The Main Jail is an eight-story maximum security facility adjacent to the Broward County Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Built in 1985 at a cost of $41.6 million, it was originally designed to house 864 local and state inmates. In 1988 and again in 1992, capacity was expanded to 1,538 inmates. More than 400 sworn and civilian staff supervises the facility which also includes Central Intake Bureau (Booking) for all Broward County law enforcement agencies, pre-magistrate, Centralized Classification Intake assessment for all BSO detention facilities, an infirmary and administrative offices.
An all-male facility, most inmates are awaiting trial or sentencing, or are serving terms of less than one year. The inmates housed in the Main Jail are considered escape risks, violent or dangerous, or by the nature of their charges require maximum security housing. The Main Jail also includes an average of 65 juveniles awaiting trial in adult courts; they are housed separately from adult inmates.
Inmate Visitation
Inmate Visitation is no longer available at any of our jail facilities. All visits are conducted off-site at the Video Visitation Center or Remotely by using your Smartphone. All visits must be scheduled 24 hours in advance via www.videovisitanywhere.com. All visitors are required to register online and are subject to prior approval. See for rules, schedule times and availability.
Effective Monday, June 7, 2021, the friends and family voucher program for video visitation will no longer be accepted. Friends, family, and/or loved ones of inmates may utilize the video visitation center or pay for remote visits to continue to see their incarcerated loved ones. Professionals visits will resume at all jail facilities. Video Visitation vouchers will be available for attorneys for a limited time during the transition to normal operations.
Death Notification of an Inmate Family Member
Notifying an inmate of the death of a family member is arranged through the Chaplain's Office
General Arrest Information and Jail Visitor Information
See Inmate Visitor Info for information about charges, bond, the arrest process and visiting and phoning incarcerated inmates in any Broward Sheriff's Office jail.
