Desoto County Jail

The inmates housed at the jail are pre-trial status, ICE detainees, sentenced to the jail, or sentenced to the Department of Corrections and awaiting transfer. 

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Desoto County, click here, call the jail at 863-993-4710, or use VINE (see below). Be prepared to provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth when using the VINE website.

Florida VINE

The Florida VINE system is a service through which victims of crime can search for information regarding the custody status of their offender, and to register to receive phone calls and e-mail notifications when the offender’s custody status changes. 

This service is provided to assist Victims of Crime who have a right to know about their offender's custody status. Click this link to register.

Inmates being held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC), or charges from other counties will not be found by going to the VINE Link above. You will have to call the jail.

Bonding someone out of the Desoto County Jail

The method and amount of money needed for bonding someone out of the Desoto County Jail depends on their charges. 

The inmate's bond can be found on the Desoto County Inmate Search tool. Once you find the individual you are looking for, the charges and a bond amount are at the bottom of the record. You can also get bond information by calling the DeSoto County Jail at 863-993-4710.   

A bond must be paid in full and posted as a cash bond or surety bond. A cash bond is when the amount is paid in full by cash, debit, or credit card by the inmate or family/friend. A surety bond is when a Bail Bondsman pays the bond, and you pay a percentage as a fee.

When you pay a cash bond, it is refunded to you when all court appearances have been made and the case is discharged. When you use a Bail Bondsman for a surety bond, you will not get a refund.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

All visitation at the Desoto County Jail is conducted via video. Visitation monitors are located in all open population housing units for the inmate, and video kiosks are available at the jail for visitors. 

Due to limited spacing, visitation is on a first come first serve basis. It is advised to call and confirm any visitation prior to arriving. Visitors are encouraged to show up at least 15 minutes early to insure a visitation spot. 

All visitors are required to have a valid photo ID, which are collected by visitation staff at 15 minutes prior to the visitation hour.  Anyone arriving after ID’s have been collected will have to wait until the next available visiting time.

The visitation schedule is Monday through Friday from 7:45 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. and visitation times are in 30 minute blocks. Protective Custody or other visitation is Monday thru Friday 4-5 pm, twice per week.      

The visiting room closes daily between 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM for lunch.  Visitation is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Federal holidays. 

Visiting Room Rules

• All visitors are subject to be searched. Anyone who attempts to introduce contraband into the facility will be subject to a felony charge
• All visitors must sign in at the visitation desk and present a valid form of ID prior to visitation.
• Cell phones and other items or personal property are prohibited. Please leave these items in your car.
• The dress code must be followed. Shorts and skirts must be reasonable length, no less than two inches above the knee. No revealing or see-through items are allowed. Tank tops, swimwear, and items showing midriff are prohibited. Footwear is required of all visitors.
• Visitors under 18 years of age or younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Remote Visits

Friends and family can also visit with their inmate at the Desoto County jail remotely via Homewav.com. Simply set up an account, and you can schedule a visit from your personal computer, phone, or tablet.

Remote visitation through Homewav is conducted Monday through Sunday from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Proper attire is required and no inappropriate behavior is allowed during remote visits.

For more information, contact the Visitation office at 863-993-4710.

Incoming mail at the Desoto County Jail must be in the form of a postcard no bigger than 4 x 6 in size. Do not place postcards in envelopes. No staples, glue, tape, stickers, perfume, make-up, glitter (to include glitter pens), 3D items, or foreign objects are allowed on postcards. 

Each postcard must contain the inmate's name and a return address. Greeting cards are not accepted.  If you have any other questions regarding mail procedures, please contact the DeSoto County Jail at 863-993-4710.

PHOTOS

Inmates at the DeSoto County Jail are allowed to have up to 10 photos in their possession.  If you would like to mail photos to an inmate, they do have a exception. Photos (no more than 10) can be placed in an envelope clearly marked "Photos" on the outside.

Photos must be 4 x 6 in size and printed on photo paper. No wallets or larger photos will be accepted.  No letters, postcards, money orders, or other objects can be placed inside an envelope containing photos. You can also mail a photo in the form of a postcard.

Photos containing any of the following are inappropriate and will be returned to sender;

• Nudity
• Midriff or Cleavage
• Gang Signs, to include peace signs and the middle finger “bird”
• Alcohol or drugs
• Sexual gestures or poses
• Lingerie or see through clothing
• Weapons

 If you have any other questions regarding photo procedures, please contact the DeSoto County Jail at 863-993-4710.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Desoto County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls, however, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area. Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time.

PayTel Communications is the inmate phone provider at the Desoto County Jail.  In order to accept calls from an inmate in the DeSoto County Jail, you may have to set up an account with PayTel.  You may contact PayTel Communications at 1-800-729-8355.

How to Send Money

Inmates at the DeSoto County Jail have the opportunity to place a commissary order once a week—with a limit of $100.00 in commissary and $35.00 in phone time. 

There is a convenient kiosk located in the Sheriff's Office Lobby that accepts cash and credit cards for deposits into an inmate's account. The website that friends and family can use to deposit money is www.commissarydeposit.com.

You may mail in money orders in an envelope that contains the inmate name and the sender’s name.  Envelopes must be marked “MONEY ORDER” on the outside of the envelope, and they can only contain a money order.

No staples, glue, tape, stickers, perfume, make-up, glitter (to include glitter pens), 3D items, or foreign objects are allowed on inmate mail.  No letters, postcards, photos, or other objects can be placed inside an envelope containing money orders.  If any of these rules are violated, it could cause the mail to be returned to the sender.

Programs For Inmates

The programs offered through Chaplaincy at the jail are for the benefit of the detainees, and they are voluntary. Some of the services offered through the chaplain include:

Distribution of Materials - Detainees may request reading materials and religious items from the Chaplain. Materials offered include different varieties of the Bible, Quran, AA Big Books, and devotional materials

Religious Services - Religious Services are offered throughout the jail weekly for both male and female inmates

Self-Improvement Courses - Some of these courses are religious and some are more secular. The women have a course called “House of Healing. A Guide to Inner Power and Freedom."

Counseling - Both a male and a female chaplain are on call at all times for any detainee who requests a visit from clergy.

Pictures of Desoto County Jail

Careers at Desoto County Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Desoto County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Desoto County Jail, click here. Applicants for the correctional officer positions must be certified in the state of Florida. 

Correctional Officer Job Description:

"Performs sworn corrections deputy duties involving the care, custody, and physical restraint, when necessary, of prisoners or inmates within a corrections facility, while on work details, or while being transported outside the facility. 

Responsibilities include booking and releasing offenders; maintaining security of the facility; enforcing security rules, regulations and procedures; and escorting offenders within and/or outside the secure confines of the corrections facility."

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required.  Corrections certification is required.  Must qualify with firearms and maintain firearms proficiency.  Valid Florida driver license required. 

Starting Pay is $40,500 per year.