEO of a reentry nonprofit in Minnesota called 180 Degrees, says the older men he sees come out of prison are in rough shape.

"They've gone so long with substandard health care or not the right types of health care," says Pfarr, whose organization has contracts with the state. "For men coming out of prison, 40 is the new 60, 60 is the new 80."

He says he doesn't see how prisons could suddenly become prepared for an aging population.

One of the cells in the Transitional Care Unit at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Oak Park Heights. Caroline Yang for NPR hide caption

One of the cells in the Transitional Care Unit at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Oak Park Heights.

"What is it — a new set of cells over on the left side of the facility that offer what? That offer better nursing care, better nutrition, better sunlight, better access to health and wellness? Well, if that's not happening along the way, how is that going to happen as guys turn 70, 80?"

In Pennsylvania, Andre Gay avoided a future where he grew sick and died in prison. He became eligible for parole after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles could not be sentenced to mandatory life without parole and that this applied retroactively. He was released in July 2022, after more than 50 years in prison.

He's 68 now and spends his time helping get other prisoners released. He does it partly because he believes prisoners, particularly the elderly, aren't getting the care they need.

"The prison administration, their culture, I wouldn't even call it benign neglect. It was just indifference," Gay says. "Prison is not good for anybody. A lot of times, the elderly have it the worst."

Andre Gay, who went to prison at age 16, became eligible for parole after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles could not be sentenced to mandatory life without parole. He was released in 2022 and now spends his time helping get other prisoners released. Nate Smallwood for NPR hide caption

Andre Gay, who went to prison at age 16, became eligible for parole after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that juveniles could not be sentenced to mandatory life without parole. He was released in 2022 and now spends his time helping get other prisoners released.

Gay, who also goes by Shabaka, says people in prison end up helping each other. He recalled how one young man would care for an elderly man who was blind: "He used to always come to his cell and take him to the yard, to the kitchen, wherever he needed to go."

Other people tell similar stories.

"They're not set up to take care of elderly people that are now full-time patients," says Joan Sehl, whose partner, Terry Dreibelbis, is a Pennsylvania prisoner in his 70s. "So what happens is fellow inmates are their nurses."

Representatives for the Minnesota and Pennsylvania departments of corrections maintain that they're providing adequate health care to those in their custody.

"It's really a story of how we choose to punish people"

More elderly people in prison is largely a sentencing problem, says Marta Nelson, the director of sentencing reform at the Vera Institute of Justice, a criminal justice research organization.

"It all stems from the longer sentences and the longer length of time that people have had to spend serving sentences in the United States, really starting from the '70s and '80s, but which became quite well known in the '90s," Nelson says. "People who went in as young people then are now aging. So it's really a story of how we choose to punish people."

For instance, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 , commonly known as the 1994 crime bill, incentivized states to build more prisons and keep people in those prisons for a longer percentage of their sentences. Other tough-on-crime policies — like mandatory minimum sentences and "three strikes" laws, in which the punishments for repeat offenders severely ratchet up — also contributed to why many people who went to prison decades ago are still there.

The prison's general population uses this open yard for outdoor activities at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Oak Park Heights. Caroline Yang for NPR hide caption

The prison's general population uses this open yard for outdoor activities at the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Oak Park Heights.

Today, there are more people serving a life sentence in prison than there were people in prison at all in 1970, according to a 2021 report from the Sentencing Project , an advocacy organization.

Caring for aging prisoners is expensive, but the data on just how expensive is murky. A 2013 study estimated it could be anywhere from three to nine times more expensive than for younger prisoners. And a 2015 report from the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General found that federal prisons with the highest percentage of elderly prisoners spent five times more per person on medical care than those with the lowest percentage of aging prisoners.

Partly because of this cost, Nelson says, state lawmakers need to think more seriously about releasing elderly prisoners. But she acknowledges that this is complicated.

"You have somebody who is in prison for, say, murder. Well, OK, this person literally couldn't hurt a fly. And yet at one point in time, they created a great deal of harm," she says. "So how can we release them? I think they're afraid of the narrative about what it means to revisit what this person did."

The idea of releasing elderly prisoners is "a hot potato," says Kevin Kempf, executive director of the Correctional Leaders Association. "Not too many people are clamoring to get that responsibility for all the reasons that you can imagine."

But, he adds, "we just have to be really careful about who we incarcerate. That's the bottom line, because sometimes prisons don't make people better. We make people worse."

• prison medical care

• #1 Inmate's Guide

Moscow Jail Inmate Search | Roster | Lookup

• Official Site
• 208-883-7054

118 East 4th Street, Moscow, ID, 83843

The Moscow Jail is based in Moscow, Idaho . Often at times, the Moscow Jail gets confused with the Latah County Jail. However, there is a big difference between both of these jails.

Where on one hand the Moscow city jail serves the Moscow city only, the county jail services the whole county.

The address of Moscow Jail is as follows:  

Built as a prison facility, the Moscow Jail is more like a facility for holding the inmates. In general, the Moscow Jail houses inmates for as long as 72 hours before the inmates are released, or are transferred to another county prison.

• Find An Inmate
• Send a Mail/Parcel
• Call An Inmate
• How To Visit
• Prison Life

Finding someone at the Moscow Jail

The Moscow Jail facility offers a custody report that is available to the users online on the official website of the City of Moscow. These records display the names of the inmates that are currently being held in the facility. Hence, in case someone has been released or transferred, their records will not be found in the online roster.

A successful search will bring up the first and last name of the inmates along with their date of birth, mugshots, and their charges of crime.

Well, the Moscow Jail is one of the few jails that do not accept any mail packages for the inmates. This is because inmates are usually kept only for 72 hours or less.

In case any mail package is delivered to the facility, the package will simply be sent back to the original sender.

While inmates are being held at the Moscow Jail, they do not really require any money. This is because the inmates get three meals in a day along with other things that they may need. Hence, friends and family members don't really have to send money to the inmates.

Before putting money on the books of an inmate, friends and family members will have to wait until the inmate is transferred to a ‘home’ prison. This money will primarily be deposited in the commissary accounts of their respective ‘home’ prison and their telephone accounts for services such as email.

While the Moscow Jail does not allow incoming calls from family members and friends, the facility does allow the inmates to talk to their loved ones via a telephone. However, they will have to go through a booking process.

Once the booking process is completed, the inmates will be able to call through the telephone to make collect calls at their home.

Do note that the facility allows collect calls only. This simply means that the receiver will be the one paying any costs of the call. For this, the jail facility is not really responsible.

The inmates at the Moscow Jail do not get an access to the internet during the time they are held. Hence, the inmates cannot receive or send any emails while they are being held.

Do note that the Moscow Jail does not offer inmates ways to send a message or an email during their time in jail.

The Moscow Jail does not include a commissary for the inmates. This is primarily because inmates at the Moscow Jail are only held for about three days before being released, or transferred to a ‘home’ jail. The ‘home’ jails in most of the cases, are bigger with a range of different services.

Hence, for the time while the inmates are behind the bars, they will not be able to purchase goods. All that the inmates generally get at Moscow Jail is a bedding, and three meals in a day.

The inmates at the Moscow Jail do not spend more than three days, they are not allowed any visitors. Hence, the friends and family members of the inmates will normally have to wait for 72 hours before the inmate is released. In case the inmate is being transferred, the friends and family members will have to wait until the inmate reaches the ‘home’ prison.

However, the legal counsels of inmates can certainly visit them while they are being held at the Moscow Jail. The legal counsels will be the only person that which the inmates may talk with.

How often can you visit?

As mentioned earlier, the Moscow Jail does not allow any sort of visitation other than that of legal counsels of inmates. However, before visiting, the legal counsel will have to contact the prison at 208-883-7054.


At the Moscow Jail, the inmates are kept in their cell throughout the day (24 hours). Even eating will have to be done in the cell. Inmates can, however, use the telephones present in their cell to call their home. These calls are collect calls, however. This means that the person on the receiving end will be liable to pay for the call.

Hence, the life at Moscow Jail would be rather dull as there is not enough for the inmates to do at facility.

About Moscow Jail:

• Facility Name Moscow Jail
• Type City Jail
• Located At 118 East 4th Street, Moscow, ID, 83843
• Contact Phone No. 208-883-7054
• City Moscow
• ZIP Code 83843
• State Idaho (ID)
• County Latah County
• Official Site http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/police/
• Monday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Tuesday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Wednesday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Thursday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Friday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Saturday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Sunday From 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Map Location:

Nearby Facilities

• St. Maries Jail
• Heyburn Jail
• Ashton Jail
• Weiser Jail
• Shoshone Jail
• Pinehurst Jail
• Gooding Jail
• Cottonwood Jail

Other Type Facilities

• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Here's why you must visit the Gulag Museum in Moscow

Children who were once labeled "enemies of the people" are now advanced in their years, but they can still recall the most terrible moments of their lives, when people in uniforms came for their parents late at night - the last time they ever saw them. Today, a young woman watches these video interviews in a room at the Gulag Museum. She starts to cry. A group of high school students hang on the guide's every word, dismay written on their faces. It seems they find it difficult to imagine that in the 1930s kids their own age found themselves behind barbed wire. Meanwhile, a group of foreigners sit in the museum cafe, trying to digest what they have just seen and unable to say a word.

In a prisoner's shoes

The Gulag History Museum  used to be based in a tiny building, but it recently moved to new premises and, with its huge archive, it now has a home of its own. The designers tried to make it look like a prison camp: intimidating steel gates, brickwork, dim light and lots of sullen and drab black color. From the very first minute, a visitor is immersed in the atmosphere of the darkest side of Soviet power - the terrible years of the Great Terror and repressions.

In the first room, you're greeted by numerous doors – a door from a camp barracks, a door from a cell in a remand prison in Magadan, a door from one of the Seven Sisters buildings in Moscow, from where people were taken away forever – it is a metaphor of moving to another, terrible world .

In the execution chamber, the floor is strewn with empty casings, while portraits of the murdered are projected onto a brick wall, one replacing another to the sound of cocking the gun. Archival footage shows prisoners working at a logging camp. There are personal items, including those found in mass graves. Once you're surrounded by all this, it is difficult to recover.

A system of reprisals from 1917 to Stalin's death

The purpose of the museum is to trace not only the history of the camps themselves, but of the entire system of political repressions. In order to show how executions without trial and investigation became part of the legal practice of the USSR, the museum displays documents, NKVD resolutions and quotes from leaders of the Revolution .

The Soviet authorities believed that in order to build a new world, it was necessary to exterminate people who, in one way or another, allegedly sabotaged it. The list of these categories of people was forever expanding. “Repression for the attainment of economic ends is a necessary weapon of the socialist dictatorship,” said one of the main ideologists of the revolution, Leon Trotsky .

The first political prisoners in the USSR were put into existing prisons and monasteries, from where monks were being expelled. A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to the Solovki Special-Purpose Camp, the first of its kind. Later, in the 1930s, during the years of the Great Terror, camps were built across the country and convict labor became one of the pillars of the Soviet economy.

For the first time, Gulag is presented through multimedia

The museum also offers audio versions of memoirs of people who went through the camps: the author of The Kolyma Tales , Varlam Shalamov; Alexander Solzhenitsyn (who has a separate room dedicated to his life); Leo Tolstoy’s daughter Alexandra; and many others .

An interactive map of the Gulag shows the chronology, location, number of prisoners and types of camps (corrective labor, special, screening and filtration) throughout the country. It is available online, so you can see it without visiting the museum - gulagmap.ru .

With the help of a VR helmet, you can take a virtual tour with museum director Roman Romanov around what remains of the Butugychag camp in the Russian Far East, where inmates worked in uranium mines without wearing any radiation protection. The museum plans to develop more virtual tours like this .

All information in the museum is translated into English; same as all the audio materials, and the videos have English subtitles. The museum has a documents center, where one can get information about victims of repressions.

In the last room, a voice on the speaker system reads out the names of people who were wrongfully convicted and killed. A young couple, holding hands and motionless, listen to the seemingly endless list. As part of the finale, there are horrifying figures displayed on the black wall: during the Great Terror, more than 20 million people were sent to prison camps; two million died there, and 700,000 were executed.

Watch Russia Beyond documentary: The memory of the Solovetsky islands  

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

• Subscribers

Lusignan inmates being vacinnated against chickenpox, infected prisoners isolated and visitation restricted

Currently, there are less than 30 active cases of chickenpox among inmates housed at the Lusignan prison and to prevent further spread of the disease, authorities have commenced vaccination of the remaining of the population at the facility.

“From the prison perspective, I think from the entire situation we are managing it very because to have 1,369 inmates and to have the number of active cases under 30, I think it is exceptional,” officer-in-charge of the Lusignan prison, Deoraj Gyandat said.

During an interview with the News Room on Wednesday, Gyandat explained that the first case of chickenpox was detected at the facility just about one month ago.

This, he said happened although every inmate is subject to a “thorough” medical examination before they enter the prison system.

“…The prisoner basically complained about rash…irritation of the skin and so on and as for normal any prisoner who have medical concerns we refer them to the medical officer and they would have determined it is chickenpox, “Gyandat explained.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health said the the chickenpox outbreak has affected 53 prisoners to date. 25 of the cases are active while the remaining 28 are recovering cases.

According to the ministry, the outbreak was likely started by either a prisoner or staff member or a visitor.

Noting the situation is being monitored, the Ministry added that the medical and surveillance teams are presently conducting contact tracing to identify the source of the infection.

According to Gyandat, a series of measures have since been implemented by authorities to address the situation.

This includes the establishment of an isolation unit at the facility to house affected inmates and restriction on visitation for their relatives until they recover.

In keeping with protocols, Gyandat told the News Room that once diagnosed with chickenpox, inmates are isolated for 14 days. Thereafter, he said they are placed under a one-week observation before they are reintegrated into the prison’s general population.

“The restriction has to be put in place…they (relatives) are allowed to make drop off, to bring food, self-support, whatever stuff they are allowed to have. All the normal activities except for the visitation.

“It also does not affect the persons who have to attend court. What we try to do, is we try to have tablets…and we have those prisoners to attend their court virtually,” Gyandat explained.

Other preventative measures include daily medical checkups and sanitization.

“It’s a virus. It is spread by way of contact and all of that. Sanitation is key. Even before this period, we went through similar issues during COVID and it is practically the same rigidness as it relates to sanitation we are implying,” he said.

Importantly, Gyandat pointed out that a team of medical personnel was dispatched to the prison to commence vaccination of inmates to protect them from contracting the disease.

The goal, he said is to ensure that each prisoner housed at the Lusignan prison is vaccinated within a short period of time.

“Even though we don’t have chickenpox at the different other locations, we have still started to take prevention in the form of vaccination to ensure that prisoners have that preventative method,” he noted.

Similar measures are imposed for medical personnel and prison officials who are stationed at the facility.

Gyandat assured relatives of the affected inmates that they were receiving the necessary care.

“We the administration of the Guyana Prison Service are fully committed to ensuring that the medical steps are followed to ensure a safe recovery of those inmates.

“We recognised the seriousness of the chickenpox,” he said.

Soldier dies after hit by truck during annual walk on Linden Highway

Three teens charged, remanded over fatal stabbing of Patentia boy

Ambassador Guo wants Police to do more to protect Chinese nationals and their…

Massara Drowning: Pond was dug to help residents during dry season

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Welcome, Login to your account.

Recover your password.

A password will be e-mailed to you.

Morning Rundown: Lawmaker blames 'diversity' for bridge collapse, Trump's overstated crime claims, and possible NASCAR moonshine cave discovered

Former correctional officer at women’s prison in California sentenced for sexually abusing inmates

OAKLAND, Calif. — A former correctional officer at a federal California women’s prison  known for numerous misconduct allegations  was sentenced to six years in prison for sexually abusing five inmates, federal officials announced Wednesday.

Nakie Nunley, who supervised inmates at the Federal Correctional Institution, Dublin, becomes the seventh correctional officer sentenced to prison for sexually abusing inmates, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. A 2022  investigation by The Associated Press  revealed a cultural of rampant sexual abuse and cover-up at the prison.

U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement that Nunley “egregiously exploited” his power to abuse inmates and retaliate against those who spoke up.

“As today’s sentence shows, the Justice Department will hold accountable officials who abuse their authority to harm those they are sworn to protect — and will not tolerate retaliation against victims,” Monaco said.

Nunley  pleaded guilty  last year to four counts of sexual abuse of a ward and five lesser felonies of abusive sexual contact of five women. He also admitted to lying to federal officials who were investigating allegations against him, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

The prison is located about 40 miles east of San Francisco and has more than 600 inmates, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The Associated Press

Norilsk: The city built by gulag prisoners where Russia guards its Arctic secrets

Environmental activists are frustrated by how authorities handled a diesel spill which poured into two Arctic rivers in late May.

International correspondent @DiMagnaySky

Friday 3 July 2020 23:41, UK

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The drive from Norilsk airport to the city takes you past mile after mile of crumbling, Soviet-era factories.

It looks like an endless, rusting scrapyard - a jumble of pipes, industrial junk and frost-bitten brickwork. If you were looking for an industrial apocalypse film setting, this would be your place - but you're unlikely to get the permissions.

Norilsk was built in Stalin's times by gulag prisoners. This gritty industrial city is a testament to their endurance both of the cruelty of Stalin's regime and of the harsh polar climate. There were no thoughts then on how to build to protect the environment, just to survive it.

Vasily Ryabinin doesn't think much has changed, at least in ecological terms. He used to work for the local branch of the federal environmental watchdog, Rosprirodnadzor, but quit in June after exposing what he says was a failure to investigate properly the environmental impact of the gigantic diesel spill which poured into two Arctic rivers in late May.

At 21,000 tonnes, it was the largest industrial spill in the polar Arctic .

Despite the Kremlin declaring a federal emergency and sending a host of different agencies to participate in the clean-up, just last week Mr Ryabinin and activists from Greenpeace Russia found another area where technical water used in industrial processes was being pumped directly into the tundra from a nearby tailing pond. Russia's investigative committee has promised to investigate.

"The ecological situation here is so bad," Mr Ryabinin says.

"The latest constructions such as the tailing pond at the Talnack ore-processing plant were built exclusively by Nornickel chief executive Vladimir Potanin's team and supposedly in accordance with ecological standards, but on satellite images you can see that all the lakes in the vicinity have unnatural colours and obviously something has got into them."

Mining company Nornickel would disagree. It has admitted flagrant violations at the tailing pond and suspended staff it deems responsible at both the Talnack plant and at Norilsk Heat and Power plant no 3 where the diesel spill originated from.

On Thursday it appointed Andrey Bougrov, from its senior management board, to the newly-created role of senior vice president for environmental protection. It has a clear environmental strategy, provides regular updates on the status of the spill, and its Twitter feed is filled with climate-related alerts.

But what investors read is very different to the picture on the ground.

Norilsk used to be a closed city - one of dozens across the Soviet Union shut off to protect industrial secrets. Foreigners need special permissions approved by the Federal Security Service (FSB) to enter the region. It would take an invitation from Nornickel to make that happen and, for the past month since the spill, that has not been forthcoming.

Unlike in Soviet times, Russian citizens are now free to come and go. That's why our Sky News Moscow team were able to fly in and travel around the city, even if getting to the spill site was blocked. What they were able to film provides a snapshot of the immense challenge Russia faces in upgrading its Soviet-era industrial infrastructure, particularly at a time when climate change is melting the permafrost on which much of it was built.

Just downwind from one of the rusting factories on the city outskirts is a huge expanse of dead land. The skeletal remains of trees stand forlorn against the howling Arctic winds. Sulphur dioxide poisoning has snuffed the life out of all that lived here. Norilsk is the world's worst emitter of sulphur dioxide by a substantial margin.

"For 80km south of here everything is dead," Mr Ryabinin says, "and for at least 10km in that direction too. Everything here depends on the wind."

Immediately after the spill, Mr Ryabinin filmed and took samples from the Daldykan river just a few kilometres from the fuel tank which had leaked. By that point the river was a churning mix of diesel and red sludge dredged up from the riverbed by the force of the leak. Norilsk's rivers have turned red before and the chemical residues have sunk to the bottom, killing all life there. Nothing has lived in those rivers for decades.

In his capacity as deputy head of the local environmental watchdog, Mr Ryabinin says he insisted that he be allowed to fly further north to check the levels of contamination in Lake Pyasino and beyond.

Nornickel at the time claimed the lake was untouched by the spill. Mr Ryabinin says his boss encouraged him to let things be.

"I can't be sure I would have found anything, but this sort of confrontation - making sure I didn't go there with a camera, let alone with bottles for taking samples, it was all very clear to me. It was the final straw."

Rosprirodnadzor refused to comment to Sky News on Mr Ryabinin's allegations or suggestions that the agency was working hand in hand with Nornickel.

Georgy Kavanosyan is an environmental blogger with a healthy 37,000 following on YouTube. Shortly after the spill, he set out for Lake Pyasino and to the Pyasina River beyond to see how far the diesel had spread.

"We set out at night so that the Norilsk Nickel security wouldn't detect us. I say at night, but they've got polar nights there now, north of the Arctic Circle. So it's still light but it's quieter and we managed to go past all the cordons."

He is one of the few to have provided evidence that the diesel has in fact travelled far beyond where the company admits. Not just the 1,200km (745m) length of Lake Pyasino but into the river beyond.

He says his measurements indicated a volume of hydrocarbons dissolved in the water of between two and three times normal levels. He thinks after he published his findings on YouTube, the authorities' vigilance increased.

Greenpeace Russia have spent the last two weeks trying to obtain samples from Lake Pyasino and the surrounding area. They have faced difficulties getting around and flying their samples out for independent analysis.

They are now waiting for results from a laboratory in St Petersburg but say the samples remain valid technically for just four days after collection and that they weren't able to make that deadline due to the authorities' actively obstructing their work.

Elena Sakirko from Greenpeace Russia specialises in oil spills and says this has happened to her before. This time, a police helicopter flew to the hunter's hut where they were staying and confiscated the fuel for the boat they were using. Then a deputy for the Moscow city parliament tasked with bringing the samples back from Norilsk was forced to go back empty-handed.

"We were told at the airport we needed permission from the security department of Nornickel," Ms Sakirko says. "We asked them to show us some law or statement to prove that this was legal or what the basis for this was, but they haven't showed us anything and we still don't understand it."

Nornickel announced this week that the critical stage of the diesel spill is over. The company is now finalising dates for a press tour for foreign media and for other international environmentalists.

Mr Ryabinin thinks this should have happened weeks ago.

"If we don't let scientists come to the Arctic region to evaluate the impact of the accident, then in the future if anything similar happens, we won't know what to do."

A spokesperson for Nornickel said the company "is actively cooperating with the scientific community and will meticulously assess both the causes and effects of the accident."

Nornickel considers permafrost thawing to be the primary cause of the accident, but is waiting for the end of investigation before making a final statement, the spokesperson said.

They added that the company "accepts full responsibility for the incidents on its sites these past two months and holds itself accountable for any infrastructural deficits or poor decisions by personnel.

"The imperative is to do everything to clean up our sites, instil a stronger culture of transparency and safety in our workforce, and ensure that such situations do not occur in the future."