General Arrest Information and Jail Visitor Information

The Inmate Information Handbook is available in the following languages:

Click here if you are an attorney seeking information about communicating with or visiting an incarcerated client.

Information on BSO's policy of recording outgoing inmate telephone calls.

Charge(s) & Bond Information

Information about an arrestee's charge(s) and bond is available online through our Arrest Inquiry Database. You can also call (954) 831-5900 or visit the information window, which is open 24-hours-a-day, located in the lobby of BSO's Main Jail.

Cash, cashier's checks, money orders, wire transfers and Western Union Quick Collect are the only accepted methods of payment for bail. When posting bail, cashier's checks and money orders must be made payable to the Sheriff of Broward County.

To transfer funds via Western Union, include the following information:

  • Pay to: Sheriff of Broward County
  • Code city & state: COPS, FL
  • Account number: Inmate's name and arrest number

Refunds for cash bonds can be made if the blue bond receipt and court disposition sheet that releases the bond are both presented. Bond payments and bond refunds are both processed at BSO's Cash Bond Unit, located within BSO's Main Jail.

Intake & Release Process

Individuals who have been placed under arrest are first transported to Broward Sheriff's Office Central Intake Unit, which is located at the Main Jail in downtown Ft. Lauderdale. Upon arrival, they must complete the following steps:

  • Property Intake
  • Medical Screening
  • Fingerprinting
  • Photographing
  • Warrants Check

While the staff at Central Intake is dedicated to ensuring the prompt processing and release of eligible arrestees, the amount of time required to complete this process may be affected by the volume of arrestees being processed simultaneously and/or the availability of information from state and national databases.

Appearance in Magistrate Court

Arrestees who are not bonded out of jail appear before a magistrate judge the day following the arrest (including Saturdays and Sundays). Proceedings usually begin at 8 a.m., however this depends upon the presiding judge. The judge will inform the arrestee of the charge(s) and, if appropriate, will set a bond amount.

In misdemeanor cases, the judge may accept a guilty plea and release the arrestee on his or her own recognizance or for time-served.

Magistrate proceedings may be viewed on the monitor located in the lobby of BSO's Main Jail.

Housing Assignments

Individuals who are not released on bond are assigned to one of five BSO jails based upon objective criteria. This criteria ensures that inmates are housed in the least restrictive and safest unit possible based upon level of security required. Housing assignments are not made based on proximity to an inmate's home, but rather on the premise of assigning an inmate to the jail facility that can best meet his or her needs.

Inmate Activities, Services & Programs

Inmates are permitted to watch television and are provided with reading material to occupy free time. Weather permitting, inmates may also take part in outside recreation and use exercise equipment.

BSO's Department of Detention & Community Control provides a variety of programs and services to inmates, including:

  • Adult Basic Education
  • AIDS Awareness Training
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Anger Management Program
  • Cocaine Anonymous
  • Commissary
  • GED Preparation & Testing
  • Group Therapy
  • Juvenile Programs
  • Library Services
  • Medical Services
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
  • Parenting Skills
  • Pre-Release Planning
  • Prevention & Intervention Program Against Drugs & Alcohol
  • Relapse Prevention Program
  • Religious Services & Counseling
  • Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Training
  • Substance Abuse Treatment
  • Veterans Group
  • Work Release Programs

Additional information about these programs is available from detention deputies within the facility.

Release of Inmate Property

Inmate property can be released to family or friends after an inmate completes a property voucher specifying the intended recipient. Property may be picked up between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., seven-days-a-week, at the BSO jail facility where the inmate is housed. A government-issued photo ID is required to receive the property.

Visiting Rules & Regulations

Visiting hours are restricted to specific times for specific areas in each jail facility. For detailed information, consult the inmate visiting schedule for each of the jail facilities operated by BSO.

Accommodations are made for one 2-hour visit per inmate per week. Visiting days and hours vary according to the BSO jail facility. Inmates are informed of visiting days and hours and are responsible for relaying this information to those who wish to visit them.

  • Due to limited visiting space, only two adults or one minor supervised by a parent or guardian may visit during the weekly visiting period.
  • Government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, military identification, passport or state-issued ID card, must be presented by each adult visitor. Visitors who do not have proper identification will not be permitted to visit.
  • Visitors must be appropriately dressed. Shoes, shirts and appropriate underclothing must be worn. Visitors wearing suggestive clothing, transparent fabric, short-shorts or mini-skirts will not be permitted to visit.
  • Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who must present either a birth certificate or court documentation showing appointment of legal guardianship. Minors must be supervised at all times by the parent or legal guardian.
  • Visitors must remain in the assigned visiting room/area during the visit and will be denied further visitation if determined to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Visitors may not give anything to or take anything from an inmate.
  • Proper behavior of all visitors is required.

Guidelines for Inmate Mail:

  • Incoming mail is delivered to inmates Monday through Friday.
  • All incoming mail is opened and searched for security threats and contraband (such as money, checks, inappropriate photos, matches, lighters, cigarettes, jewelry, chewing gum, etc.).
  • Mail sent by legal representatives is opened only in the presence of the inmate addressee.
  • Inmates may receive letters and cards.
  • Do not send cash or personal checks through the mail. Money in any form is contraband and will not be delivered to the inmate.
  • Unauthorized items mailed to an inmate will be placed in the property room, returned to sender, or disposed of, as appropriate.
  • Inmate mail must be addressed as follows and should reflect the appropriate mailing address for the facility:
    1. Inmate's full name
    2. Inmate's arrest number
    3. Facility's mailing address

Click here for a list of mailing addresses for Broward County jail facilities.

Inmate Telephone Service

Once an inmate receives his or her housing assignment, he or she can contact family and friends by calling collect from phones in the jail. Family and friends must be willing to accept the charges.

Inmates cannot receive incoming telephone calls and BSO employees are not permitted to deliver personal messages to inmates.

Information on BSO's policy of recording outgoing inmate telephone calls.

If you are having trouble receiving calls from an inmate at any Broward County Detention Facility, would like to request a BLOCK or UNBLOCK on your phone, or have a question about how to setup a DIRECT BILL or PREPAID account, please contact T-Netix with the below information.

Helpful Telephone Numbers

Bond Information(954) 831-5900
Pre-Trial Release Information(954) 765-4251
Public Defender's Office(954) 831-8650
State Attorney's Office(954) 831-6955
Clerk of the Court(954) 765-4575

T-Netix Budget Connections

  • Any billing issues for the end users
  • For Block/Unblock of phone numbers
  • Any rate issues or questions

Toll free phone number 1-877-800-5729

Care Packs

Care Packs may be purchased with cash through kiosks located in BSO jail facility lobbies (Conte, Paul Rein, Main Jail, or North Broward). Care Pack purchase is accepted seven (7) days a week. No change will be made through the kiosks.

Depositing Funds to Inmate Accounts

Inmates are permitted to receive funds for deposit to their commissary accounts. However, you should wait until an inmate has received a permanent housing assignment, and is transferred to that housing unit, before sending money.

EZ Money Load

Click here to use EZ Money Load's online service to place money on inmate's commissary account.

Western Union Quick Collect

For Web transactions, visit www.westernunion.com.

  • Click on Bill Pay and choose Correctional Facility Options
  • Choose: BROWARD SHERIFF CASH BONDS OR BROWARD SHERIFF INMATE BANK

Cash payments can be made at a participating Western Union Agent location or you can pay using a credit or debit card by calling 1-800-634-3422 or online at www.westernunion.com.

To contact an Agent, Call Western Union at 1-800-325-6000 or visit www.westernunion.com to find the nearest Western Union Agent location.

For payments by phone, call Western Union at 1-800-634-3422 (press option 2).

For each Commissary Quick Collect transaction the following information must be provided:

  • Pay to: Sheriff of Broward County
  • Code city & state: CANTEEN, FL
  • Account number: Inmate's name and arrest number
  • Attention: Inmate's name, date of birth and purpose: commissary

Money orders and cashier's checks

Money orders and cashier's checks may be mailed to inmates (for instructions, see "Guidelines for Inmate Mail").

Cash deposits

Cash deposits to inmate accounts ARE NOT accepted by mail. Cash may be deposited to inmate commissary accounts through kiosks located in BSO jail facility lobbies (Conte, Paul Rein, Main Jail, or North Broward). Cash deposited will be available to an inmate thirty-minutes following the deposit. Cash deposit is accepted seven (7) days a week. No change will be made through the kiosks.

Depositors must present the name and arrest number of the inmate and the exact cash amount to be deposited.

Inmate Health Services

Medical issues only. For information on the status of a sick or injured inmate click here):

Department of Detention and Community Control Main Page