Florida has two separate phone systems with no overlap: the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC), which runs all state prisons under a single statewide contract, and 67 county sheriff's offices, each of which selects its own phone vendor independently. A family member cannot assume the same account, app, or setup process applies across both systems.
Florida DOC uses "inmates" throughout its materials.
PART 1 - FLORIDA STATE PRISONS (FDC)
The Florida Department of Corrections has contracted with Securus Technologies to provide calling and account billing services for all state prison facilities statewide.
How FDC phone calls work
Inmates may call outgoing only - families cannot call in. The inmate places the call from an institution phone using their approved call list and personal identification number (PIN). When the call connects, a recorded announcement identifies the facility and the incarcerated individual. You then choose to accept or decline the call.
Approved call list: The inmate manages the list of approved numbers. Your number must appear on that list before calls can be received. Coordinate with the inmate to ensure you are added. Numbers must generally be landlines or cell phones registered in the caller's name.
All calls are recorded and may be monitored by FDC staff for security purposes. Calls to verified attorneys are handled separately under confidentiality protections.
Setting up an account - Securus
To receive calls from an FDC inmate, set up a Securus account before the call arrives. If a call arrives before you have an account, you may be prompted to create one at that moment, but setting up in advance avoids delays.
Options:
- Online: SecurusTechnologies.com
- App: Securus app (Android on Google Play; iOS on App Store)
- Phone: 800-844-6591 (Securus customer service)
- FDC automated phone line: 866-732-9098
Account types:
AdvancePay (prepaid): You deposit money into an account tied to your phone number. The inmate calls your number and the cost is deducted from your balance. This is the most common setup.
Collect: Inmate calls collect to your number. You accept the charges. Most cell phone carriers do not accept collect calls without a prior arrangement.
Rates - FDC statewide (Securus contract):
- Local per minute: $0.04
- All other calls (intra-LATA, inter-LATA, interstate, prepaid, collect): $0.14 per minute
- No connection charges (connection fees were eliminated in 2016)
- No transaction fee for prepaid account deposits
Note on FCC rate caps: The FCC's 2025 IPCS Order (effective April 6, 2026) set new interim rate caps. Large prisons are capped at $0.10/min plus a $0.02/min facility additive, a total ceiling of $0.12/min. Florida was one of three states (with Kentucky and Oklahoma) where state prison rates were above the new federal caps. Verify the current FDC/Securus rate after April 6, 2026, as the Securus contract may have been adjusted to comply with the new federal ceiling. Current rates are listed on the FDC/Securus page at SecurusTechnologies.com/consumer/florida-department-of-corrections.
Prohibited call behaviors (FDC rules):
- Three-way calls or call forwarding by any party
- Calls to numbers not on the approved list
- Using another inmate's PIN
- Coded or unidentifiable speech
- Using calls to conduct a business
- Threatening, obscene, or harassing calls
- Sharing a call with an inmate whose number is not approved
Video calls and tablets - Securus
Securus also provides video visitation and tablet services at FDC facilities. Video calls are scheduled through the Securus app or website. Note: Under the FCC's April 6, 2026 rules, the FCC granted Securus a waiver through July 6, 2026 to continue operating its video IPCS while completing a per-minute billing platform upgrade. Video call rates may differ from audio rates.
For video call scheduling and rates: SecurusTechnologies.com or the Securus app.
Legal calls (FDC)
Attorney calls are not recorded or monitored. The attorney's number must be registered and verified with FDC and/or Securus before privileged calls can be placed. Contact the specific facility or Securus to initiate the verification process.
FDC contact for phone issues:
Florida Department of Corrections Central Office
501 South Calhoun Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-2500
Phone: 850-488-7052
Securus customer service: 800-844-6591
FDC automated phone line: 866-732-9098
PART 2 - FLORIDA COUNTY JAILS (67 counties)
Florida's 67 county jails are operated by county sheriffs or county corrections departments. Each one contracts independently with a phone vendor. There is no statewide county jail phone system, no shared account platform, and no single set of rates. What works at Miami-Dade does not work at Duval, and what worked at a county jail two years ago may not work today because contracts change.
Why this matters
Families frequently set up accounts with the wrong vendor, add money to accounts the jail no longer uses, or assume the same platform works across multiple jails. Each of these mistakes can result in inaccessible funds and missed calls. Before adding money or creating an account for a county jail, verify the current vendor directly with the jail.
How to find the current vendor for a county jail
1. Go to the county sheriff's or corrections department's official website.
2. Look for pages labeled "Inmate Telephone," "Inmate Services," "Phone Calls," or "Visitation."
3. The vendor's name, website, and customer service number will be listed there.
4. If not found on the website, call the jail's main number directly.
Do not rely on third-party sites or old information. Vendor contracts change and the jail's own website is the authoritative source.
Major vendors used at Florida county jails
Securus Technologies (securustechnologies.com | 800-844-6591): Used at multiple large Florida county jails including Miami-Dade (Turner Guilford Knight / Metro West / Pre-Trial Detention Center) and Broward County. Setup through the Securus app or website; AdvancePay and collect call options.
ViaPath / ConnectNetwork (formerly GTL) (connectnetwork.com | 800-483-8314): Used at some Florida county jails. AdvancePay and collect options; setup at ConnectNetwork.com.
ICSolutions (icsolutions.com | 888-506-8407): Used at some Florida county jails and state facilities outside FDC. Setup at icsolutions.com.
Smart Communications: This Florida-based vendor served approximately 150 correctional facilities in 25+ states. Smart Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2025. As of June 2026, the company's service status is uncertain at affected facilities. Families at jails that used Smart Communications should contact the jail directly to confirm the current phone vendor before attempting to set up an account or deposit funds.
Notable county-level examples (verify before relying on this information)
Miami-Dade County (Corrections & Rehabilitation):
- Three main facilities: Turner Guilford Knight (TGK), Metro West Detention Center, Pre-Trial Detention Center (PTDC)
- Vendor: Securus Technologies
- TGK: 786-263-5341 | Metro West: 786-263-5110 | PTDC: 786-263-4110
- Each facility has its own phone rules; confirm current setup at the facility's page on miamidade.gov
Broward County (Sheriff's Office):
- Main Jail: 555 SE 1st Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 | 954-831-5900
- Vendor: Securus Technologies (800-844-6591)
- AdvancePay and collect call options
Hillsborough County:
- Orient Road Jail: 1201 Orient Rd, Tampa, FL 33619 | 813-247-8300
- Falkenburg Road Jail: 520 N. Falkenburg Rd, Tampa, FL 33619 | 813-247-8300
- Previously: ViaPath/GTL; was transitioning to Smart Communications, but Smart Communications filed Chapter 11 in December 2025. Contact Hillsborough County Jail directly at 813-247-8300 to confirm current vendor before attempting any account setup.
Alachua County:
- Vendor: Securus Technologies (contract retained)
- Since October 2023: up to three free calls per day (each up to 10 minutes, separated by at least 15 minutes). This followed a vote by Alachua County Commissioners to eliminate the revenue kickback from Securus and provide free calls to detainees.
Palm Beach, Orange, Pinellas, Duval, Lee, Polk, Collier, and all other counties: Contact each county jail directly or check its official website for the current vendor, rates, and account setup instructions.
How county jail phone rates are set
County jails negotiate their own contracts with phone vendors. The FCC's 2025 IPCS Order (effective April 6, 2026) set interim rate caps that apply to all facilities, including county jails:
- Large jails (1,000+ ADP): up to $0.14/min + $0.02 facility additive
- Medium jails (200-999 ADP): slightly higher caps
- Small jails (50-199 ADP): up to $0.16/min + $0.02 additive
- Extremely small jails (under 50 ADP): up to $0.18/min + $0.02 additive
- Video calls: $0.18-$0.41/min depending on facility size
No ancillary fees (no connection charges, automated payment fees, or third-party transaction fees) are permitted under the federal rules. Taxes still apply. These are caps - individual facilities may charge less. Contact the facility or vendor for current rates.
The FCC rate cap background
The Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act (signed January 2023) gave the FCC authority to cap all incarcerated people's communications services, including intrastate calls and video, for the first time.
The FCC issued comprehensive rate cuts in July 2024 (2024 IPCS Order). Those cuts were challenged by phone companies and county sheriffs. In October 2025, the FCC (2-1 along partisan lines) issued a revised 2025 IPCS Order with higher interim caps, citing safety and security cost recovery concerns. The 2025 caps took effect April 6, 2026. Permanent rate caps are still being determined. Florida was among states where prison phone rates exceeded even the revised 2025 caps, meaning compliance adjustments may still be underway.
Advocacy organizations including Prison Policy Initiative and Worth Rises have challenged the 2025 rollback and continue to push for lower rates. InmateAid will update this page as rules change.
What to do before the first call
For a Florida state prison (FDC):
1. Get the inmate's DOC number and facility using the FDC inmate search at dc.state.fl.us
2. Ask the inmate to add your phone number to their approved call list
3. Create a Securus account at SecurusTechnologies.com or via the app
4. Add funds to your AdvancePay account (or arrange collect call billing)
5. Wait for the inmate to initiate the call
For a Florida county jail:
1. Find the inmate using the county jail's inmate search or the county sheriff's website
2. Identify the current phone vendor from the jail's official website
3. Create an account with that vendor, not a different vendor's account
4. Add funds if required by that vendor's system
5. Confirm with the inmate that your number is on their approved list (if the jail uses one)
6. Wait for the inmate to call
Frequently asked questions
What is the phone number for Florida state prison calls?
Florida DOC uses Securus Technologies statewide. Call 866-732-9098 (FDC automated line) or 800-844-6591 (Securus customer service). Set up an account at SecurusTechnologies.com.
How much do calls cost at a Florida state prison?
Under the FDC/Securus contract, calls are $0.14/min (prepaid and collect) with no connection fees. Local extended area calls are $0.04/min. After the FCC's April 6, 2026 rate cap update, verify current rates at SecurusTechnologies.com/consumer/florida-department-of-corrections.
Can I call the inmate directly?
No. Inmates place all outgoing calls. Families cannot call in. The inmate must have your number on their approved list and must initiate the call.
Why isn't the call connecting?
Common reasons: your number is not on the inmate's approved list, the inmate's phone privileges are suspended, your AdvancePay account has insufficient funds, or the facility is on lockdown. Contact Securus (800-844-6591) or the facility directly.
How do county jail phone calls work?
Each county jail sets its own rules and contracts its own vendor. There is no single Florida county jail phone system. Find the current vendor on the county jail's official website, then create an account with that specific vendor. Do not assume the same vendor serves all Florida jails.
What happened to Smart Communications?
Smart Communications, a Florida-based prison phone and mail vendor, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2025. As of June 2026, its service status is uncertain. Families at jails that used Smart Communications should contact the jail directly to confirm the current vendor.
Are attorney calls private?
For FDC facilities, yes. Verified attorney calls are not recorded. The attorney's number must be registered with FDC and Securus in advance. County jails have their own legal call procedures; contact the jail directly. ====================================================================
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