Cross City Correctional Institution

Cross City Correctional Institution is a Florida state prison for men located in Cross City, Florida. It has a maximum capacity of 1,802, and it is a level V facility that houses inmates at various custody levels. 

This facility opened in 1972 and was built on the grounds of the decommissioned Cross City Air Force Station.

Cross City Correctional Institution has an adjacent work camp that allows inmates to participate in work release programs where they work in the community.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

If you wish to visit an inmate at Cross City Correctional Institution, they must request that you be added to their visiting list and 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 Spanishㅡto fill out and mail back to the facility.

Anyone who is 12 or older must complete this form in order to visit an inmate. Do not attempt to visit before you are approved because you will not be allowed to enter the institution.

Visiting hours at Cross City 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, you must answer a series of questions from officers and go through numerous searches. 

Registration begins with the officers asking if you are bringing in 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.

You can enter the visiting park once you have cleared all of these steps.

What you can bring to a visit

The only items allowed in the visiting park are 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, they will allow you to bring the necessary dosage. All medicine must be in the original prescribed container and must be clearly marked. If you have a medical condition which requires injections, you can leave the visiting park and take the necessary medication in your vehicle, but you can’t bring in any needles or syringes into the visiting park.

The following items are allowed 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

When you visit an inmate at Cross City Correctional Institution, you must dress conservatively. The following clothing will not be allowed in the visiting park.

• 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

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

Letters must be no longer than 15 pages, and you can not glue, tape, or staple anything to the pages. Do not send non-paper items or put stickers on the envelope or correspondence. 

They allow greeting cards but nothing with electronic or non-paper parts. You can include pictures in inmate mail, with the exception of nude photographs, Polaroids, or anything larger than 8”x10.” 

You are allowed to send a maximum of ten blank greeting cards, blank pieces of paper, or envelopes to your incarcerated loved one. You can also send 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).

An email service is also available through JPay if you want to avoid snail mail.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at Cross City Correctional Facility are not able to receive telephone calls, but they can call collect to approved numbers during certain hours.

Inmate phone lists are limited to ten numbers, and they are only authorized to call personal landlines or cell phones. Collect calls to businesses are prohibited. You must be on the inmate’s call list for you to receive calls. 

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. JPay allows you to send money (online, via their app, on the phone, or by mail) or you can 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

Academic Programs

• Adult Basic Education
• General Educational Development (GED)
• Volunteer Literacy Program

Vocational Programs

• Automotive Collision Repair & Refinishing
• Cabinetmaking
• PC Support Services/ Business Supervision & Management/ Business Computer Programming
• Computer Repair

Substance Abuse Programs

• Alcoholics Anonymous

Chaplaincy Services

• Worship Services
• Religious Education
• Chapel Music Program
• Chapel Library Program
• Personal Growth Programs
• Spiritual Advisor Visits
• Special Events
• Holy Day Observation
• Religious Volunteer Program
• Counseling
• Compound Visitation

Institutional Betterment Programs

• 100-hour Transition Program
• Computers for Kids
• Fresh Start Smoking Cessation
• Law Library Program
• Library Program
• Parenting Class
• Small Engine Repair
• Social Awareness
• Sports Leagues
• Toys for Tots
• Wellness Education

PRIDE Assignments

• Sales Support/Customer Service Center
• Digital Services

Pictures of Cross City Correctional Institution

Careers at Cross City Correctional Institution

The Florida Department of Corrections is the third largest prison system in the country. There are many positions available in the FDC, and you can find more information about a career at Cross City Correctional Institution by clicking here.