South Bay Correctional Facility

South Bay Correctional Facility is a Florida state prison for men located in South Bay, Florida. This is a private facility that is managed by the GEO Group, and it has a maximum capacity of 1948 inmates at various custody levels.

The GEO Group was awarded a contract for the design, finance, lease, construction, and operation of the South Bay Correctional and Rehabilitation Facility in 1994. It provides academic and vocational training; including CDL, work opportunities, substance abuse programs, and counseling. A Prison Industries Program through Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE) operates a print shop at the facility.

South Bay consists of a dormitory building that is utilized as a Therapeutic Community (TC). The TC is licensed as a residential Level III Drug Treatment Program by the Florida DCF. More than 80% of the total population participates in some form of education, substance abuse, or life skills programming. The facility also has several recreation areas, both indoor and outdoor.

The facility received accreditation from the American Correctional Association (ACA) in 1999 and was re-accredited in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017 with a score of 100%. The facility was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) in 2002, making it the first correctional facility in Florida to receive this honor. SACS re-accredited the facility in 2006.

Notable inmates include Joel Faviere, an American musician and former lead singer of Get Scared. He was sentenced to 12 years for child pornography charges and registered as a sex offender. He is scheduled to be released on November 27, 2029.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The visiting hours at South Bay Correctional Facility are on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST. Visitor registration begins at 8:15 a.m. and stops at 2:00 p.m. You will not be allowed to visit if you arrive after 2:00 pm. 

A valid photo ID is required to visit an inmate at South Bay Correctional Facility. During visitor registration, officers will also ask you some questions, and you will also go through a number of searches.

Before you can visit an inmate at South Bay Correctional Facility, you must get on their approved visiting list. The visitor applicationㅡwhich is available in both English and Spanishㅡmust be filled out completely and mailed to South Bay. 

After your application is reviewed, the inmate will let you know if you have been approved or denied.  Everyone 12 or older must complete a visitor application, and all visitors 17 or younger must be accompanied by an approved adult on the inmate’s visiting list.

What you can bring to a visit

Visitors at South Bay Correctional Facility are allowed to bring the following items into the visiting room:

• A maximum of $50.00 ($1, $5, $10, and $20 denominations only or silver change) for the vending machines. You are allowed to carry the money in a small wallet or pouch.
• One car key. No key chains or keyless entry devices.
• Medication. Bring only the necessary dosage in the original prescribed container (it must be clearly marked).

Do not attempt to bring a cell phone or any other electronic device to the visiting room.

If you are bringing an infant into the visit, you may have the following items:

• 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

Visitors at South Bay Correctional Facility are not allowed to wear the following clothing items:

• 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

If you are unable to travel to South Bay Correctional Facility for a visit, they do have the option of video visitation. The service is available through JPay, and you must have a JPay account and use their calendar function for scheduling.

The fee for video visitation is $2.95 for 15 minutes, and they can last a maximum of 30 minutes.

There are restrictions on what you can mail to an inmate. You can’t mail packages in boxes or anything in card stock envelopes, like US Mail Priority or US Mail Express.

Everything must be sent in a non-padded paper envelope through the US Postal Service.

• Letters can be a maximum of 15 pages in length (You cannot glue, tape, or staple anything to the pages)
• You can send greeting cards, but nothing with electronic or non-paper parts
• Pictures are allowed, with the exception of nude photographs, Polaroids, or anything larger than 8”x10”
• You are allowed to send your inmate a maximum of ten, blank, greeting cards, blank pieces of paper, or envelopes
• You can also send a maximum of twenty, first class stamps

Non-paper items and stickers are prohibited in inmate mail.

You can send an inmate email through JPay. They do not have internet access, but inmates can receive an email printout during mail call. 

You can also buy your inmate a JP5 tablet. This device allows them to read and write emails, as well as purchase music, eBooks, games, and rent movies. 

How to Call an Inmate

You can’t call an inmate at South Bay Correctional Facility, but they do have access to phones during approved hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Florida, please click here.

How to Send Money

The only way to send money to an inmate at South Bay Correctional Facility is via Access Corrections. You can use their website, or call 1.866.345.1884 to reach one of the 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers. The agents provide exceptional support, and the bilingual representatives accommodate the diversity of all callers.

Programs For Inmates

Academic Programs

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

Vocational Programs

• Carpentry
• Commercial Class “B” Driving
• Environmental Services
• Nursery Management
• PC Support Services
• Plumbing Technology
• Turf Equipment Technology
• Welding Technology
• Diversified Career Technology-Entrepreneurship

Substance Abuse Programs

• Substance Abuse Prevention/Education
• Residential Therapeutic Community

Institutional Betterment Programs

• 100-hour Transition Program
• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Law Library Program
• Library Program
• Life Skills
• Narcotics Anonymous

Pictures of South Bay Correctional Facility

Careers at South Bay Correctional Facility

If you are interested in a job at South Bay Correctional Facility, click here. Career opportunities at GEO Group include: Case Manager, Counselors, Human Resources Professionals, Correctional Officers, Food Services Professionals, and Mental Health Technicians.

The benefits package includes:

• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Dental and Vision
• Medical PPO with Prescription Drug coverage
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• 401(k) Retirement Plan