Polk County Central Jail

Whether you need an inmate’s charges, bond amount, visitation eligibility, or mugshot, you can find it on the Official Jail Inmate Roster for the Polk County Central Jail. The jail can also be reached at 863-534-6153. For more information, check Florida’s wanted persons list for Polk County and statewide, or search criminal court cases in participating counties.

Polk County Central Jail Inmate Search

Under Florida law, most defendants in Polk County are entitled to pretrial release on reasonable conditions. The main exceptions are capital and life felonies when the proof is evident, and cases where a judge finds no conditions would keep the community safe. Many minor misdemeanors and traffic offenses result in a notice to appear. Most other bond amounts are set by the Florida Supreme Court’s uniform statewide bond schedule.

Calling the Polk County Central Jail at 863-534-6153 is the quickest way to find out an inmate’s bail. For a general idea of the amount, check the charge against the Florida uniform statewide bond schedule for 2026. Judicial circuits can set higher local amounts, and a judge at the first appearance hearing isn’t bound by the schedule. The county accepts cash, surety bonds, and property bonds, and may release someone on personal recognizance.

The Polk County Central Jail is licensed for 900 inmates, but weekends in particular often bring in more offenders than that. At most city and county jails in Florida, at least 35-40% of the population turns over monthly, another 25-30% every 90 days, and another 15-20% every six months, with about 8-9% remaining six to twelve months. Inmates who stay longer than a year are usually facing serious charges like rape or murder, and because it takes time to prepare those cases for trial, offenders arrested in this county remain in one of the Polk County facilities much longer.

Polk County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 53,700 offenders each year.

You can also see photos of the jail from our collection, gathered over the years.

How do you pay bail for someone who has been arrested in Polk County?

When an offender is arrested and brought to the Polk County Central Jail in Bartow for booking, there are several outcomes after being processed.

1. The offender will be released with no bail, promising to return on a specific date to appear before a judge in either Municipal or Polk County Court.
2. The offender is ordered to remain in jail until their court date.
3. The offender is allowed to be released after paying a specified bond or bail.  Call 863-534-6153 to get the exact amount.

The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.

• A cash bond is paid in full at the jail's bonding window or the clerk of court, usually by cash, cashier's check or money order, and many jails also take debit or credit cards through a lobby kiosk or an online bond vendor for an added fee; bring the inmate's full name and booking number, and the jail's number is 863-534-6153.
• It can be paid using a bail company, licensed to do business in Polk County.
• Many courts accept land or a home as bond collateral; the owner shows clear title and equity of at least the bond amount, often double, using a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves the property.

For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Polk County Florida, check out the Polk County Central Jail Bail Page.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail? What is the Schedule?

Polk County Central Jail ON-SITE (at the jail) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

2390 Bob Phillips Road
Bartow, FL 33830
863-534-6153

Schedule Video Visits online with Smart Visit

• On-site Visits are free.
• Visitation schedule subject to change.
• Inmates are allowed 15-minute visits. The fee is $0.17 per minute.
• You must arrive 15 minutes prior to the visit.
• A maximum of one adult and one child are allowed per an on-site video session.
• Only one infant (under 1 year of age) will be allowed per visit and will not be counted as a visitor
• All visits must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
• Any person visiting must not have been incarcerated within the past 180 days.

ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE

Polk County Central Jail REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

Schedule Video Visits online with Smart Inmate

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Remote visits are charged a fee of $0.17 per minute
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.

REMOTE VISITATION SCHEDULE

Attorneys have access to their clients during the following times:

7:30 am to 10:30 am
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
5:00 pm to 10:30 pm

• Inmates cannot be seen during mealtimes, lockdowns and emergency situations.
• Attorneys may call 863-534-6153 for questions or appointments.

Polk County Central Jail uses Smart Communications for Remote Video Visitation between inmates and their loved ones.

How Video Visitation Works
SmartJailMail.com provides a two-way, real-time video visitation system which can be used to speak to your loved ones directly in their housing location within the jail.
At some locations you may also use a lobby kiosk at the facility to visit for free when scheduling a local / on-site visit.
Remote visits from home cost 50 cents per minute and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute increments.
To schedule a video visit you must first open a Smart Communications account.

Remote Video Visits From Home
Once you are connected with an inmate you can use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit.
Remote visits from home are billed on a credits-per-minute model and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute blocks.

Local / On-Site Video Visits
Once you are connected with an inmate at a location where you have a visitation kiosk in the lobby, you may use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit.
Local / on-site visits are provided free of charge.

This link explains everything you need to know about Smart Communications Video Visitation.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail?

Polk County Central Jail ON-SITE (at the jail) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

2390 Bob Phillips Road
Bartow, FL 33830
863-534-6153

Schedule Video Visits online with Smart Visit

• On-site Visits are free.
• Visitation schedule subject to change.
• Inmates are allowed 15-minute visits. The fee is $0.17 per minute.
• You must arrive 15 minutes prior to the visit.
• A maximum of one adult and one child are allowed per an on-site video session.
• Only one infant (under 1 year of age) will be allowed per visit and will not be counted as a visitor
• All visits must be made at least 24 hours in advance.
• Any person visiting must not have been incarcerated within the past 180 days.

ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE

Polk County Central Jail REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

Schedule Video Visits online with Smart Inmate

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Remote visits are charged a fee of $0.17 per minute
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.

REMOTE VISITATION SCHEDULE

Attorneys have access to their clients during the following times:

7:30 am to 10:30 am
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
5:00 pm to 10:30 pm

• Inmates cannot be seen during mealtimes, lockdowns and emergency situations.
• Attorneys may call 863-534-6153 for questions or appointments.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail?

There are multiple ways to add money to an inmate's account at Polk County Central Jail, using Access Corrections Secure Deposits

1. Online - Making a deposit using a verified Visa or Mastercard online, or using their Apple or Android App.
2. By phone - Dial 866.345.1884 to reach their 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers.
3. Lobby kiosk - Ask the jail whether it has an Access Corrections kiosk for deposits.
4. By mail - Ask Access Corrections or the jail whether money orders can be mailed, and to what address.

Ask who the money order should be made out to, and include the inmate name and ID number on all money orders.

5. Walk-in Cash Deposits - Ask the Polk County Central Jail whether it accepts cash deposits in person, and where.

Secure Deposits - Frequently Asked Questions
Secure Deposits - Video Tutorial on How it Works
Secure Deposits - Help Pages

Customer Service Contacts:
Phone: 866-345-1884
Email: customerservice@accesscorrections.com
Online Chat - Look for 'bubble' on bottom right of the page linked here.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Polk County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Polk County Central Jail follow these steps:

• Register with Access Corrections by creating an account.
• 
• Select Florida, then select Polk County Central Jail, and then the inmate you want to send money to.
• Choose the amount of money you want to send, and input your payment method.

For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Polk County Central Jail.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail?

How to Set up a Phone Account and Receive Calls from an Inmate in Polk County Central Jail

To communicate by telephone with a Polk County inmate, follow these instructions:

• To receive phone calls from a Polk County inmate you MUST first open a SmartJailMail.com account.
• 
• Once you open an account, you may search for Polk County inmates or detainees to connect with.
• When you locate the Polk County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
• Polk County Central Jail will then need to approve the request before you can receive phone calls.

For all the information you need to receive phone calls from a Polk County Central Jail inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, how often you can receive calls and when you can receive them and more, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: Your phone calls will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case. Anything discussed on the calls may be used in your inmate's court case.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail, and what can I send them?

Polk County Central Jail Inmate Mail Types

Postcards
The Polk County Central Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.

Envelopes
The Polk County Central Jail also allows regular postcards and envelopes to be mailed to inmates as well.

Personal postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & ID NUMBER
Smart Communications - Polk County Jail
PO Box 9204
Seminole, Florida 33775-9129

Legal Mail
Legal Mail is mail from Attorneys, law enforcement, the courts, bail companies, etc.

Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Polk County Central Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address above.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Polk County Central Jail standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

All legal mail, newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & ID NUMBER
Polk County Jail
2390 Bob Phillips Road
Bartow, FL 33830

How to Send and Receive Secure Text and Email Messages with an Inmate in Polk County Central Jail

To communicate by text or email with an Polk 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 Polk County inmates or detainees to connect with.
• When you locate the Polk County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
• Polk County Central Jail 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 Polk County Central Jail 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.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail, and what can I purchase?

Polk County Central Jail contracts with Access Securepak for families to send pre-determined packages of commissary items to your inmate.

Access Securepak's catalog groups items into categories such as:
- Food and Snacks
- Personal Hygiene Products
- Electronics
- Apparel

Registration Process:
1. Register here.
2. Select Florida.
3. Select Polk County Central Jail.
4. Find your Inmate.
5. Deposit Funds.
6. Order Commissary Items.
Once you are logged in, you will receive instructions on how much (and what products) you can send your inmate.
Contact Information:
* If you have any questions, you can call Access Securepak at 800-546-6283.
* You can email My Care Pack at customerservice@securepak.net.
* You can write them at:
    Access Securepak
    10880 Linpage Place
    St. Louis, MO 63132

* You can Live Chat with a Representative online: (bottom left corner of page)
   Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.–11 p.m. CST, 
   and Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. CST.

*Note* Access Securepak will issue a refund for or replace broken, damaged, or missing products reported by Polk County Central Jail staff. They will not honor reports of discrepancies from inmate's families or friends. They have a very good mix of Chips, Snacks, Candy, Meat, Seafood, Hygiene products, Letter writing materials, Electronics and Apparel items for sale on their website.

*NOTE* -- Once you are fully registered and have selected the inmate you wish to send commissary to, you will receive instructions on how much you can deposit, how much (and what) you can purchase for your inmate, and how often you can send commissary.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Polk County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Polk County Central Jail follow these steps:

• Register with Access Corrections by creating an account.
• 
• Select Florida, then select Polk County Central Jail, and then the inmate you want to send money to.
• Choose the amount of money you want to send, and input your payment method.

For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Polk County Central Jail.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Polk County Central Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

Polk County Central Jail uses a secure messaging service call Smart Communications so that inmates can communicate electronically with friends and family members on the outside.

SmartMail allows inmates to communicate safely and quickly with family and friends outside of the jail, prison or detention center. Inmates send and receive electronic letters using a safe and secure computer kiosk or tablet stationed in their institution. THE COST IS JUST $0.50 CENTS; cheaper than a postage stamp and envelope.

• The message can be sent with postage paid and will be free to open and read for the recipient.
• Or, the message can be sent collect / "COD" for free and will be paid for by the recipient.
• To send or receive a message you MUST open a SmartJailMail.com account.
• Once you open an account, you may search for inmates, prisoners, or detainees to connect with.
• When you locate the inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
• They will then need to approve the request before you can send messages.
• Sending messages with SmartMail is just like sending an e-mail, except it is contained within the SmartJailMail web site. Messages can be delivered instantly or may be held for review depending on the destination facility.
• Electronic messages are delivered much more quickly than traditional paper mail to the correctional facility so you can stay connected.

More information on how to send and receive messages and photos with an inmate.

How to Send and Receive Secure Text and Email Messages with an Inmate in Polk County Central Jail

To communicate by text or email with an Polk 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 Polk County inmates or detainees to connect with.
• When you locate the Polk County inmate that you want to connect with, you can send them a connection request.
• Polk County Central Jail 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 Polk County Central Jail 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.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Polk County Central Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Polk County Central Jail Gives Inmates Access to Tablets At No Cost for Communication, Research and Entertainment

They may not be directly connected to the internet, but inmates at Polk County Central Jail are provided free tablets to use within the jail that allow them to have access to the following services and information:

• Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
• eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
• Job Search - Using JobView, a secure job search application, inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
• Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
• Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
• Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
• Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
• eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
• Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
• Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
• Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.
• Video Visitation - Visitation may not be allowed on the Tablets.  Call Polk County Central Jail at 863-534-6153 to confirm.

The availability of tablets may seem like something that inmates who are serving time do not deserve, but here are some of the benefits for inmates in Polk County:

• Keeps inmates busy.
• The threat of losing access to tablets keeps them better behaved.
• Safer for the staff to keep inmates happy.
• Allows communication with family members.
• Educational programming.
• Legal research.
• Social programming such as anger management, substance abuse, etc.

Polk County Central Jail Gives Inmates Access to Tablets At No Cost for Communication, Research and Entertainment

They may not be directly connected to the internet, but inmates at Polk County Central Jail are provided free tablets to use within the jail that allow them to have access to the following services and information:

• Phone Calls - Inmates may make calls directly from their tablet allowing for more privacy. The rates are the same as the phones in the unit, and the calls are still recorded and monitored.
• eMessaging - Communicate via a text based message or picture. Fee based system.
• Job Search - Using JobView, a secure job search application, inmates have the ability to see what jobs are available when they are released.
• Education - Free educational platform and course catalog that provides thousands of educational resources.
• Self Help -Inmates have daily access to mental health and addiction recovery programming.
• Music - Top-40, Hip-Hop, Country, Rock, Gospel, and more.
• Law Library -  Legal research with up-to-date case information.
• eBooks - Thousands of available titles.
• Religion - Religious resources for spiritual guidance.
• Games - Inmates can play their favorite games. Available through monthly subscriptions
• Facility Services - Digital access to submitted forms, requests, facility documents, and notifications from staff.
• Video Visitation - Visitation may not be allowed on the Tablets.  Call Polk County Central Jail at 863-534-6153 to confirm.

The availability of tablets may seem like something that inmates who are serving time do not deserve, but here are some of the benefits for inmates in Polk County:

• Keeps inmates busy.
• The threat of losing access to tablets keeps them better behaved.
• Safer for the staff to keep inmates happy.
• Allows communication with family members.
• Educational programming.
• Legal research.
• Social programming such as anger management, substance abuse, etc.

For more information about Tablets and how your inmate can get one to use while he is in jail, chek out our Inmate Tablet page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Polk County Central Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 863-534-6153 for further assistance.

What are the other City and County Jails in Polk County?

Polk County County Jails

Polk County Juvenile Facilities

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Polk County?