Lee County Downtown Jail

The main jail serves as the central intake and booking facility for all people arrested within Lee County. The maximum capacity is 457 inmates.

Some of the inmates at the Lee County Jail have been tried and sentenced to the jail or the Florida Department of Corrections. However, most inmates have not yet been tried by the courts, so they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.  

In addition to the main jail in downtown Fort Myers, the Lee County Sheriff's Office also operates the core facility – which is the primary jail for female offenders. They also operate the Community Program Unit for inmates who are in treatment or close to their release date.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in Lee County, click here, call the jail at (239) 477-1500, 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 Lee County Jail

The method (cash/surety) and amount of money needed for bonding someone out of the Lee 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.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

All visits for the main jail in downtown Fort Myers are conducted through a video monitor at the Visitation Center. The hours of operations are Monday-Sunday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Visitation Center is located at:

2501 Ortiz Ave.
Fort Myers, FL. 33905 

Each inmate is allowed two visits per week for one hour each. Up to two visitors from the Inmate’s Authorized Visitation List will be allowed to visit with the inmate; children under one year of age are not included in the count.

All inmates are given a packet that contains a visitation list that allows them to place up to five names of family members/friends that they want to visit with. Visitors on the list are the only persons allowed to visit the inmate.

When You Enter the Visitation Center, you must:

• Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled visitation time
• Visitors 16 years of age and older must present a Photo ID (Drivers License, Identification Card, Passport, Military ID, or Prison ID) with a date of birth
• Have your name checked against that authorized visitation list
• Abide by the Correction Visitor Regulations

Visitors who fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the Visitation Facility will be escorted out and denied the rest of their visit. Visitors wearing clothes that are too brief or revealing will not be permitted to visit.

Visitors are not permitted to bring cell phones, cigarettes, lighters, cameras, radios, record or tape players, gifts, purses, baby bags, water bottles, food or drinks, etc. into the visitation area. 

A visitor may be searched at any time if there is reason to believe that they may be in possession of contraband. Bringing the following items to an inmate is prohibited: 

Books, Enveloped letters, Battery- or electronically-operated cards, Candy, Care packages, Clothing, Envelopes, Food, Glitter, Hygiene items, Magazines, Medication, Polaroid pictures, Snacks, Stamps, Stickers, Writing paper, etc.

If you bring any of these items with you on visitation, they will be confiscated and you could face prosecution.

Remote Video Visits

Friends and family who wish to visit with their inmate remotely from their home computer, tablet, or smartphone need to register at www.gtlvisitme.com and schedule their visit.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Lee 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

The Lee County main jail in downtown Fort Myers uses SmartInmate.com for all inmate money services. To deposit money into an inmate's account, visit SmartInmate.com or use a kiosk in the jail lobby.

Programs For Inmates

ESE/Juvenile School Program

This program is run by the Lee County School District and is for juvenile inmates under the age of 18 and for those who were enrolled in an ESE program in Lee County and are under the age of 22. This program also helps people prepare to take the GED test.

GED Program

This program is open to inmates that do not have their High School Diploma. Inmates receive help preparing for the GED, and when ready, are able to take the GED test.

Life Skills Program

Teaches basic life skills, with such topics as: Anger Management,Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Parenting Skills, Communications Skills, Men’s and Women’s Issues , Resume Writing and Job Interviewing Skills, etc.

New Directions Program

A faith based program run by the facility Chaplain that touches on many of the topics presented in Life Skills but from a faith based perspective.

Self-Help Groups

Several self-help groups at the jail are run by volunteers. Including: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Al-Anon which is for people who are coping with someone who has a substance abuse problem.

Inmate Case Management

This program targets inmates who are at high risk to reoffend and sentenced to three months to one year.

Pictures of Lee County Downtown Jail

Careers at Lee County Downtown Jail

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

Completely and accurately fill out the job application, then submit it in one of the following ways.

• Go to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office located at 14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912, and place your application in the Human Resources Dropbox in the Lobby
• Email the completed application packet to [email protected]
• Mail To: Attn: Human Resources

                         Lee County Sheriff’s Office
                         14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway
                         Fort Myers, FL 33912

Employment Disqualifiers:

• Non-U.S. Citizenship, or no authorization to work in the U.S.
• Conviction of a felony
• Violation of LCSO employment drug policy
• Violation of FDLE moral character standards