Desoto Annex

Desoto Annex is a Florida state prison for men located in Arcadia, Florida. It has a maximum capacity of 1,453, and it is a level V facility that houses inmates of all security levels. Desoto Annex opened in 1996 as an extension to the Desoto state prison, which is now closed.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Before you can visit an inmate at Desoto Annex, they must first request that you be added to their visiting list. The Florida Department of Corrections must approve your application before you are allowed to visit.

When an inmate requests that you be added to their visiting list, the facility will send you a visitor applicationㅡwhich is available in both English and Spanishㅡand you must fill it out completely and mail it back. Everyone 12 or older must complete this form in order to visit an inmate. 

Visiting hours at Desoto Annex 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. 

If a visitor is 17 or younger, they must be accompanied by an approved adult on the inmate’s visiting list.

Visit procedures

When you arrive for a visit at Desoto Annex, 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 Desoto Annex.

What you can bring to a visit

You are only allowed to bring in money and a car key to the visiting room at Desoto Annex.

• 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 Desoto Annex 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

You must always 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 in inmate mail:

• 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

You are not allowed to 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 (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 the Desoto Annex, but they do have access to phones and can call approved numbers during daytime hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Florida, please click here.

How to Send Money

If you would like to send money to an inmate at Desoto Annex, you must use JPay or visit a MoneyGram location. With JPay, you can send money via their website, with their app, on the phone, or by mail. 

JPay Options

• 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.

You can also 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)
• Special Education Services
• Title I Services
• Mandatory Literacy

Vocational Programs

• Welding Technology
• Carpentry
• Masonry Brick and Block

Substance Abuse Programs

• Alcoholics Anonymous

Chaplaincy Services

• Active T.D. Jakes Satellite
• Chapel Library Program
• Kairos Week-ends
• Prison Fellowship Quarterly
• Religious Education
• Worship Services
• Anger Management/Domestic Violence (Spanish)
• Anger and Communication
• Armed Forces Veterans Meeting
• Audio/Visual/Library Program
• Biblical Hermeneutics Study Class
• Buddhist Services
• Catholic Bible Study
• Catholic Worship Services (Hispanic/English)
• Chaplains Sunday Morning Service
• Commitment to Change
• Computer Training
• Domestic Violence
• Ecclesiastical Latin
• Elementary Biblical Hebrew
• Elementary Koine Greek
• Family Reconciliation Therapy
• Heart Land of Florida Bible Study
• Hebrew Israelite Study
• Hispanic Non-Denominational Bible Study
• Inductive Bible Study
• Jehovah Witness (Hispanic/English)
• Jehovah Witness Bible Study (Hispanic/English)
• Journaling
• Jumah Prayer (Muslim)
• Kairos Reunion
• Long Distance Dads
• Mentoring
• Odinist Service
• Riverside Ministries (Hispanic)
• Self-Awareness Group
• Seventh Day Adventist Services
• Sex Addiction/Pornography counseling
• Shabbat (Jewish Services)
• Silas Ministries (Calvary Chapel St. Pete Florida)
• Spanish Calvary (Centro Cristiano El Calvario)
• SYDA Yoga
• Taleem Studies (Muslim)
• Toast Masters International (Gavel Club)
• Transformation Group Study Class (Biblical World Views)
• TUMI “The Urban Ministries Institute Seminary Program”
• Victim Awareness
• Westminster Confession of Faith Class
• Wiccan Service
• Winning Side Bible Study
• 7 Habits of Highly Successful People

Institutional Betterment Programs

• Active and Passive Sports
• D.I.R.E.C.T.
• Fresh Start Smoking Cessation
• Law Library Program
• Library Program
• Volunteer Literacy
• Voluntary Literacy English Language Learners
• Weight Training
• Wellness Education

Re-Entry Programs

• 100-hour Transition Program
• Career Scope Assessment
• Florida Ready to Work
• Thinking for a Change
• Re-Entry Dormitory
• Florida CHOICES Career Planner
• Career Resource Program
• Financial Freedom
• Self-Study Re-Entry Program
• Re-Entry Seminar

Pictures of Desoto Annex

Careers at Desoto Annex

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 Desoto Annex by clicking here.