Dade Correctional Institution

Dade Correctional Institution is a Florida state prison for men located in Florida City, Florida. It has a maximum capacity of 1,521, and it is a level V facility that houses inmates of all security levels.

This facility opened in 1996, and in the past two decades, it has had numerous controversies with two attempted escapes.

In May 2014, Julie K. Brown of The Miami Herald wrote a series of stories about violence and corruption at Dade CI, and she exposed the poor treatment of mentally ill prisoners, as well as the poor conditions in the food preparation area.

That same year, former Dade CI prisoner, Harold Hempstead, accused prison authorities of fatally torturing prisoner Darren Rainey, who was mentally ill, by scalding him in a shower. In 2014, officers also discovered prisoner Lavar Valentin dead from strangulation.

Former warden, Jerry Cummings, said that Dade, "is, by far, the most dangerous prison I’ve ever worked in."

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Before you can visit an inmate at Dade Correctional Institution, they must first request that you be added to their visiting list. Your application must be approved by the Florida Department of Corrections.  

Once you receive a visitor applicationㅡwhich is available in both English and Spanishㅡyou must fill it out completely and mail it back to the facility. Everyone 12 or older must complete this form in order to visit an inmate. 

Visiting hours at Dade Correctional Institution 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 and younger, must be accompanied by an approved adult on the inmate’s visiting list.

Visit procedures

When you arrive for a visit at Dade Correctional Institution, you will be required to answer a series of questions from officers. You will also be subject to numerous searches. 

Registration begins with officers asking 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 must go through 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 Dade.

What you can bring to a visit

You are only allowed to bring in money and a car key to the visiting room at Dade Correctional Institution.

• 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.

There are a couple of exceptions to this rule. 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 Dade Correctional Institution 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). 

You can mail the following items to an inmate:

• Letters no longer than 15 pages (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

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. 

How to Call an Inmate

You can’t call an Inmate at Dade Correctional Facility, 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 Dade Correctional Institution. With JPay, you can send money via their website, 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

Academic Programs

• GED Class
• Pre-GED Class
• Volunteer Literacy Program

Chaplaincy Services

• Multi-faith Worship Services
• Chapel Library
• Chapel Band
• Religious Education
• Faith based Self Improvement Courses
• Kairos Weekends

Institutional Betterment Programs

• Compass 100
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Re-Entry Courses
• Children of Inmates
• Thinking for a Change
• Library Program
• Law Library Program
• Veteran's Group

Pictures of Dade Correctional Institution

Careers at Dade Correctional Institution

As the third largest prison system in the country, the Florida Department of Corrections offers numerous career opportunities in a variety of areas. You can find more information about a job at Dade Correctional Institution by clicking here.