North Broward Bureau

1. Use BSO Arrest Search to locate the booking record. Compare the full name and identifying details carefully; people can share a name. Save the CIS identification number and current facility, not just the arresting police agency.
2. If the person is missing, newly arrested or listed at a different jail, call 954-831-5900. Booking, classification and transfers can precede a public-record update. Ask whether intake is still underway, a transfer or release occurred, or another agency has custody.
3. Confirm housing again before mailing, arranging a professional visit, collecting property or depositing funds. Initial intake and release processing occur through Central Intake at Main Jail; permanent housing may be at another facility.

Main Jail's lobby information window operates 24 hours. That does not mean the cash-bond cashier, property counter or visitation service keeps the same hours. An arrest entry is not a conviction, and a bond amount does not resolve every other charge or hold.

Sources: BSO Arrest Search · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Sheriff March 2026 detention message · reviewed 2026-09-28

Jail information for all four: 954-831-5900. Family video is at the separate Lauderdale Lakes center or from home; these housing addresses are for the appropriate approved business, not ordinary family contact visits. A classification description cannot tell you where a particular person is housed.

The March 2026 Sheriff message and current facility roster identify four adult jails. Older FAQ wording about five facilities and references to Stockade do not make Stockade a current destination. Sheriff administration is at 2601 W. Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312. Nonemergency dispatch is 954-765-4321; custody questions go to jail information.

Sources: BSO current jail facilities · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Sheriff March 2026 detention message · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28

Florida DJJ's Broward Juvenile Detention Center is at 222 NW 22nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311, 954-467-4563. Its youth visitor approvals and schedules are separate. Do not apply this adult guide to Broward Youth Treatment Center or other juvenile residential programs.

Broward Transitional Center, 3900 N. Powerline Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33073, is listed by ICE as an immigration detention facility. It is not one of these four Sheriff adult jails and should not be described simply as a federal criminal prison. Immigration location, visiting and bond procedures are separate.

Stockade is absent from the current four-jail roster; the historical proposed FY2014-15 budget already described it as closed. This guide does not establish an exact closure date. Closed legacy state, Bridge and girls-academy directory records remain historical records, not new adult visitor destinations.

Sources: BSO current jail facilities · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Sheriff March 2026 detention message · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Florida DJJ Broward Juvenile Detention Center · reviewed 2026-09-28 · ICE detention facility directory · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO proposed FY2014-15 budget: closed Stockade · reviewed 2026-09-28

Current center: 2926 N. State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313, in Lauderdale Market Place Plaza, north of NW 29th Street. Do not use the older 3700 W. Oakland Park Boulevard center address. The current page and July 2025 brochure give the shared schedule above; older North Broward housing-specific hours are not the current published matrix. Offered appointments can still depend on housing restrictions and available slots.

The brochure contains both 33313 and 33311 postal codes; this guide follows the current webpage's 33313 and the consistent street/plaza location. These are start windows, not a promise of an unscheduled walk-in session. A home visit is distinct from the free center allowance; do not assume an old home-video voucher remains available.

Sources: BSO video visitation · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video brochure, July 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

1. Create or recover a Securus account and register for Video Connect. Match your legal name and identification. Allow up to 48 hours for registration approval; an account balance alone does not approve a visitor.
2. Choose Broward Sheriff's Office, the correct person, and either center or remote video. Schedule, change or cancel 1–7 days ahead. Keep the confirmation and check that the appointment actually appears in My Sessions.
3. For center visits, arrive 15 minutes early with required ID and the approved party. Only scheduled, approved visitors may participate. Leaving the center ends your visit; reentry is not allowed.
4. For remote visits, sign in early, test the device and keep everyone participating within the approved party. No slot, pending approval or a housing restriction is a jail/account issue to resolve before paying for another session.

For booking or account support call 877-578-3658. The handbook also lists 972-734-1111, Monday–Friday 09:00–18:00 Eastern, with online support outside those hours. Jail restrictions and special approval questions go through 954-831-5900; a provider cannot override them.

Sources: BSO video brochure, July 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video rules and sanctions · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus consumer services · reviewed 2026-09-28

Bring valid government identification: Florida or another state's driver license, state identification card, passport or military ID. The published rules do not offer a general expired-ID or school-ID alternative. Obtain a decision before traveling if you cannot provide an accepted document.

Maximum party: 2 approved visitors, including children and infants. A child under 18 must remain accompanied and supervised by a parent or legal guardian. Bring proof of the relationship or custody, such as a birth certificate, adoption record or court order. The 2025 handbook allows the commander or designee to approve another accompanying adult in advance. This is not permission for an unaccompanied child or automatic approval based on a notarized letter.

Visitors on parole, probation or work release need prior written commander permission under the published center rules. The handbook normally allows visiting only one incarcerated person per day, with immediate-family or commander exceptions. Ask about the specific relationship and obtain approval before booking additional people.

Public rules do not settle permitted infant bottles, diapers, strollers, breastfeeding arrangements or locker dimensions/charges. Contact jail information for the visitation supervisor before bringing those items; an infant still counts in the party limit. A separate long-distance or special family-visit allowance was not established; request any exception from the visitation supervisor before arranging travel.

Sources: BSO video rules and sanctions · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Wear a shirt and shoes. Shorts, skirts and dresses must reach the knee. Avoid offensive wording, halter/tube/tank or low-cut tops, strapless or spaghetti-strap clothing, swimwear, tight spandex, torn or transparent clothing and exposed midriffs. Staff make the admission decision.

At the center, expect screening and possible frisk/search. Phones must be off and secured in a locker; stay at the assigned booth. No food, drinks, gum, smoking, intoxication or drugs. Keep children supervised throughout. Ask in advance for disability, communication or religious-clothing accommodations; do not assume a family member can replace an approved interpreter or bypass screening.

Ordinary family video is recorded and may be monitored by BSO. Neither party may record, photograph, capture screens or share the session on social media. No nudity, threats, unauthorized participants or unsafe activity such as driving during the call. BSO's rules provide escalating sanctions, including 30-day or 90-day suspensions and permanent restrictions for serious or repeated violations. A visit terminated for misconduct is not refundable.

Sources: BSO video rules and sanctions · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Use the current Securus app or supported browser, a charged device, working camera/microphone and stable private internet connection. Test audio and permissions before the appointment; workplace networks may block video. A current Securus notice reports Chrome/Edge installation trouble and suggests Firefox or its mobile app as alternatives. Follow the provider's current device instructions rather than older plug-in advice.

1. If video fails, note the session date/time, account email, phone number, error and whether either party connected. Save the receipt or screenshot of the error, not a recording of the visit.
2. Try the recommended app/browser and stable connection; contact 877-578-3658. Ask the jail about lockdown or housing cancellation separately.
3. Cancel through My Sessions within BSO's published advance window. Securus generally returns an eligible canceled-session charge to the video balance, not cash; facility cancellation/rejection can generate an automatic credit. Taxes and fees may be excluded.
4. For a system failure, submit the video credit request within 90 days. The current form allows up to 30 business days to investigate; older FAQ wording promises a shorter review, so do not rely on that shorter period. The form requests consent to review the session. Personal internet/device problems and misconduct disconnections are not automatically creditable.

Sources: Securus video preparation · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus Chrome and Edge disruption notice · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus cancellation and rescheduling · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus video credit request form · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video rules and sanctions · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video brochure, July 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Visit windows overlap the morning movement restriction; allow for that delay. Meals at 10:30–12:00 and 16:30–17:30 may also delay access. Visits end promptly at 22:00. Ask about a jury-trial exception in advance. Main security contacts: 954-831-5881 / 954-831-5865.

Bring current Bar identification and government photo ID; sign in/out and undergo security screening. Main uses an electromagnetic scanner and searches belongings. A private contact room is subject to availability; a glass booth may be used when rooms are occupied.

An attorney's legal assistant or interpreter needs a prior letter to the facility captain identifying the client and the visitor's full name, sex, birth date, race and driver-license number. A relative or social acquaintance cannot simply serve in that professional role. Obtain approval and bring proper ID. Mail paperwork unless staff authorize delivery. Professional video is also described in the brochure, but ordinary family registration does not establish privileged attorney status.

Sources: BSO attorney information · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video brochure, July 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

The 2025 handbook directs requests for large-print material, reading services and sign-language interpreters to the facility commander. Disability-related housing is decided individually; North Broward's special-needs role does not mean every person with a disability belongs there.

For a prosthetic device or medical, mental-health or hospice service, complete a Medical Request and return it to medical staff. For deaf or hard-of-hearing people, including when the outside family member or professional has that need, BSO lists Ubiduo, T.D.D. and T.T. communication equipment at all facilities. Use an Inmate Request to coordinate its time and location with the commander.

If a disability or another condition prevents use of the kiosk, ask the housing officer for assistance. A family member can tell the appropriate facility about the communication barrier and ask how to arrange access. These inside-custody procedures do not by themselves establish every visitor accommodation at the video center; arrange those with the visitation supervisor before the appointment.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Check the person, CIS number, agency and product before authorizing a charge. Securus AdvanceConnect is the outside customer's prepaid calling account. If a Securus Debit product is offered, those funds belong to the incarcerated person; the outside depositor cannot simply demand them back. Local activation of every generic Securus product, including electronic messaging and photo uploads, was not established by the BSO sources reviewed. Do not buy a generic product assuming this jail supports it.

Sources: BSO inmate telephone service · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate funds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO cash and surety bonds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus unused money refunds · reviewed 2026-09-28

People in custody make outgoing calls; BSO does not connect incoming family calls or deliver routine personal messages. During booking, the 2025 handbook describes free local calls limited to 6 minutes; long-distance calls are collect and international calling is unavailable there. After housing assignment, calls are generally limited to 30 minutes or less. The attorney page lists housing telephone access daily 07:30–22:00; counts, meals, cleaning, lockdown and security needs can interrupt it.

The person must enroll using the CIS-based telephone PIN. For setup, blocking or unblocking a number, BSO lists 877-800-5729. Only the registered owner of the receiving number can request its unblocking. Check the correct receiving number, funding product and provider restrictions before making another deposit. A missing call does not by itself establish punishment or an emergency.

For an urgent welfare concern, use the facility medical contacts or jail supervisor rather than the routine phone account. A death or serious family emergency should be raised with the facility's chaplain/supervisor for approved notification; do not assume the provider can deliver it.

Sources: BSO inmate telephone service · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO attorney information · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO Joseph V. Conte Facility · reviewed 2026-09-28

Assume ordinary jail calls are recorded. BSO maintains an attorney do-not-record list, including Bar information for the local counties, but inclusion is not automatic for every lawyer or telephone number. If the recording warning plays on an attorney call, BSO says accepting it will result in recording. The attorney should resolve the number with the Inmate Telephone Coordinator before discussing confidential strategy; ask jail information to route that request.

For an unused customer-owned AdvanceConnect balance, close the account online or call 972-734-1111 / 800-844-6591. Securus's current terms describe a 7–10 day hold, then 2–3 business days for card processing, with the card statement taking longer; check-funded refunds can take up to 4 weeks. Product eligibility and deductions depend on the terms. A video credit, a jail trust balance and inmate-owned Securus Debit money are different balances with different rules.

Keep account number, receipt, date, amount and error details. Resolve a failed or duplicate charge with the provider before paying again. Do not send full card numbers or sensitive legal information through a general jail contact form.

Sources: BSO recording of outgoing calls · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus friends and family terms · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus unused money refunds · reviewed 2026-09-28

Address the item to the person's full booked name and CIS number, with housing location and facility, then the appropriate postal address. Include your return information. Mail is normally delivered Monday–Friday except holidays after inspection; that is not a delivery-time guarantee.

Paul Rein conflict: the inmate-mail page and other jail material publish PO Box 407003, while the attorney page lists PO Box 407033. Before sending time-sensitive or legal material, ask the facility mail unit through 954-831-5900 which box applies. Do not silently substitute one address or send duplicates to both.

The physical jail address and the video center address do not replace these mail boxes. Confirm housing if the person has just transferred; this review did not establish a forwarding guarantee.

Sources: BSO inmate mail · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO attorney information · reviewed 2026-09-28

The specific BSO policy effective June 21, 2021 restricts routine incoming mail to pre-stamped postcards. Size must be at least 3.5 × 5 inches and no larger than 4.25 × 6 inches. Write in blue or black ink. Photographs must be printed directly on the card; do not attach a separate photograph, paper, staple or paper clip.

Do not alter or wrap the card in plastic. Paint, crayon, stains, watermarks, perfume, lipstick, money, stickers and labels are prohibited. Rejected content includes nudity or sexually suggestive images, weapons, codes, gang references and images of incarcerated people. Oversized, fold-over and hologram cards are not accepted.

Older text lower on the same page broadly permits letters/cards; this guide follows the specific dated postcard restriction. Do not send a family letter in a legal envelope to evade that rule. Incoming packages of food, clothing or medication are not generally authorized. No current BSO electronic-message or digital-photo service was verified as a substitute.

Sources: BSO inmate mail · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Qualifying legal/privileged correspondence includes attorneys, courts and specified official authorities; identify the sender accurately and mark it Legal/Privileged. Staff inspect privileged mail in the person's presence. Personal mail does not become privileged merely because the envelope uses those words. Use the facility box and resolve the Paul Rein discrepancy before sending.

The 2025 handbook requires the person to request commander approval before receiving prepaid publications directly from a publisher or authorized vendor. Softcover books are allowed within approved limits; do not send a used family parcel. The possession limit is 8 books/magazines in total, including leisure, educational and religious material, with no more than 2 leisure library books. Facility program materials are excepted. Religious materials can be requested through the chaplain.

For rejected mail held in property because return would cost money, the handbook gives 10 days from notice for the person to arrange an authorized property voucher and pickup; unclaimed items can be disposed of. Ask the mail unit for the rejection reason and appeal instructions promptly. The current review did not establish a separate mail-appeal deadline; the general grievance process below is not a promise that every mail decision uses the same route.

Correspondence with someone in another jail requires approval from both commanders. Routine outgoing supplies are commissary postcards/greeting cards; envelopes are for legal correspondence.

Sources: BSO inmate mail · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

1. Confirm the name, CIS number and permanent facility. BSO says to wait until housing is assigned and the person has transferred there before depositing.
2. For a lobby deposit, use the cash-only kiosk at Main, Conte, North Broward or Paul Rein, daily 07:15–22:00. Bring exact cash: kiosks do not make change. Review the fee and recipient before confirming.
3. For a remote deposit, follow BSO's links to Access Corrections or Western Union online/telephone card options. BSO describes posting in approximately 30 minutes–2 hours; security or processing issues can delay it.
4. Save the receipt and check transaction history before retrying. Access Corrections support is 866-345-1884; ask whether the payment is pending, rejected, completed or duplicated. Its agreement discloses transaction fees at checkout and generally treats them as nonrefundable.

The funds page still lists the old video center at 3700 W. Oakland Park Boulevard as a kiosk site. A move of the visitation program does not prove that kiosk service moved too; use the four verified jail lobbies or an approved remote method until BSO confirms a current center kiosk.

Mail policy prohibits money in routine correspondence, while the 2025 handbook describes money orders. Before purchasing a mailed instrument, ask Inmate Banking about current acceptance, payee and destination. Do not mail cash or a personal check, or guess that a postcard can carry money.

Sources: BSO inmate funds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate mail · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Access Corrections · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Access Corrections user agreement · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Access Corrections transaction history · reviewed 2026-09-28

Commissary ordering and delivery occur weekly according to the housing unit's schedule; the person checks the account/kiosk and submits the order. Depositing after an order cutoff does not guarantee delivery that week. The handbook's $100 regular-commissary possession limit is not a published deposit limit.

The account may be charged for the initial uniform, daily subsistence, medical services and postage under posted rates. The public material reviewed did not establish a current dollar schedule for every charge. Subsistence is charged only when a positive balance exists and does not accrue; other debts can be collected later, including during another incarceration within 3 years.

For a balance of $1 or less, the handbook permits a weekly request for 2 postcards and 1 pencil. Ask housing staff how to request necessary hygiene supplies and legal mailing materials; do not assume the postcard allowance defines every indigent entitlement. Medical, dental and mental-health care cannot be denied solely because the person cannot pay.

A person acquitted or discharged on all charges, who was not serving a sentence, may request reimbursement of subsistence charges in writing within 30 days after release, with the case disposition. Inmate Banking must determine eligibility and the amount.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate funds · reviewed 2026-09-28

To authorize money out of the jail account, the person requests a voucher from housing staff, completes it in ink and signs with the required staff witness. All recipient fields must be complete. Sending funds to another BSO inmate needs written commander approval.

The handbook describes mailing a money voucher payment by certified mail, with postage charged to the account; ordinary recipient pickup is not permitted. A bond-agent exception requires approval, the named agency/address and identification/agency credentials. Do not travel to a jail expecting to collect money under the ordinary property-pickup rule.

The public sources reviewed do not specify the current instrument for a remaining balance at release, its issuer, pickup/mail timing, replacement process or fees. Before release, ask Inmate Banking through 954-831-5900 to explain the balance after deductions and how to receive it. Afterward, keep booking/CIS and receipt details when requesting a missing balance. Securus refunds are a separate provider process.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate funds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus unused money refunds · reviewed 2026-09-28

The incarcerated person must authorize release of property to a named recipient. Bring government photo ID and go to the actual housing facility; the FAQ publishes pickup daily 07:00–22:00. Confirm the voucher is approved and the property is physically available before traveling. The handbook says unclaimed property may be disposed of 30 days after release or transfer; resolve pickup promptly.

At intake, a person may access the phone to retrieve contact numbers during the property process. After processing, further access to a stored phone requires a court order under the handbook; a family request alone does not authorize unlocking or searching it.

Jury-trial clothing requires a scheduled jury trial, an inmate request and Property approval. The 2025 handbook permits 1 outfit and excludes sneakers, boots and undergarments; federal detainee clothing is coordinated through the U.S. Marshals. There is a timing conflict: the attorney webpage limits delivery to regular visiting hours, while the handbook describes 24-hour delivery. Ask Property which window and entrance apply before bringing approved clothing. Do not treat family video-center hours as a clothing-drop schedule.

Sources: BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO attorney information · reviewed 2026-09-28

The county's South Garage is employee parking; its page says it is not public or juror parking. Do not treat every courthouse garage as interchangeable. Private pay lots also exist around the court, but this guide does not certify an operator, price or overnight permission. Older parking-price documents were not used as current rates.

Family video appointments do not require travel to a Pompano housing jail. Conversely, bond, property and approved professional business do not move to the video plaza. For release pickup, confirm the exit and permitted stopping area with jail information; avoid blocking an operational driveway or assuming a curb is a waiting zone.

Sources: 17th Circuit court FAQ and public parking · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward court employee parking restrictions · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video visitation · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO current jail facilities · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO cash and surety bonds · reviewed 2026-09-28

Broward County Transit: 954-357-8400; TTY 954-357-8302 or relay 711. Ask for both outward and return trips, the last return departure, transfers, fares and an accessible walking connection. For the video center, build in the 15-minute early check-in requirement. Do not choose a stop solely because it shares a street name with the jail.

BCT published service changes effective September 27, 2026, including Route 19 and other routes, and current construction alerts. During this September 28 review, its migrated website did not expose usable timetable links; older operator PDFs remained indexed but direct copies failed, and the public GTFS download was inaccessible. The expired timetable was not treated as current service. Current stop IDs, journey times, final pedestrian/accessibility approaches and last-bus times remain unverified; confirm with BCT.

Confirm the final approach with the facility as well: a route corridor does not establish permission to cross a service yard or enter through a vehicle gate. A distant map label is not a substitute for an accessible public entrance.

Sources: Broward County Transit current service alerts · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BCT Route 19 operator timetable, October 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BCT Route 101 operator map, May 2026 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BCT Lauderdale Lakes North/South community bus map · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO video visitation · reviewed 2026-09-28

These are contacts for planning, not reserved rooms, a jail partnership or a guaranteed walking route. Call for current food service, dietary needs, room availability, total charges and cancellation conditions. Neither hotel is identified here as offering a jail shuttle. A possible release delay is a reason to ask about flexible cancellation before paying.

Restaurants and hotels are not approved places to leave a vehicle for a jail visit without permission. For someone without money or a safe place to sleep, use the reentry and Homeless Helpline contacts instead of assuming a commercial booking will be covered.

Sources: IHOP South Federal Highway official location · reviewed 2026-09-28 · IHOP Oakland Park official location · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Hampton downtown official hotel · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Hampton Commercial Boulevard official hotel · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward 311 and Homeless Helpline · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO Reentry Division · reviewed 2026-09-28

Use these lines for a medical concern, not bond or general custody questions. For an immediate threat to someone inside, call the appropriate clinical line and 954-831-5900; ask for the on-duty supervisor/medical staff and state the urgent risk clearly. Do not wait for a routine mail reply or next scheduled visit. A person inside should tell any nearby staff member immediately about suicidal thoughts, serious symptoms or threats.

Prepare the booked name, CIS, facility, symptoms and timing, relevant diagnoses, allergies, medication names/doses and last dose, treating provider/pharmacy and your callback number. Tell staff if there is a risk of withdrawal or self-harm. These details help route your report; they do not guarantee a particular treatment or family access to confidential records. Record when and to whom you reported, and escalate again if the urgent risk remains unaddressed.

Sources: BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

A nurse screens the person at intake. The handbook describes a full health assessment within the first 2 weeks, including tuberculosis screening. That routine assessment window is not a reason to delay reporting urgent symptoms, a missed critical medication or a mental-health crisis.

For routine care, request a Medical Request form from the nurse during daily medication rounds and return the completed form to a nurse. The handbook specifically says not to give it to a deputy or use the ordinary Inmate Request on the kiosk for medical service. If unable to read, write or access the form, ask nursing staff for assistance.

Medical, mental-health and dental services are available regardless of ability to pay. Initial screening, mental-health care and psychotropic prescriptions are among services listed without charge; other charges follow the schedule posted in the unit. Ask the clinician about the specific service instead of assuming every visit has a fee or that an unpaid balance blocks care.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Eyeglasses or a hearing aid can be mailed only after medical approval and security inspection. Obtain the approving unit's exact packaging, recipient and delivery instructions. Do not bring family medications, equipment, batteries or a package to the video center expecting automatic acceptance. Public sources did not settle every item's drop-off procedure.

Family may communicate concerns, but clinical staff may be unable to share diagnosis, treatment or records without the required authorization. Ask how the person can name an authorized contact and sign the applicable release of information. The reviewed sources did not identify a current detention-specific family medical release form or secure fax; do not substitute a Fire Rescue privacy form for jail healthcare instructions.

Before release, ask clinical staff about medication supply or prescriptions, follow-up care, copies of relevant records and necessary equipment. Ask reentry staff about benefits and an appointment after release. A universal medication quantity or guaranteed supply was not published. Explain housing or transport barriers early so discharge planning can address them.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO Reentry Division · reviewed 2026-09-28

File separate grievances for separate issues and retain dates, response and appeal records. Sexual-assault allegations have no grievance filing time limit. Urgent danger still needs immediate staff notification; do not wait for the grievance schedule.

Classification, housing assignments, discipline and tablet use are excluded from the general grievance route in the handbook; use an Inmate Request and the applicable classification/disciplinary appeal process. Family can report a staff concern to Internal Affairs, 954-831-1100, but an external complaint does not automatically file or preserve the incarcerated person's internal appeal.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

BSO PREA hotline: 954-831-3775. A family member, friend or attorney may report for the person; Internal Affairs also accepts reports at 954-831-1100. Inside, report to any trusted employee, contractor, volunteer, nurse or mental-health worker, the PREA coordinator, or through the grievance system. Ask for immediate protection and medical attention when needed. Sexual abuse is not the survivor's fault.

The handbook describes free examination, treatment, counseling and referral to a victim advocate. The Nancy J. Cotterman Center provides a 24-hour sexual-assault helpline at 954-761-7273, with services at 2995 North Dixie Highway, Oakland Park, FL 33334. County information describes free, confidential services, including for supportive family members, with language assistance; an adult survivor can receive services without first reporting to law enforcement. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673.

Ask the advocate about confidentiality and mandatory reporting before giving identifying details if that matters to you. The jail handbook indicates that reports of jail abuse made through support contacts can be forwarded for investigation; do not assume every jail call or report is privileged. Immediate safety and access to treatment do not require waiting for a completed investigation.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward Nancy J. Cotterman Center · reviewed 2026-09-28

Use Broward Clerk case search for court records, not the jail CIS as a substitute for a case number. Name searches require the party's first and last names; compare the case and person, and narrow a broad result set by available filters. Online records may be incomplete or restricted. Save the case number, division, judge and next event and verify changes with counsel or the Clerk.

Felony Clerk assistance: 954-831-6565, option 1; felony record viewing: 954-831-5796. The assigned judge controls court-date changes. Keep the Clerk and your lawyer informed of a current mailing address; release from jail does not cancel court attendance or release conditions. Older BSO bond pages contain courthouse room numbers that may be obsolete; use the current Clerk location/appointment instructions.

Sources: Broward Clerk case search · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward Clerk felony division · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward Clerk hours and locations · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO cash and surety bonds · reviewed 2026-09-28

The Public Defender explains that first appearance normally occurs within 24 hours after arrest to address probable cause and release conditions. The circuit's published order 2023-24-Crim schedules dockets Monday–Friday at 08:30 and 13:00, and weekends/court holidays at 08:30 only. It identifies Room 4155, West Tower, 201 SE 6th Street, with video links to jail facilities. Emergency orders, case type or a particular judge's direction can change the arrangement; confirm the current docket before traveling. A June 2024 temporary Zoom-only notice is not a standing current rule.

The order provides Spanish and Creole interpreter availability on weekdays and Spanish availability on weekends/holidays; tell counsel/court staff the language needed. Do not rely on a family member interpreting a criminal hearing. The order addresses indigency applications within 7 days after first appearance; ask counsel promptly how to complete the application.

Public Defender application help: 954-831-8650. The current adult online instructions direct the completed signed application to felonyEclerk@browardclerk.org. A $50 nonrefundable application fee is described for each application, but inability to pay does not itself prevent appointment for an eligible person. The online adult procedure does not cover juvenile applications. The jail handbook gives direct inside contacts: Public Defender 954-831-6000 and Early Representation 954-831-5770. Keep the assigned lawyer's name and case number for follow-up.

Sources: Broward Public Defender early representation · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward Public Defender application · reviewed 2026-09-28 · 17th Circuit first appearance order 2023-24-Crim · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

Ask the housing officer for a written Law Library Request form. The handbook requires that form for library services and limits requests to 1 per person per week. Common statutes and legal forms are listed on the housing kiosk. Library staff do not give legal advice; address questions about a defense strategy, motion or court date to the assigned attorney or Clerk.

The ordinary Inmate Request is used for detention-unit services and information; it is available at the kiosk or on paper if the system fails. The Medical Request comes from and returns only to medical staff. Asking for the right form helps prevent a time-sensitive request from entering the wrong queue. Seek staff assistance if a disability, language or literacy barrier prevents completing the process.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28

1. Confirm with the unit the current bond for each charge, name, CIS/arrest number, birth date and any additional hold or court condition.
2. Use the official BSO bond page to reach its payment service. A trust or phone deposit cannot pay this bond.
3. A money order or cashier's check must include the defendant's name and arrest number. Ask the cashier for the current payee and instrument requirements before purchasing. Do not rely on a guessed payee or an older closing time.
4. Keep the original receipt and depositor information. Posting funds starts the release review; it does not guarantee immediate release or eliminate another agency's hold.

Sources: BSO cash and surety bonds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28

Contact Cash Bond Unit, 954-831-5932, to confirm that the particular bond is eligible for refund. BSO requires the original bond receipt or its certified/lost-bond documentation, original or certified disposition and valid driver license, state ID or passport. Refunds normally go to the depositor. An assignment requires the BSO form and notarization; do not assume the person released automatically owns a relative's deposit.

BSO says a refund check is mailed within 2–3 business days after completing the required paperwork; postal delivery adds time. Court costs or fines can reduce or exhaust the amount. Failure to appear can cause forfeiture. BSO publishes refund eligibility upon completion/disposition of the case or 36 months from the bond date, whichever comes first, citing Florida Statute 903.31. The same page still requires disposition paperwork. If seeking a refund at 36 months before final disposition, ask Cash Bond Unit which records satisfy that requirement and whether the particular bond has been forfeited or otherwise affected.

Keep copies of the submitted documents and a current mailing address. The private fee paid to a surety agent is governed by that contract, not the cash-bond refund process. If a dispute involves the court order or entitlement, ask counsel or the Clerk as well as the cashier.

Sources: BSO cash and surety bonds · reviewed 2026-09-28

Central Intake at Main Jail processes releases. Confirm with 954-831-5900 where and when the person will actually exit, any remaining hold and the permitted pickup area; no guaranteed release-processing time or precise public pickup door was established. A release order or paid bond does not by itself show that all checks and paperwork are complete.

Before leaving, the person should ask about stored property, remaining funds, medication or prescriptions, court papers, conditions of release, identification and a safe destination. Arrange a reachable contact and a backup transport plan. Do not assume a hotel shuttle or late-night bus is available.

BSO's current Reentry Division serves adults 18 or older leaving jail/prison or at risk of justice-system involvement. A prerelease specialist can develop a plan for housing, work, treatment, identification, transport, insurance and benefit referrals. The voluntary Jail Reentry Desk at the Main Jail exit assesses immediate needs and offers bus passes and follow-up appointments. The webpage describes follow-up within 24 hours; it does not publish a guarantee that the desk is staffed 24 hours.

Current community contact: 2926 N. State Road 7, Lauderdale Lakes, FL 33313, 954-375-6293. Ask for an appointment and explain release date and immediate needs. The separate Broward Reentry Portal for people returning from Florida state prison is not the same eligibility route as every county-jail release.

Sources: Sheriff March 2026 detention message · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO Reentry Division · reviewed 2026-09-28

Ask housing staff or Classification about available adult education/GED, substance-use, recovery, veterans and work programs and any required application. The handbook allows an inmate request for classification/program review; a family inquiry cannot reserve a program place. Chaplain requests can address religious materials, worship or diet and approved emergency family notification. Participation and housing placement depend on the actual program and person.

For housing after release, Broward Homeless Helpline is 954-563-4357. The 311 page publishes Monday–Friday 08:30–17:00, after-hours support weeknights 17:00–19:00 and weekends 08:00–19:00. The separate housing page simplifies this to 08:30–17:00 daily; these descriptions differ, so use the same number and confirm the current intake window. Do not treat a past holiday-specific extension as a normal overnight service.

Explain household members, present location, release date, mobility, medical needs and whether there is somewhere safe tonight. Ask about shelter assessment, housing case management, food and other referrals. A helpline call does not reserve a bed or guarantee financial assistance. For ongoing needs, the county's housing support office lists 954-357-6167; BSO reentry can help coordinate referrals before release.

Sources: BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO detention FAQ · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO Joseph V. Conte Facility · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO Reentry Division · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward 311 and Homeless Helpline · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward housing support · reviewed 2026-09-28

Sources were reviewed September 28, 2026; this is a research date, not a claim that every policy was issued that day. Much BSO material was available through indexed official pages and the indexed revised-2025 handbook while direct site/PDF retrieval returned errors. Current specific notices take precedence over identified older general wording; unresolved conflicts remain visible.

Sources: BSO video visitation · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate mail · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO attorney information · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate handbook, revised 2025 · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO inmate funds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · BSO cash and surety bonds · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Broward County Transit current service alerts · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Securus video credit request form · reviewed 2026-09-28 · Access Corrections user agreement · reviewed 2026-09-28