Columbia Correctional Inst.

You must be on the approved visitor list before showing up—don't make the trip until the inmate confirms your application went through. Download the visitation application and submit it by email or U.S. Mail. Only one form per person, and anyone 12 or older must complete and sign their own. Visiting hours run 8:00 AM–2:00 PM on weekdays and 9:00 AM–3:00 PM on weekends (Central time), with posted entry-processing windows you'll need to follow. Expect screening: staff can search visitors and belongings, and refusing means your visit ends—possibly affecting future visits too. Bring a valid photo ID if you're 16+, follow the dress code, and you can carry up to $50 in small bills ($1, $5, $10, $20) for vending. Any prescription meds must be in the original labeled container, limited to just what you need for the visit.

Phone calls start with setting up a ConnectNetwork account. Click "Create Account" and enter your name exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID—this matters for security verification. Columbia uses AdvancePay, a prepaid service that lets you fund a phone number so the incarcerated person can call you using that balance. Since calls from inside are outgoing only, prepaid is the standard way to receive them. Need help? Contact ConnectNetwork at (866) 732-9098 or visit www.connectnetwork.com. Florida facilities sometimes offer e-messaging, tablet messaging, or remote video visits, but availability varies by location.

Sending mail to Columbia Correctional Inst. is straightforward, but details matter. Like most correctional facilities, routine mail gets inspected, and some systems scan non-privileged letters for electronic delivery. Privileged/legal mail follows stricter handling rules. To avoid delays or rejection: put the inmate's full name and booking/ID number on every item, include your complete return address, and stick to plain paper and envelopes within typical size limits. Don't mail original vital documents—send copies instead, since originals may not come back. Sending money? JPay money orders go to JPay, PO Box 260130, Hollywood, FL 33026 (per the JPAY coupon). Policies and addresses can change, so confirm current requirements before mailing.

Columbia Correctional Institution uses JPay deposit forms for mailed funds. Here's the catch: two versions of the form list different Hollywood, FL addresses (PO Box 260130 and PO Box 260010). Use whichever address is printed on your specific deposit slip. Your money order must be payable to JPay, and you must be on the inmate's Approved Visitors List to send funds. Don't include letters or notes with the payment. Make sure the deposit form has a valid email and mailing address. JPay processes approved money orders within ten business days—no fee for money orders, cashier's checks, or certified bank drafts. Court-ordered payments are separate: mail those to FL Court Ordered Payment, PO Box 25009, Bradenton FL 34206-5009, following the per-payment maximums on that form.