Lee County FL Jail

Lee County FL Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 239-477-1705

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Lee County FL Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 2501 Ortiz Ave Ft. Meyers, FL which is operated locally by the Lee County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Lee County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Ft. Meyers Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office Corrections Bureau is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all Lee County jail facilities, which include:

• Downtown Jail: The Jail is a maximum security facility with 457 beds. It serves as the central intake and booking facility for all people arrested within Lee County.

• Core Facility: The Core Facility is a medium/maximum facility with 1,216 beds. This facility is also the primary housing facility for the female inmate population. The Core facility provides the main operating services such as food, medical and laundry for Corrections.

• Community Programs Unit (CPU): The CPU is a minimum security facility with 336 beds. It offers a wide array of programs to assist inmates with re-entry skills, and alcohol and drug treatment.

Lee County Sheriff's Office Corrections Bureau had an average daily inmate population of 1,554 in 2017, a decrease from an average daily inmate population of 1,660 inmates the prior year.

ESE/Juvenile School Program
This program is run by the Lee County School District and is for those incarcerated that are under the age of 18 and for those who were enrolled in an ESE program in Lee County and are under the age of 22. This program also helps people prepare to take the GED test.

GED Program
This is open to inmates that do not have their High School Diploma. They are able to receive help preparing for the GED, and when ready, are able to take the GED test.

Lifeskills Program
Teaches basic life skills to inmates to help them lead a productive life. The program includes such topics as: Anger Management,Alternatives to Domestic Violence, Parenting Skills, Communications Skills, Men's and Women's issues , Resume Writing and Job Interviewing Skills, etc.

New Directions Program
This is a faith based program run by the facility Chaplain and utilizes people from community churches. This program touches on many of the topics presented in Lifeskills but from a faith based perspective.

Residential Substance Abuse Treatment
The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program works closely with the court system – most of the people participating in this program are court-ordered. This program includes everything that is taught in the Lifeskills program but concentrates on helping inmates with addiction problems.

Self-Help Groups
We have several self-help groups whose volunteers bring their message into our facilities to help inmates; they include the following programs: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), and Al-Anon which is for people who are coping with someone who has a substance abuse problem.

Inmate Case Management
This program targets inmate who are at high risk to reoffend and sentenced to three months to one year.

visitation Info

Lee County Jail – Visitation

All visitations for the Jail, Core and Community Program Units (CPU's) are conducted through a video monitor. Each inmate will be allowed two (2) visitations per week for one (1) hour each. Up to two (2) visitors from the Inmate's Authorized Visitation List will be allowed to visit with the inmate; children under one year of age will not be included in the count.

You Must Be an Approved Visitor

All inmates are given a packet that contains an INMATE VISITATION LIST. The inmate can then place up to five (5) names of family members/friends that they want to visit with. Children under the age of one year DO NOT need to be placed on this list. They also do not count as one of the visitors. The inmate can only update their visitation list every four (4) months from the day they sign up. Any add-ons or removals constitutes as an update. Visitors on the list will be the only persons allowed to visit the inmate with the exception of Clergy, Attorney, and infants under the age of one year.

• No Visitation list is required the first seven (7) days of incarceration. After the first seven (7) days the inmate will need to submit their Inmate Visitation List in order to receive visitation. 
• All inmates sign up for visitation on Sunday night for the following week. When the inmate picks a day and time they will notify you either by phone, written correspondence or you may call the Visitation Office at (239) 258-3773, to check when a visit has been scheduled for the current week.
• Our hours of operations are open Monday-Sunday 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Where Do You Go to Visit an Inmate?

All visits for inmates at the Lee County Corrections facilities (Main Jail, Core and CPU's) are conducted at the Visitation facility located on the Ortiz site:

2501 Ortiz Ave
Fort Myers, FL 33905
(239) 258-3773

When You Enter the Corrections Facility You Must:

• Arrive 15 minutes before the schedule visitation time.
• Visitors 16 years of age and older must present a Photo ID (Drivers license, Identification card, Passport, Military ID, or Prison ID) with a D.0.B.
• Have your name checked against the authorized visitation list.
• Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult that is an authorized visitor; the child (children) must stay with the adult at all times.
• Abide by the Correction visitor regulations below.

Visitor Regulations:

• Visitors are not permitted to introduce cell phones, cigarettes, lighters, cameras, radios, record or tape players, gifts, purses, baby bags, water bottles, food or drinks, etc. into the visitation area. Any of these items thought to have been used during the visitation, will be subject to confiscation.
• A visitor may be searched at any time if there is reason to believe that they may be in possession of contraband.
• Contraband is any item not provided to the inmate by the Correction Facility or not purchased by the inmate through the Corrections commissary. You cannot bring the inmate anything else. Even bringing the following items to an inmate is prohibited:Visitors wearing attire that is too brief or revealing will not be permitted to visit.
  • Books
  • Enveloped letters
  • Battery- or electronically-operated cards
  • Candy
  • Care packages
  • Clothing
  • Envelopes
  • Food
  • Glitter
  • Hygiene items
  • Magazines
  • Medication
  • Polaroid pictures
  • Snacks
  • Stamps
  • Stickers
  • Writing paper, etc.

If you bring any of these items with you on visitation, they will be confiscated and you could face prosecution.

If an inmate is going to appear in court and you wish to bring him/her clothes for trial, you can have the inmate's Attorney or Public Defender call the Court Operations Office at (239) 258-3400 to make the necessary arrangements. Arrangements with the Court Operations Unit will not be made directly with the family. 

Violation of Visitation Rules

Visitors who fail to comply with the rules and regulations of the Visitation Facility will be escorted from the facility and denied the rest of the visitation. The visitor may be suspended from visitation or banned depending on the severity of the offense. An email will be sent to the Facility Commander detailing the violation and the action taken. The decision for future visitation will be at the discretion of the Correction Bureau Commander and/or designee.

Clergy Visits

Clergy visits must be scheduled through the Chaplain's Office at (239) 477-1772.

What can I bring with me to visitation?

• The key necessary to operate your vehicle
• Personal identification.

What If I need my prescription medication or medical injections? 

• If you have a medical condition that requires you to take prescribed medications or injections, you will be permitted to depart the visiting area and take the necessary medications. Do not dispose of needles and syringes on facility grounds.

I am on oxygen, can I bring my oxygen tank with me? 

• Yes, subject to search.

Are crutches or wheel chairs allowed? 

• Yes, subject to search.

I'm bringing a baby to the visit, what about diapers?  
You may bring the following baby items:

• A maximum of two (2) diapers;
• Two (2) clear baby bottles or two (2) clear sipper cups for toddlers;
• Baby wipes in a clear plastic bag;
• An infant baby carrier, subject to search;
• One (1) set of infant clothing; and
• One (1) non-quilted baby blanket to keep the infant warm.