Calhoun Correctional Institution

The Calhoun Correctional Institution is a Florida state prison for men that is located in Blountstown, Florida. It has a capacity of 1,350 inmates, and it is a level IV facility that houses inmates of all security levels.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Before you can visit an inmate at Calhoun Correctional Institution, you must fill out a visitor application and be approved by the Florida DOC. If you attempt to visit an inmate before you are approved, you will not be allowed in the visiting park.

Visiting hours are on Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m. on both days. Visitors will not be processed after 1:00 p.m. unless authorized by the duty warden. Visitors will be allowed to park in designated spaces no earlier than 6:30 a.m. on visiting days.

Any minor visitor who is 17 or younger must be accompanied by an approved adult on the inmate's visiting list. 

Visit procedures

When you first arrive for your visit, you should expect to answer a few questions and go through numerous searches. First, the officers will ask you a series of questions to make sure that you are not bringing in contraband to the facility. Examples of contraband are cell phones or other electronic devices, drugs of any type, tobacco, and weapons. 

Once officers have searched your personal items, you will either walk through metal detector or be scanned by a hand-held metal detector. After that, you must pass through the Magneto Static Detector (a machine that detects cell phones and other devices).

The next step is to go to a separate room for a clothed, pat search by a staff member of the same sex. You will be required to remove all exterior clothing such as jackets, sweaters, scarves, shoes before the pat search.

You will then go to an area where a canine handler is present. The canine is trained in the detection of drugs and cell phones, and if the dog alerts that you may have contraband, an officer will conduct a more thorough search, which could mean an unclothed search and a search of your vehicle.

Once you have cleared all of the searches, you will then be allowed to enter the visiting park. 

What you can bring to a visit

Visitors are not allowed to bring in anything to give to an inmate, so leave everything in your vehicle except for money, car keys, and medication.

Each visitor is allowed to bring a maximum of $50 to the visiting park for snacks and beverages in $1.00, $5.00, $10.00, and $20.00 denominations only or silver change. You can also bring a small wallet or pouch for your money.

You may also bring a car key. However, keyless entry devices are not permitted unless the duty warden determines that it does not pose a threat to institutional security.

You may bring in medicationㄧbut only the dosage necessaryㄧand it must be clearly marked and in the original prescribed container.

If you have a medical condition that requires injections, you will be permitted to leave the visiting park to take the necessary medications. Needles and syringes must be secured in your locked vehicle and are not permitted inside the visiting park for security reasons. 

You may bring the following items if you are bringing an infant to the visit:

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, and baby wipes or towelettes (in a clear plastic bag). Also, you may bring in an infant baby carrier (subject to search), one set of infant clothing, and one non-quilted baby blanket to keep the infant warm.

Dress Code

Remember to always dress conservatively for a visit. You will be denied a visit if you are wearing any of the following 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

When addressing mail to an inmate, always include the inmate’s committed name, DC number, and institutional address.

You must send all inmate mail through the U.S. Postal Service. The mail room staff will refuse any correspondence sent by courier or delivery services.

Do not send mail in boxes, padded envelopes, plastic bags, multi-layer packaging, envelopes that include metal parts, any package containing bubble wrap or packing peanuts, or card stock type envelopes (i.e. U.S. Mail Priority or U.S. Mail Express card board type).

Inmates are allowed to receive the following items through routine mail:

• Letters up to 15 pages per envelope. No items or pages can be glued, taped, or stapled.
• You can send photographs, but nude or revealing pictures, Polaroids, and pictures larger than 8"x10" are not permitted.
• Self-addressed, stamped envelope.
• Blank greeting cards (no larger than 8"x10"), stationery or other blank paper or envelopes. Stationery and blank paper must be white, off-white, or yellow. Card stock, sketch paper, and other types of craft paper is not allowed.
• U.S. postage stamps.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at Calhoun Correctional Institution can’t receive incoming calls, but they can make phone calls during approved daytime 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 Calhoun Correctional Institution is through JPay.

• Send money online with your credit or debit card at JPay.com.
• Use the JPay mobile app that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store (for iPhones) or Google Play (for Android phones).
• Send money by phone by calling a live JPay call center agent at (800) 574-5729.
• You can visit any MoneyGram agent location (including all Walmarts and CVS Pharmacies) and use receive code 5188.
• You can also mail in a money order. All money orders must be made payable to JPay and sent with a deposit slip to:

JPay
P.O. Box 260010
Hollywood, FL 33026

Money order deposit slip is available in English here.

Hoja de Depósito para Giros Bancarios disponible en Español aqui.

Programs For Inmates

Academic Programs

• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• General Educational Development (GED)
• Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE)
• Ready to Work (RTW)
• Grasp Math
• Reading Literacy
• Mavis Beacon Typing

Vocational Programs

• Graphic Arts
• Web Design
• Printing

Substance Abuse Programs

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Narcotics Anonymous

Chaplaincy Services

• Worship services
• Religious Holiday Observances
• Religious Education Classes
• Chapel Library
• Life-Skill Seminars
• Re-Entry Workshops and Seminars
• Recovery Groups
• Marriage Seminars
• Praise Team
• Me & Morality
• Prison Fellowship
• Truth Seminar

Institutional Betterment Programs

• 63-hour Wellness Education
• Recreational Sports
• Freshstart Smoking Cessation
• Law Library Program
• Library Program
• Gavel Club
• Victim Awareness Workshop
• Anger Resolution Seminar
• Anger Management Workshop
• Fatherhood Seminar
• Financial Peace University
• Inner Healing Workshop
• Re-Entry Dorm Program
• Small Business Concepts
• People In Progress
• Bridge Builders
• Thinking for a Change
• 100 – hour Transition Class
• Car Wash
• Medical Re-Entry Seminar
• Life Improvement Workshop
• Basic Life Principles
• Library Re-Entry Services
• Mental Health Resources
• Raising Healthy Kids Workshop

PRIDE Program

• Graphic Arts / Printing – eligibility for Vocational Certification

Pictures of Calhoun Correctional Institution

Careers at Calhoun Correctional Institution

The Department of Corrections is the largest state agency in Florida, and the third largest prison system in the country.  If you are interested in a career at Calhoun Correctional Institution, click here for more information and to view a list of job openings.