Highlands County Jail

The inmate population consists of pre-trial, pre-sentenced, county and state sentenced males and females, as well as juvenile offenders who have been adjudicated as adults.

The Detention Bureau's mission is "to provide a safe, secure, functional and humane environment for staff and inmates, while operating professionally, respectfully, and efficiently."

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Highlands County, click here, call the jail at 863-402-7201, 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 Highlands County Jail

The method (cash/surety) and amount of money needed for bonding someone out of the Highlands County Jail depends on their charges. Most crimes, but not all crimes, are bondable offenses.

When you pay a cash bond, it is refunded to you when all court appearances have been made and the case is discharged, dismissed, or a not guilty verdict rendered. If the arrestee fails to appear or is found guilty, the money will be forfeited. 

When you use a Bail Bondsman for a surety bond, you will not get a refund. 

Call the jail at 863-402-7201 for more information about bonds.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation hours at the Highlands County Jail are from 7 a.m. through 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Inmates in the general population are allowed two one-hour visits and up to four 10- or 25-minute home internet visits per week.  Home visits are a fee service provided through GTL.

Visitors are responsible for making their own visitation appointments, either with the visitation kiosk in the visitors' reception lobby or online at https://highlandscountyfl.gtlvisitme.com/app.

Visits can be scheduled up to seven days in advance, but no less than 24 hours in advance. Same-day appointments are not accepted. For assistance with internet visitations, call 855-208-7349.

If the visitor does not arrive within the first 15 minutes of the scheduled visit, the visit will be automatically canceled.

Inmates are allowed a maximum of two visitors, either at the facility visitation center or at home.

Adult visitors must present a valid, government-issued photo I.D. upon checking in prior to each visit.

Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and be registered to visit. Children may not be left unattended at any time in the lobby area.

Visitors must be dressed appropriately and follow the dress code for the entire visit. No swimsuits, see through clothing, spaghetti straps, low-cut clothing, short shorts, or revealing clothing of any type.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Highlands 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.

How to Send Money

Highlands County Jail uses GTL Connect Network for family members and friends to make deposits directly into an inmate's Trust Fund Commissary Account.

Deposits can be made online, by telephone at 888-988-4768, or by using the Highlands County Jail lobby kiosk.

Care Packages

Highlands County Jail also has commissary care packages that friends and family can purchase for their inmate via icaregifts.

Register here, then click the "Find an Inmate" button and enter your loved one’s first name, last name, or inmate number. Next, click the “Search” button to confirm they are in the system.

Select the icare gift you want to send them, and confirm the order in your confirmation email.

There are 14 care packages available to choose from. They range in price from $10.49 for a gift box filled with pre-stamped envelopes, pens, and writing paper, up to $104.99 for a box of snacks, food, stationery, etc.

Programs For Inmates

The Detention Bureau provides a number of inmate programs, such as religious services, substance abuse, and mental health counseling.

Community Maintenance Program

Allows individuals to serve their sentences by working on weekends and various weekdays in lieu of being incarcerated.

Inmate Work Program

Sheriff Blackman offers the services of inmate work crews to local non-profit organizations to help save on labor costs. 

Inmate crews helped with the Children's Museum of the Highlands move, assisted Sebring and Lake Placid Youth Baseball with projects at the ballfields, and provided maintenance and upkeep at Lake Placid parks through Keep Lake Placid Beautiful. Inmate crews also are at times tasked to clean up illegal dumping sites.

Pictures of Highlands County Jail

Careers at Highlands County Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Highlands County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Highlands County Jail, click here.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office is a growing and progressive agency with opportunity for career growth and advancement. They have numerous openings right now and are offering incentives to certified law enforcement and corrections officers. They are also in need of dispatchers. 

Starting salary is up to $48,202 (depending on experience), plus a $5000 hiring bonus for certified officers.

The Highlands County Sheriff's Office offers a competitive salary range. New deputies start at $40,002 and new dispatchers start at $32,905. Your career experience is taken into account when determining your starting salary.

Benefits include:

• Paid Holidays (11 paid holidays per year, even if you don't work on that day. If you do work the holiday, you are paid double time for hours worked during that shift.)
• 100% Paid Overtime (no comp bank, the money will be in your next paycheck)
• Opportunities to work special details that pay $35 per hour to the deputy.
• Free Take-Home Car
• Vacation & Sick Leave
• Free medical and dental Insurance
• Retirement Benefits (you can earn up to 75 percent of your pay upon full retirement with the pension plan)
• Free Tuition & Training
• No Vaccine Mandate