There is nothing more frustrating than having a loved one incarcerated and not being able to communicate with them. If you are local, you can visit your loved one based on a stringent schedule established by the jail. You will be given specific days and times to visit with no liberty to modify. If the jail is on lockdown for any reason and it happens to be your visitation day, you don’t get to see the inmate. Children under the age of 18 will not be permitted to visit without an accompanying parent. Communication will become one of the most difficult tasks you have from now until your loved one’s release. Although Okaloosa County has taken some steps towards accommodating a more convenient visiting schedule, there are a few things you need to know in order to communicate.
Who Cannot Visit an Inmate at the Okaloosa County Jail?
There are a few situations where certain people are not allowed contact with an Okaloosa County inmate. These situations are as follows:
- If you are currently on felony probation;
- If you are a co-defendant or co-conspirator of the crime for which the inmate is detained;
- If you are the victim of the crime for which the inmate is detained;
- If you have an active warrant for your arrest;
- If you have been convicted of a felony regardless of probation or parole status.
How do I talk to My Loved One at the Okaloosa County Jail?
The calling system used by many facilities, including Okaloosa, is Securus. Securus is an inmate calling plan that you can establish over the phone or internet. Securus acts as the telephone agent charging your credit card or account based on the length of the call.
Securus is available 24/7 through their call center at 1-800-844-6591 or on the web at https://securustech.net/.
We are not affiliated in any way with Securus, and we do not receive any compensation for providing this information. We are simply offering it to help.
How can I see my loved one at the Okaloosa County Jail?
Would you rather connect with your loved one through a video chat? Are you unable to see them on a scheduled day? Securus has an answer for that. Securus offers in home visitation through a video feed. This is a great way to connect if you are not a local resident. The Okaloosa County Jail is a video approved facility and can help you connect via video. Use the same steps above and create a Securus account. Once the account has been approved you will schedule a video conference with the jail for visitation. Inmates are given a minimum of 2 hours of communication time per week.
Are Calls Private From the Okaloosa County Jail?
No. No call or video will be private if you are communicating with someone held at the Okaloosa County Jail. The ONLY private conversation your loved one will ever have at the jail is with their attorney. Inmates should know this rule but if for some reason your loved one begins talking about their case or saying things that are private, terminate the call. Jail calls can and will be used in court against an inmate. ALL calls are recorded and heavily monitored. We understand that your loved one has a desire to have their story heard and we agree, but that must be left for the attorney’s ears only.
Contact an Okaloosa County Criminal Defense Attorney
If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime in Okaloosa County, call Flaherty & Merrifield today at (850) 243-6097 for a free consultation.
