How to Contact an Inmate at Hillsborough County Jail, FL (FL)

Inmates at Hillsborough County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls. Every call is placed by the inmate as an outgoing call, so your job is simple: be ready to answer, and make sure their calling account setup (if needed) is already in place.

If your person is newly arrested and still in Central Booking, phone calls are free. After that, each inmate still gets some no-cost telephone services each week, so you can stay in contact even before adding funds.

For inmates in general population housing, phone access typically runs from 7:30 am to 10:30 pm. Video Visitation Services (VVS) are typically available from 9:30 am to 8:45 pm once the inmate is assigned to a housing area. Each inmate gets two hours of prescheduled no-cost VVS per week.

Personal mail must go to the Mail Processing Center, not directly to the jail. Address it like this: (Inmate Name) – (Inmate Booking Number) c/o Mail Processing Center, PO BOX 9115, Seminole, FL 33775-9115. Packages and periodicals (magazines, newspapers, etc.) are not allowed at HCSO facilities.

To add funds to an inmate's communications account or get help with telephone services, use SmartInmate or call 727-349-1561. If you are an attorney or another qualified professional, in-person professional visitation sessions are available seven days per week from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ Save the inmate’s number and be ready to answer, since all calls are outgoing only.
• ✓ If they are still in Central Booking, have them call you from there since calls are free of charge for new inmates.
• ✓ Ask them about their weekly no-cost telephone time so you can plan calls before adding funds.

• ✓ Try to connect during typical phone availability for general population, 7:30 am to 10:30 pm.
• ✓ Use Video Visitation Services during typical VVS availability, 9:30 am to 8:45 pm, once the inmate is assigned to a housing area.
• ✓ Have the inmate schedule their prescheduled no-cost VVS time (two hours per week) so you can use the free video time.

• ✓ Add funds or get account help through SmartInmate.
• ✓ If you need assistance by phone, call 727-349-1561.

• ✓ Send personal mail to: (Inmate Name) – (Inmate Booking Number) c/o Mail Processing Center, PO BOX 9115, Seminole, FL 33775-9115.
• ✓ Do not send packages or periodicals (magazines, newspapers, etc.) to HCSO facilities.

Schedules and access can shift based on housing assignment and facility operations, so verify the details that affect your timing. Phone access for general population is typically 7:30 am to 10:30 pm, and video visitation is typically 9:30 am to 8:45 pm. Keep in mind that your person may not be able to use video until they are assigned to a housing area. Also confirm the current no-cost allowances and how they work. New inmates in Central Booking can make free calls. Each inmate gets some no-cost telephone services each week, plus two hours of prescheduled no-cost VVS per week. The exact scheduling process for that prescheduled video time can matter, so getting the current procedure directly from the facility helps. If you need to arrange a professional visit (attorney or other qualified visitor), confirm what the facility considers "qualified" and what check-in requirements apply. Professional visitation sessions are available seven days per week from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Before loading money, confirm you are using the currently approved SmartInmate option for Hillsborough County Jail. Keep the help number handy: 727-349-1561. It's also worth checking whether there are any other approved ways to fund communications, since payment options can change.