What's Inside the Alachua County Jail Inmate Handbook: A Family Guide
Looking for a starting point? The inmate handbook is the closest thing to a rulebook your loved one has inside Alachua County Jail. Here's what it covers and where to find the policies families need most.
The handbook explains the rules, programs, and services available at Alachua County Jail. This family guide won't replace it - but it will help you quickly find the sections that matter most when you're trying to solve a specific problem, like figuring out mail rules, phone calls, or visits.
Your loved one gets the handbook so they have a clear reference for daily life inside. It covers the facility's rules, answers common questions, and outlines programs and services available during detention and after release.
Keep in mind: When you need the official word on what's allowed, what's not, or how something works inside, the handbook is the source your loved one is expected to follow.
For most families, the Communications and Correspondence section is the most useful part. It covers how inmates make requests, how mail works, phone policies, and visitation rules and schedules.
- ✓ Inmate request forms
- ✓ General mail
- ✓ Privileged/legal mail (incoming and outgoing)
- ✓ Telephone use
- ✓ Visitation rules
- ✓ Visitation schedule
The handbook also covers services and programs. Questions about medical care, classification, commissary, or available programming? Those topics live outside the communications section - have your loved one check the relevant chapter headings in their copy.
Planning a visit? Head straight to the table of contents. "Visitation Rules" is on page 25, and "Visitation Schedule" is on page 28. Jump to whichever one matches your question - requirements or timing.
Tip: Start with page 25 for rule questions, then page 28 for scheduling - those two pages are the fastest route when you’re trying to plan a visit.
Sometimes you'll still have questions after reading the handbook - especially about operational details before you show up. Use the handbook as your starting point, then call the jail to confirm current requirements before making plans.
- Check the handbook section first - use the table of contents to find the exact topic (for visitation, that’s the rules and schedule entries).
- Confirm the current details with the jail - policies and schedules can be enforced based on current operations.
- Double-check requirements before you arrive - make sure you understand what’s expected so you don’t lose your visit over a preventable issue.
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