SUMTER C.I.

Don't show up at Sumter Correctional Institution until the inmate tells you your visitation application has been approved. The facility's Spanish-language instructions say the same thing: wait for confirmation before visiting. To apply, complete the visitation request form and send it to the institution by email or U.S. Mail. Follow the instructions carefully—sign the form, don't leave any fields blank, and send it to the address or email the institution provides. Once you've submitted your application, wait for approval before making the trip.

Sumter C.I. uses AdvancePay (ConnectNetwork) for prepaid phone calls. You fund a specific phone number, and the incarcerated person draws from that balance when calling you. Set up AdvancePay online, by phone, or through the ConnectNetwork mobile app—their support line can help with setup and account issues. Mailing a check or money order? Write the complete 10-digit phone number on the payment. This number is the account identifier, and payments without it may not post correctly. If your AdvancePay number gets blocked, the person listed as the number's owner needs to contact ConnectNetwork customer service to request an unblock.

Sending money to someone at Sumter C.I.? Follow the vendor instructions carefully. Court-ordered payments must be mailed to CorrectPay at PO Box 25009, Bradenton, FL 34206-5009 using the vendor deposit form exactly as directed. Mail deposits accept money orders (maximum $999.99) or cashier's checks/certified bank drafts (up to $10,000). Don't send cash, business or employer checks, or court-ordered payments through online bill-pay services. CorrectPay may reject payments that exceed limits or are missing the payer's name, phone, email, or mailing address—rejected payments go back to the address on the deposit form. JPay also accepts mailed deposits at PO Box 260130, Hollywood, FL 33026. Approved money orders process within ten business days, with no weekend or holiday processing. Only approved senders may send funds under Rule 33-601.716, F.A.C.

Grievances by persons on supervision at Sumter C.I. must be filed within 10 days of the incident. Start by trying to resolve the issue with the probation officer. If that doesn't work, the grievance can move to the supervisor, then the Circuit Administrator, then the Regional Director—each level provides a written response within up to 20 days. For facility-specific rules on visitation, mail, commissary, or programs, check Sumter C.I.'s inmate handbook or other official facility publications. Intake typically includes booking (photos and fingerprints), medical screening, a property inventory, and setting up an inmate account for commissary and billed services. Visitors should expect routine searches on entry. Some locations use tablets or kiosks for messaging, video visits, and commissary access.