John E. Polk Correctional Facility

The John E. Polk Correctional Facility (JEPCF)—aka the Seminole County Jail—is located in Sanford, Florida and is operated by the Seminole County Sheriff's Department of Corrections. This facility houses adults and juveniles—both felony and misdemeanor offenders—who have been arrested by local county or municipal law enforcement.

The Department of Corrections is divided into four divisions:

• Operations Services: facility security, food services, work release, and lobby security;
• Intake and Release: booking and classification, breath testing, inmate records, and intake training
• Support Services: inmate farming, warehouse operations, transportation, inmate programs, accreditation, facilities, and GPS monitoring
• Inmate Health Care: provides medical screening and treatment, and mental health programs.

This department is responsible for detention services and manages the care, custody, and control of inmates incarcerated at the county jail. The mission of JEPCF is to provide a secure facility that ensures the safety of the public, provides a safe working climate for employees, and offers humane and safe living conditions for inmates. 

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Seminole County, click here, call 407.665.1200, 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 Seminole County Jail.

Bonding someone out of the Seminole County Jail

If an inmate has bondable charges, he or she can bond out at any time. A bond can be paid with or without a bail bond agent. The method (cash/surety) and amount of money needed for bonding someone out of the Seminole County Jail depends on their charges. Most crimes, but not all crimes, are bondable offenses.

When you pay a cash bond at the jail, 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. Surety bonds in Seminole County are only accepted from registered bail agents.

Paying a Cash Bond with a Credit or Debit Card

Bond payments up to $2,500 per charge are accepted through the GovPayNow program. A non-refundable service fee to GovPayNow is added to all transactions. Each bond must be paid separately. These bonds are treated like cash bonds.

There are three ways to pay:

• Online at GovPayNow
• By phone at 1-877EZBAIL5 (1-877-392-2455)
• In person at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility Intake/Release window

Make sure to have the following information ready when you visit the GovPayNow website: 

• The defendant’s name
• The defendant’s date of birth
• The defendant’s booking number
• Bond payment location Code: A001X0

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Video visitation is conducted at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility by appointment only, using the service SmartJailMail. All video visitations cost 25 cents per minute and are offered in 15 minute and 30 minute blocks. Go to SmartJailMail to sign up and schedule visitation.

As of July 2022, face-to-face visits have been suspended with no plans to reinstate them.

Visits are allowed on certain days and times, based on scheduling availability. Each inmate who is classified at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility has a visitation form listing up to five persons who will be allowed to visit them. Make sure you are on that list before scheduling your visit.

Appointments may be scheduled up to one week in advance, but no less than 48 hours in advance. All visitors must have a proper photo ID indicating their date of birth.

Proper attire is required at all times. Shoes and shirts must be worn. Suggestive clothing, see through fabrics, halter or tube type tops, short shorts, and mini-skirts will not be permitted. If the attire is too brief or revealing, the visit will be canceled.

Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian or possess a marriage license that shows they are legally married to the inmate.

All visits are monitored and are subject to recording.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office uses Smart Communications to provide MailGuard electronic mail services for the John E. Polk Correctional Facility. This is a quick and efficient way for inmates to receive letters and photos electronically.

The Inmates’ Name and Booking number must be clearly printed on the outside of the envelope or postcard to ensure the mail is posted to the correct account. All regular inmate postal mail will be scanned into the system and available to the inmates to view via the inmate kiosk.

For a nominal fee, you can send photos electronically. All photos are subject to approval by facility staff. Visit www.Smartjailmail.com to create an account.

To receive notices when your mail is received, reviewed, and viewed by the inmate, visit www.MailGuardTracker.com.

The jail does NOT accept packages or books for inmates. This includes anything from publishers, Amazon, USPS or any other delivery service. ALL items will be returned to the sender. 

Magazines subscriptions are allowed as long as the magazines meet the decency standards. Send those directly to the jail using the following address:

John E. Polk Correctional Facility
Inmate’s Name - Booking Number (ID Number)
211 Eslinger Way
Sanford, FL 32773

How to Call an Inmate

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

To receive phone calls from an inmate, you must set up an inmate telephone account with Securus Technologies.

• Securus Brochure in English
• Securus Brochure in Spanish

How to Send Money

Money may be posted to an inmate account at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility using any of the following methods:

• Online: Visit AccessCorrections.com which accepts Visa and Mastercard credit/debit cards.
• Phone: Call 1-866-345-1884. Visa and Mastercard credit/debit cards accepted. Bilingual agents are available 24/7.
• Cash Walk In: Visit CashPayToday.com to enroll and find locations near you, or call 1-844-340- 2274 for more information. Or visit acecashexpress.com.
• Mail In: Money orders can be mailed, but must include a completed Money Order Deposit Form mailed to the following address:Secure Deposits – Seminole CountyPO BOX 12486St Louis, Missouri 63132
• Lobby: Kiosks are available in the Release Control and Main Lobby to accept deposits for inmate accounts in the form of cash, Visa, and Mastercard credit/debit cards.

Once funds have been deposited into an inmate’s account they will not be returned. 

Programs For Inmates

The John E. Polk Correctional Facility offers a variety of health, educational and faith-based programs to the inmate population. They are designed to improve practical skills, enhance character development, and reduce recidivism rates. 

The programs offered range from basic computer skills to substance abuse courses to General Education Development (GED) and Adult Basic Education (ABE) classes.

The Inmate Work Release Program allows sentenced, non-violent inmates to obtain or maintain employment while incarcerated so they can provide for themselves and their family and pay off jail debts.

The John E. Polk Correctional Facility has a hydroponic garden that produces a variety of vegetables to use in staff and inmate meals. The jail's hydroponic garden—which grows plant material in a water and fertilizer solution with no soil—was the first of its kind in the nation. The program was established to provide female inmates the opportunity to learn horticulture skills.

Pictures of John E. Polk Correctional Facility

Careers at John E. Polk Correctional Facility

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