Columbia County Detention Facility Inmate Tablet Rental

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Columbia County Detention Facility

Address:
389 NW Quinten Street
Lake City, FL 32055

Phone:

386-755-7000

Rent a Tablet for an Inmate in the Columbia County Detention Facility

Renting a Tablet for Columbia County Detention Facility Inmates

Columbia County Detention Facility is, or will soon be, providing tablets for inmates to use for phone and visitation communication, as well as sending and receiving electronic messaging. If you don't see this facility's tablet service company listed below, call the jail at 386-755-7000 for information.

The tablets are not connected directly to the internet, but instead to a server controlled by the Columbia County Detention Facility.  This allows all communication between inmates and their contacts to monitored during calls and visits, as well as delays while written communication is reviewed.

Please note that while the jail may provide the tablet for free, there will be a cost for ongoing use of it for entertainment and educational purposes.

Scroll down for a complete section outlining Frequently Asked Questions and Answers regarding renting tablets for Columbia County Detention Facility Inmates.

Does Columbia County Detention Facility have tablets for the inmates to use?

You can find information about the Columbia County Detention Facility’s tablet program at the top of this page. If there is no information about it, it is because they either have recently changed companies or are not yet providing this service for inmates. Call 386-755-7000 to confirm.

What can the inmates use the tablets for?

Inmates in jails and prisons are using tablets for all the communication services available such as video visitation, video phone calls, regular phone calls, and electronic messaging – which is like texting and email.

Tablets are also used for entertainment, such as watching movies, television shows, listening to music and reading e-books. It is also used for education, self-help information, and legal research.

Are the jail’s tablets connected to the internet?

No, they are not connected to the internet. All the messages, visits and programming goes through a system controlled by the company that provides the tablets, and through the jail. They control what each inmate sees. All messages are carefully screened and not delivered if the sender or the inmate violates jail policy.

How much do the tablets cost to use?

For accessing visits and messages, the tablets are free to us. Each unit has many of them, all provided by the company that has contracted with the jail. Of course, the video visits and messages have a fee and those are paid for by the inmate’s family and friends who use the service.

If inmates are supposedly being punished, why do they get access to tablets?

That’s the question a lot of people ask and don’t fully understand.

The way the jail staff looks at it, is that if they can keep the inmates busy and distracted, it makes it safer for them. 

Tablets also give them a certain power over controller an inmate’s behavior. For example, if an inmate knows that they will lose the privilege of having access to a tablet if they get into a fight or violate another rule or policy, they will be better behaved. 

Tablets are one of the few things that make an inmate feel as though they are free, and they don’t want to lose the privilege of having access to one.

What companies have tablets for jail and inmate use?

CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
IC Solutions
Inmate Sales
JailATM
J Pay
NCIC
Oasis
Paytel
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications

What if an inmate breaks a tablet, do they have to pay for it?

Yes, if an inmate breaks a tablet, then they are responsible for paying for it. The money will come out of their commissary funds, so not only do they lose access to having a tablet as punishment, but they also won’t be able to purchase snacks on commissary.
 

Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Columbia County Detention Facility there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon. Due to drug smuggling, not all inmates are even allowed to receive mail in envelopes, as only certain types of postcards are allowed.

For complete information on mail policies and addresses, check out our Inmate Mail page.


 

How to Send and Receive Secure Text and Email Messages with an Inmate in Columbia County Detention Facility

To communicate by text or email with an Columbia County inmate, follow these instructions:

  • To send or receive a message you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
  • Once you open an account, you may search for Columbia County inmates or detainees to connect with.
  • When you locate the Columbia County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
  • Columbia County Detention Facility will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.

For all the information you need to send and receive secure messages in the form of text or email with a Columbia County Detention Facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, renting your inmate a tablet, how often you can communicate and more, check out our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
NOTE: Your messages will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case.


 

How an Inmate Makes a Phone Call to You or Others from Columbia County Detention Facility

To set up a phone account so that your inmate can call you from Columbia County do the following:

1. Enroll in an account with Securus Technologies.

2. Choose one of three account types, Securus Debit, Advance Connect or Direct Bill.
3. Choose [facility_name_1}, then connect with your inmate.
4. If you have any questions, call Securus: 972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591.

To find out fees, how to's, calling times, limits on phone calls and other systems Securus has do that you can communicate with your Columbia County inmate, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: All of your inmate's phone calls are recorded and stored. It is advised not to discuss their pending case.


 

How to Schedule and Visit an Inmate in Columbia County Detention Facility

To schedule and set up a visit, either at-the-jail or remotely from your home, follow these instructions:

  • Register and/or log in.
  • Select Columbia County Detention Facility, then your inmate.
  • Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits in Columbia County.
  • Schedule your visit.

To get more complete instructions, and understand visit lengths, times, locations, fees and all the other rules including children, dress codes and more, check out or Visit Inmate Page.
NOTE: All visits are recorded and whatever you say and do will be monitored. It is best to never discuss sensitive information regarding your inmate's pending case.


 

How to Purchase Commissary or Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Columbia County

To purchase commissary online or deposit money in an Columbia County Detention Facility inmate's commissary account follow these instructions:

  • Start here and click ‘PLACE ORDER in CommissaryDeposit.com
  • Choose Florida
  • Choose Columbia County Detention Facility
  • View the date your order will be delivered, then click ‘NEXT’.
  • Search for, then Select your inmate from the Columbia County Detention Facility list.
  • Choose the amount to send.
  • Register, and Pay for the deposit transaction

Note: You will be charged a fee to send money or purchase commissary for your Columbia County inmate. In addition, there is a maximum amount you can send and/or spend. 
Items you may Purchase from CommissaryDeposit.com:

  • Clothing - thermals, underwear, bras, shoes.
  • Stationary, envelopes, stamps, playing cards, board games
  • Toiletries, hygiene, reading glasses, medicated creams, aspirin
  • Soda, energy drinks, coffee, packaged meat & fish, soups, cookies, chips, pastries.

Contact Information
Customer Support page.
Customer Support phone:   912-584-6102
Email - [email protected]
Customer Support Hours - Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST

For complete information on fees, products, policies, deadlines, rules, minimum and maximum deposits and all the information you need to know regarding depositing money for your inmate or purchasing Commissary online in Columbia County, go to our Inmate Commissary Page or our Send Money to an Inmate Page for details.


 

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate's Commissary Account in Columbia County

To deposit money in an Columbia County Detention Facility inmate's commissary account follow these instructions:

  • Start here and click ‘DEPOSIT MONEY’ in CommissaryDeposit.com
  • Choose Florida
  • Choose Columbia County Detention Facility
  • View the date your order will be delivered, then click ‘NEXT’.
  • Search for, then Select your inmate.
  • Choose the amount to send.
  • Register, and Pay for the deposit transaction

Note: You will be charged a fee to send money to your Columbia County inmate. In addition, there is a maximum amount you can send. 

Contact Information
Customer Support page.
Customer Support phone:   912-584-6102
Email - [email protected]
Customer Support Hours - Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST

For complete information on fees, products, policies, deadlines, rules, minimum and maximum deposits and all the information you need to know regarding depositing money for your inmate in Columbia County, go to our Send Money Page for details.


 

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