DeSoto County Juvenile Detention Emailing An Inmate
Send an Email or Text to an Inmate in the DeSoto County Juvenile Detention
Sending an Email, Text or Secure Electronic Message to an Inmate
The DeSoto County Juvenile Detention provides a service which allows secure electronic messaging for their inmates.
The email service they use is called Paytel.
Paytel is not directly connected to the internet like normal email, but instead each correspondence is first intercepted by the jail's servers. This gives the staff an opportunity to review the messages before delivering them to both inmates and the people that the inmates are communicating with.
Electronic messages received by the inmates are read either on kiosks within the inmate's unit, or or on tablets provided by the third party service that oversees the program.
Allowing inmates access to email has many upsides:
- It is less expensive than regular mail.
- It allows for faster turnaround of communication.
- It allows the jail to monitor inmate communication in real time.
- Because the jail receives a portion of the revenue, it brings the jail revenue they wouldn't have otherwise.
- It is an inmate privilege that they don't want to have taken away, and thus can be used as a way to control behavior.
- It keeps unwanted contraband from entering the facility in the physical mail.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Paytel inmate emailing and texting, scroll down for more information about it or call the jail at 305-637-4343.
DeSoto County Juvenile Detention
Address:
1803 Fifth Street West
Bradenton, FL 34205
Phone:
305-637-4343
Paytel Secure Messaging with Inmates
inteleMESSAGE by Pay Tel is a service in which DeSoto County inmates can use tablets to send messages to any friend or family member that has set up an on-line prepaid or direct bill account with Pay Tel.
How inteleMESSAGE Works
- The DeSoto County Juvenile Detention inmate must contact you first in order to activate messaging for your account.
- Once an inmate has messaged you, you are then able to visit the Pay Tel website, log in, read and respond to his or her messages.
- When you log in and follow the inteleMESSAGE™ link, you will be asked if you want to accept messages from your DeSoto County inmate. If you accept, you will then be able to read any inmate message that has been sent to you.
- An on-line prepaid or direct bill account is required to use messaging.
- You must visit the Pay Tel website, login to your account, and follow the inteleMESSAGE™ link in order to send or check for messages. You will not be notified of messages by any other method.
- All messages are subject to monitoring and review and should never be used for privileged attorney-inmate communications.
- If a message is rejected for any reason, the sender’s account will be automatically credited for the cost of the message.
- Free messages which are rejected will not be refunded or restored.
Cost to send messages
- The sender of the message is charged $.50 per message. Rates are subject to change.
- For friends and family outside of a facility, this amount is deducted from the prepaid account balance or charged to your direct bill account.
- For inmates, the amount is charged to the inmate and deducted from the inmate’s debit account.
- There is no charge to read a message that was sent to you.
Paytel App Download
Check to see if Tablets are Available in DeSoto County Juvenile Detention for rent to your inmate. Tablets can be used for phone calls, messaging, education, and entertainment.
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PayTel Inmate Messaging provides a two-way digital communication platform that allows families to exchange electronic text messages and digital photo attachments with an incarcerated loved one. Messages are delivered directly to the inmate's terminal or tablet screen within hours, bypassing long postal mail processing times.
Important: Digital Mail Screening Rules Vary by Facility
Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls, and traditional postal mail rules differ across jurisdictions. While some detention centers still allow regular handwritten letters, many facilities now restrict physical paper mail or mandate electronic messaging, which you can verify by checking facility rules. If you do not register online and set up message credits immediately, your loved one may face lengthy periods without direct written contact from family.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Register and Send Messages
- Go to www.paytel.com or launch the PayTel mobile app.
- Register your account, complete identity verification, and link your incarcerated contact.
- Navigate to the Messaging section of your dashboard.
- Purchase messaging credits using a credit or debit card.
- Type your message and attach approved JPEG photos if permitted by facility guidelines.
- Send your message to the facility's screening queue.
What the Inmate Needs to Do
All electronic correspondence is screened by correctional staff before delivery. Once approved, messages appear in the inmate's inbox on their housing unit terminal or tablet. The inmate opens the message, reads your note, and types an electronic reply using available account credits.
Official Provider: PayTel Official Website
Customer Service Telephone: 1-800-729-8355
Support Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM EST; Saturday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM EST
Supported Languages: English and Spanish
Other Services Provided by PayTel Communications
In addition to Inmate Messaging, PayTel provides telephone calling accounts at participating facilities:
- Prepaid Phone Calling Accounts: Prepay for telephone calling minutes so your loved one can call your mobile phone directly.
• Learn more on our website: Prepaid Calling Accounts Guide | • Visit official vendor page: PayTel Prepaid Calling