Blackwater River Correctional Facility

Blackwater River Correctional Facility is a Florida state prison for men located in Milton, Florida. This is a private facility that has been managed by the GEO Group since 2010. Blackwater River Correctional Facility can house a maximum of 2,000 prisoners of mixed custody levels.

This facility provides academic and vocational programs as well as medical care, substance abuse programs, counseling, and life skills training opportunities.

The design includes housing, administration, programming space, and support services. The facility is designed in a campus layout. Each housing building incorporates therapeutic living communities with medical, multipurpose, group and individual counseling rooms, and recreation areas. 

The Blackwater River Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility was designed and constructed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements. It achieved Gold Certification from the Council in recognition of its sustainable design.

The facility achieved initial accreditation through the American Correctional Association in 2012 and reaccreditation in 2015 and 2018 with a score of 100%.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The visiting hours at Blackwater River Correctional Facility are on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CST. Visitor registration begins at 7:15 a.m. and visitor processing stops at 1:00 p.m. You will not be allowed to visit if you arrive after 1:00 pm. 

Before you can visit an inmate at Blackwater River Correctional Facility, you must get on their approved visiting list. The visitor applicationㅡwhich is available in both English and Spanishㅡmust be filled out completely and mailed to the facility. 

After the staff reviews your application, the inmate will notify you when you are approved.  If you are not approved, you will not be allowed to visit.

Everyone 12 or older must complete a visitor application, and all visitors 17 or younger must be accompanied by an approved adult on the inmate’s visiting list.

A valid photo ID is required to visit an inmate at Blackwater River Correctional Facility. During visitor registration, officers will also ask you some questions, and you will also go through a number of searches.

You are allowed to bring the following items into the visiting room at Blackwater River Correctional Facility:

• A maximum of $50.00 ($1, $5, $10, and $20 denominations only or silver change) for the vending machines. You are allowed to carry the money in a small wallet or pouch.
• One car key. No key chains or keyless entry devices.
• Medication. Bring only the necessary dosage in the original prescribed container (it must be clearly marked).

Do not attempt to bring a cell phone or any other electronic device to the visiting room.

If you are bringing an infant into the visit, you may have the following items:

• A maximum of five diapers
• Three, clear, plastic, baby bottles or two sipper cups for toddlers
• One, clear, plastic, baby pacifier
• Three, clear, plastic jars of baby food with the original seal intact 
• Baby wipes or towelettes (in a clear plastic bag) 
• An infant baby carrier (subject to search)
• One set of infant clothing
• One, non-quilted baby blanket to keep the infant warm

The dress code at the Blackwater River Correctional Facility visiting room prohibits the following clothing items:

• Halter tops or bra-less attire
• Underwear-type t-shirts or tank tops
• Fishnet clothing
• Skin tight clothing
• Shoes with removable parts
• See-through fabric without an undergarment
• Dresses, skirts, or shorts more than three inches above the knee
• Clothing with a threatening picture or language
• Camouflage
• Any clothing with metal

Video Visitation

Blackwater River Correctional Facility also has the option of video visitation, which is a service available through JPay. You must have a JPay account and use their calendar function to schedule a video visit.

The fee for video visitation is $2.95 for 15 minutes, and they can last a maximum of 30 minutes.

The general guidelines for inmate mail are:

• Letters can be a maximum of 15 pages in length (You cannot glue, tape, or staple anything to the pages)
• Greeting cards, but nothing with electronic or non-paper parts
• Pictures, with the exception of nude photographs, Polaroids, or anything larger than 8”x10”
• A maximum of ten, blank, greeting cards, blank pieces of paper, or envelopes
• A maximum of twenty, first class stamps

The following packaging is not allowed:

• Boxes
• Padded envelopes
• Plastic bags
• Multi-layer packaging
• Envelopes that include metal parts
• Card stock type envelopes (U.S. Mail Priority or U.S. Mail Express card board type) 
• Bubble wrap
• Packing peanuts

Non-paper items and stickers are prohibited in inmate mail.

You can send an inmate email through JPay. They do not have internet access, but inmates can receive an email printout during mail call. 

You can also buy your inmate a JP5 tablet. This device allows them to read and write emails, as well as purchase music, eBooks, games, and rent movies.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at Blackwater River Correctional Facility can’t receive incoming calls, but they do have access to phones during approved hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Florida, please click here.

How to Send Money

The only way to send money to an inmate at Blackwater River Correctional Facility is with Access Corrections. You can use their website, or call 1.866.345.1884 to reach one of the 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers. The agents provide exceptional support, and the bilingual representatives accommodate the diversity of all callers.

Programs For Inmates

Academic Programs

• Pre-GED/GED
• "ABE" Adult Basic Education

Vocational Programs

• Micro Computer Class
• Desktop publishing
• CDL
• Technical Support Specialist
• Barbering
• Electrical - Residential
• Welding

Chaplaincy Services

• Yes
• Substance Abuse Programs
• Substance Abuse Prevention/Education
• Substance Abuse Pre-Release

Institutional Betterment Programs

• Lifeskills (2 classes available)
• Law Library
• Library
• Transition
• Vet Dog Program
• Thinking For Change
• F.I.T. - Family Integrity Training
• Money Smart by F.D.I.C.

Pictures of Blackwater River Correctional Facility

Careers at Blackwater River Correctional Facility

If you are interested in a job at Blackwater River Correctional Facility, click here. Career opportunities at GEO Group include: Counselors, Human Resources Professionals, Operations Professionals, Registered Nurses, Facility Administrators, Maintenance Specialists, and Social Workers.

The benefits package includes:

• Paid time off
• Dental and Vision
• Medical PPO with Prescription Drug coverage
• Short and Long term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid holiday
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) Retirement Plan