Phone Calls at Brevard County Jail Complex

How Phone Calls Work at Brevard County Jail Complex

The inmate places calls from a phone inside their housing unit during the facility’s available call times. You cannot call the jail and ask to be connected to an inmate directly. Instead, your phone number needs to be on the inmate’s approved contact list, and the call charges are deducted from your SmartInmate account balance.

When the inmate calls, you’ll typically hear an automated message identifying the call as coming from a correctional facility before you’re connected. This is standard across most jail and prison phone systems and helps you confirm the call is legitimate before answering.

Setting Up a SmartInmate Account for Phone Calls

Go to smartinmate.com and create an account if you don’t already have one. Add the inmate using their name and booking information, then add a payment method to fund your account balance. If you prefer to do this over the phone, call Smart Communications at 727-349-1561.

Because Brevard County Jail Complex uses one combined SmartInmate balance for phone, video visitation, and messaging, make sure you’re tracking how much of your deposit is going toward calls specifically, especially if you’re also scheduling video visits in the same week.

Call Rates and the Weekly Limit

Calls cost $0.16 plus applicable tax per minute. Each inmate has a 2-hour weekly call limit, which resets on a weekly basis. This limit applies regardless of how many different numbers the inmate calls, so a family that wants regular contact should plan how to divide that 2-hour allowance across the people who want to talk.

At $0.16 per minute, a full 2-hour week of calling costs roughly $19.20 before tax, spread across however many individual calls the inmate makes that week.

Why the Weekly Limit Exists

Call time limits like this one are common across county jails and are generally set to balance phone access across the entire inmate population, since housing units usually have a limited number of phones shared by many people. If you feel the 2-hour limit isn’t enough for a specific situation, such as coordinating legal matters or urgent family business, call the jail at 321-690-1500 to ask whether any exceptions apply.

How to Add Funds to Your SmartInmate Account

You can generally fund your account in a few ways:

• Online at smartinmate.com using a credit or debit card
• By phone at 727-349-1561
• Possibly at a lobby kiosk if you’re already at the facility, though this should be confirmed by calling ahead
• Through a MoneyGram-style retail partner, if available for this facility’s SmartInmate contract

Confirm the current funding options and any associated fees by calling 727-349-1561, since payment options can change.

Voicemail and Messaging Alternatives

If you can’t connect during a live call, SmartInmate messaging offers a text-style alternative. Messages cost 50 cents each, with two free messages available every Saturday. This is a useful backup when the inmate’s 2-hour weekly call limit is used up but you still need to get a message through.

You can also send one-way photos through SmartInmate for $1.00 per photo, which the inmate can view on their facility kiosk.

Important Rules

All calls are monitored and recorded, with the standard exception for calls to an attorney of record. Do not discuss the inmate’s pending case, court strategy, or details that could affect an ongoing legal matter over a regular phone call, since these recordings can be used later.

If a call drops unexpectedly or the inmate can’t reach you at the usual time, it could be due to a phone line being busy, a facility lockdown, or the inmate reaching their weekly 2-hour limit. Try to keep a consistent schedule so the inmate knows generally when you’ll be available.

Do not share your SmartInmate login credentials with the inmate or anyone else. Your account is meant to be managed by you, the person on the outside funding the calls.

What’s Not Allowed

• Attempting to call the inmate directly by phone; all calls must originate from the inmate’s side
• Sharing account access or login credentials with unauthorized people
• Using calls to relay messages for a third party who isn’t on the approved contact list, which can violate facility phone policy
• Discussing case details, witnesses, or legal strategy on a recorded line

Troubleshooting Common Problems

If calls aren’t going through as expected, check these first:

1. Confirm your phone number is correctly listed on the inmate’s approved contact list.
2. Check your SmartInmate account balance to make sure funds are available.
3. Confirm the inmate hasn’t already used their full 2-hour weekly allowance.
4. Call 727-349-1561 if the account shows funds but calls still aren’t connecting.