Cross City Correctional Institution East Unit

Cross City Correctional Institution, East Unit is a Florida state prison for men located in Cross City, Florida. It has a maximum capacity of 432, and it houses medium and minimum security inmates. The East Unit opened in February 2015, making it one of the newest correctional facilities in the state of Florida.

Because it is so new, it is one of the nicer, cleaner prisons in the Florida Department of Corrections. Current inmates say it is a nice camp compared to other facilities, but it does have one dark spot in its short history.

In 2017, officer Ronald Hendricks took inmate William Brooks out of the view of security cameras and severely beat him. The incident led to criminal charges against Hendricks, and he was also fired.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

If you would like to visit an inmate at Cross City Correctional Institution, East Unit, they must first request that you be added to their visiting list and then your application must be approved by the Florida Department of Corrections.  

Once the inmate requests to add you, they will send you a visitor applicationㅡwhich is available in both English and Spanish. After you fill out the application completely you must return it to the facility.

Anyone 12 or older must complete this form in order to visit an inmate. 

Visiting hours at Cross City, East Unit, are on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Registration begins at 8:15 a.m. and visitors will not be processed after 2:00 p.m. 

All minor visitors, 17 years of age or younger, must be accompanied by an approved adult on the inmate’s visiting list.

Visit procedures

Before you can enter the visiting park at Cross City Correctional Institution, East Unit, you will be required to answer a series of questions from officers, and you will also be subject to numerous searches. 

First, the officers will ask you about contraband, and then you will have your property searched before you go through a metal detector and a Magneto Static Detector (which detects cell phones). After that, you will be subject to a pat search before finishing up with a barrier search that is conducted by a canine handler. 

Do not attempt to bring in contraband. If you are caught with items like cell phones, tobacco, weapons, or drugs, you could be arrested.

After you have cleared all of these steps you will be allowed to enter the large visiting room at Cross City, East Unit.

What you can bring to a visit

You are only allowed to bring in money and a car key. 

• Each visitor is allowed to bring a maximum of $50.00 ($1, $5, $10, and $20 denominations only or silver change) for the vending machines, and you can carry the money in a small wallet or pouch.
• Only one car key is allowed, no key chains or keyless entry devices.

If you need medication during your visit, you are allowed to bring in the necessary dosage. Just remember to bring it in the original prescribed container and make sure it is clearly marked. If you have a medical condition which requires injections, you can leave the visiting room and take care of that in your vehicle, but you can’t bring in any needles or syringes into the visiting room.

You are allowed to bring the following items if you have an infant:

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

The dress code for the visiting room at Cross City Correctional Institution, East Unit is very conservative. If you wear any of the following items you will not be allowed to visit.

• 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

Remember to include the inmate’s committed name, DC number, and institutional address on all correspondence.  You must also send all inmate mail through the US Postal Service (no UPS or FEDEX). 

The following items are allowed to be mailed to an inmate:

• Letters no longer than 15 pages (You can not 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

Inmates are not allowed to receive 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 (U.S. Mail Priority or U.S. Mail Express card board type).

Do not send non-paper items or put stickers on the envelope or correspondence. 

There is also an email option available through JPay. 

The Florida Department of Corrections allows you to purchase a JP5 tablet for an inmate which they can use to send and receive monitored emails (for a fee), and they can also purchase music, eBooks, and games.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at Cross City Correctional Facility, East Unit, can’t receive telephone calls, but they do have access to phones and can call collect to approved numbers.

For complete details on how to call an inmate in Florida, please click here.

How to Send Money

There are a few different ways to send money to an inmate at Cross City Correctional Institution, East Unit. With JPay, you can send money online, with their app, on the phone, or by mail). You can also visit a MoneyGram location.

• Online or Mobile App: To send money with your credit or debit card, visit JPay.com or download the JPay Mobile App that is available at the Apple App Store (for iPhones) and Google Play (for Android phones).
• By phone: Call (800) 574-5729 to talk with a live JPay call center agent and send money with a debit or credit card. 
• Mail a money orderㅡmade payable to JPayㅡwith a deposit slip to:

JPay
P.O. Box 260010
Hollywood, FL 33026

Money order deposit slip available in English here.

Hoja de Depósito para Giros Bancarios disponible en Español aqui.

• Visit a MoneyGram location (including all Walmarts and CVS Pharmacies) and use receive code 5188. This method allows you to use cash.

Programs For Inmates

• Vocational Programs
• Substance Abuse
• Adult Literacy
• Adult GED

Pictures of Cross City Correctional Institution East Unit

Careers at Cross City Correctional Institution East Unit

The Florida Department of Corrections is the third largest prison system in the country, and that means there are numerous career opportunities in a variety of areas. You can find more information about a job at Cross City Correctional Institution, East Unit, by clicking here.