Sarasota County Jail, FL

Sarasota County Jail no longer allows in-person visits. Everything happens through GTL's video visitation system. Sessions run in three daily blocks: 0830–1100, 1200–1800, and 2000–2200 (the GTL brochure has a more detailed weekday breakdown). To book, create an account on the GTL website or download the GTL VisMobile Android app—you'll need a valid email address. You can schedule visits up to two weeks ahead, but no later than 24 hours before your session. Need to cancel? Do it at least 48 hours in advance. Cancel late, and you might lose that time slot for the week. Bring valid photo ID, follow the dress code (no short or revealing clothing, no bare feet), and keep your cellphone put away during the visit.

Sarasota County Jail uses Global Tel*Link (GTL) for phone calls, tablets, and video visits. Here's the catch: pricing and refund policies don't match across published materials. A facility announcement lists video visits at $0.18 per minute, while a GTL brochure shows $12.00 for up to 25 minutes. Refund rules conflict too—the jail's webpage says no refunds for internet visits, but GTL materials describe a tiered cancellation schedule. For phone calls, set up a pre-paid collect account through ConnectNetwork online or by phone. Tablet deposits go through GettingOut (website or app) using the inmate's name and Resident ID. Bottom line: verify pricing and refund terms directly before you pay.

All incoming mail at Sarasota County Jail goes to an off-site processing address in Phoenix, MD—not the jail itself. Every envelope needs the inmate's full name and booking/ID number on the outside, or it may be delayed or rejected. Here's how it works: routine letters get scanned into a digital system, then the originals are destroyed. Your loved one views the scanned copies on facility kiosks and tablets. After release, they can download their photos, messages, and postal mail free for up to 30 days through the public TextBehind website. TextBehind is the third-party service handling all mail scanning and delivery for the jail.

Several options exist for adding money to an inmate account at Sarasota County Jail. For mailed deposits, send a money order to Access Corrections at P.O. Box 12486, St. Louis, MO 63132. Make it payable to "Access Secure Deposits" and include the inmate's full name and ID. The lobby kiosk at 2020 Main St is available 24/7 and takes cash or credit/debit—but not money orders or $1 bills. Fees vary: $4.00 for kiosk deposits (cash or card), $3.95 by phone, $2.95 online. There are limits too: $25 minimum, $100 max per transaction, $200 weekly cap, and up to five transactions per inmate per credit card. All deposits are non-refundable. If someone gets released before ordering commissary, the remaining balance comes back as a check. Indigent inmates may receive limited commissary support twice per week.