Mixed custody (men) · State Prison · FDC

Okaloosa Correctional Institution

Crestview, Okaloosa County, Florida

Visiting schedules change without notice. Always call before traveling.

Call Visiting Office: (850) 682-0931 Info last verified: June 2026

A general-population men's prison near Crestview in the Florida Panhandle, on Central Time.

Overview

Okaloosa Correctional Institution is a general-population men’s prison near Crestview in Okaloosa County, in the Florida Panhandle. It is operated by the Florida Department of Corrections, holds men in mixed custody, and has a capacity of about 894. Because it is in the Panhandle, the institution observes Central Time, while most of Florida is on Eastern Time.

What Makes Okaloosa Different

  • It is on Central Time. Crestview and the western Panhandle observe Central Time, so the institution’s visiting hours — generally about 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central — run an hour behind most Florida prisons. Confirm the current schedule before traveling.
  • It operates the Okaloosa Work Camp as a satellite unit.
  • It offers vocational programs through Northwest Florida State College, including construction, heavy equipment operation, and masonry, along with landscape and turf management.
  • It runs faith and reentry programming, including “7 Habits on the Inside,” a 100-hour transition program, Prison Fellowship, and a reentry dorm.

Visiting

The statewide FDC rules above — the approved visitor list, the dress code, ID, and item limits — apply at Okaloosa Correctional Institution. The institution’s own arrangements:

The full visitor process is in Visiting in Florida.

Getting There and Parking

The institution is near Crestview in Okaloosa County, in the Florida Panhandle, which is on Central Time. A private vehicle is required.

Distances are approximate, based on map routing. Visitor parking is on site.

Mail

Florida does not deliver original personal mail to the prison. Routine personal letters and photos go to an off-site Smart Communications processing center, where they are opened and scanned and delivered electronically — the person reads them on a tablet or kiosk, and the mailroom may print copies. Address routine mail with the person’s full name and DC number, to: Smart Communications, P.O. Box 23608, Tampa, FL 33623. Confirm the current address and format on FDC’s website before sending. Legal mail and privileged correspondence go directly to the institution, not to the scanning center. Publications must come from an approved publisher or retailer. Full rules are in Mail & Packages.

Learn More

For detailed information about visiting and communicating with someone in a Florida state prison:

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.