Franklin Correctional Institution

Franklin Correctional Institution is a Florida state prison for men that is located in Carrabelle, Florida. This facility can house up to 1,346 inmates of various security levels. This facility opened in 2005, making it one of the newer facilities in the Florida Department of Corrections.

In 2016, a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed against Franklin CI that accused the officers of beating and then killing a prisoner by gassing him with chemical agents. That same year, the facility was the scene of numerous riots.

During one of the riots, over three hundred inmates destroyed two of the housing units.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

If you would like to visit an inmate at Franklin Correctional Institution, you must be approved by the Florida Department of Corrections. The process starts by talking to your inmate (by phone or mail) and telling them that you want to be on their approved visiting list. Then, they will contact their case worker, who will send you a visitor applicationㅡwhich is available in both English and Spanish.

Once you receive your application, fill it out completely and then mail it back to Franklin Correctional Institution. Everyone 12 or older must complete this form in order to visit an inmate. 

Visiting hours at Franklin Correctional Institution 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. and visitors will not be processed after 1:00 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 Franklin Correctional Institution, be prepared to answer a series of questions from the officers and go through a number of different types of 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, and the last step is 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 visit an inmate at Franklin Correctional Institution.

What you can bring to a visit

The only items you are allowed to bring into the visiting room at Franklin Correctional Institution are money and a car key.

• Each visitor can bring up to $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 some 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 that 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 
• Baby wipes or towelettes (in a clear plastic bag) 
• An infant baby carrier (subject to search)
• One set of infant clothing
• One, non-quilted baby blanket to keep the infant warm

Dress Code

The dress code in the visiting room at Franklin Correctional Institution is extremely 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

Be sure to write the inmate’s committed name, DC number, and institutional address on every envelope you send.  All inmate correspondence must go through the US Postal Service (no UPS or FEDEX). 

You are allowed to send 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

Mail in boxes, padded envelopes, plastic bags, multi-layer packaging, envelopes that include metal parts, or card stock type envelopes (U.S. Mail Priority or U.S. Mail Express card board type) is not allowed. Also, any package that has bubble wrap or packing peanuts will be rejected.

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

There is also an email option available through JPay. 

The Franklin Correctional Institution also has JP5 tablets available for purchase so your inmate can send and receive monitored emails (for a fee), and they can also purchase music, eBooks, and games.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Franklin Correctional Institution can’t receive phone calls, but they can make calls to approved numbers during daytime hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Florida, please click here.

How to Send Money

The options for sending money to an inmate at Franklin Correctional Institution are JPay and MoneyGram. With JPay, you can send money via their website, with their app, on the phone, or by mail. For MoneyGram, you will have to visit a location in person.

JPay Options

• Online or Mobile App: To send an inmate 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.

Moneygram

If you would like to use cash, visit a MoneyGram location (including all Walmarts and CVS Pharmacies) and use receive code 5188.

Programs For Inmates

Academic Programs

• Adult Basic Education (Main Unit)
• General Educational Development (GED) (Main Unit & Work Camp)
• Basic Literacy Program (Main Unit)
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) (Main Unit)

Vocational Programs

• Pipe Trade System Technology ( Residential Plumber Helper) Certificate Awarded

Chaplaincy Services

• Catholic Studies
• Chapel Library Program
• Chapel Music Program
• Episcopal Studies
• Hebrew Israelites
• Holy Day Observation Program
• Individual Religious Studies
• Islamic Jumah Prayer
• Jehovah Witness Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Messianic Studies
• Most Excellent Way
• Personal Growth Programs
• Religious Education
• Religious Volunteers
• Spanish Worship Programs
• Special Events
• Spiritual Advisor Visit Program
• Worship Services

Institutional Betterment Programs

• Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous
• Active and Passive Sports
• Betterment Dorm Program
• Compass 100
• Faith & Character Dorm Program
• Freshstart
• Gavel Club
• Law Library Program
• Library Program

Pictures of Franklin Correctional Institution

Careers at Franklin Correctional Institution

There are many job opportunities available in the Florida Department of Corrections, the third largest prison system in the country. You can find more information about a job at Franklin Correctional Institution by clicking here.