How to Send Money to Brevard County Jail Complex

What You Need Before You Send Money

Before making a deposit, confirm the inmate is currently at Brevard County Jail Complex and have their full legal name and booking or ID number ready. You can confirm custody status through BCSO’s inmate search tools at brevardsheriff.com/jail-complex/ or by calling the jail at 321-690-1500.

Step 1: Create a Smart Communications Account

Go to smartinmate.com and look for the account or deposit section. You’ll be prompted to create a free account and add the inmate using their name and facility information. If you prefer to set this up over the phone, call 727-349-1561 and a representative can walk you through it.

Step 2: Choose a Payment Method

Smart Communications generally accepts several payment types, though the exact options available can depend on the method you use, online, by phone, or through a retail partner:

• Credit card
• Debit card
• Cash at a participating retail or MoneyGram-style location
• Check by mail, if accepted for this facility

Fees, minimums, and any convenience charges are shown before you confirm the transaction. Review these carefully since they can vary by payment method.

Step 3: Decide How Funds Are Allocated

Once money is in the account, the dashboard on smartinmate.com typically shows how the balance can be applied toward commissary purchases, phone minutes, video visitation, or messaging credits. If you’re not sure which balance covers which service, call Customer Care at 727-349-1561 to ask.

What Deposited Funds Cover

Unlike some facilities that separate phone accounts from commissary accounts, Brevard County Jail Complex’s SmartInmate system generally functions as a single account covering multiple services:

Service	Covered By SmartInmate Balance
Commissary (food, hygiene items)	Yes
Phone calls	Yes, at $0.16 + tax per minute
Video visitation	Yes, at $0.25 per minute
SmartInmate messaging	Yes, at 50 cents per message

Because everything draws from the same balance, keep track of your spending across all these categories so you don’t run short before a scheduled video visit or an important phone call.

Customer Care and Troubleshooting

If a deposit doesn’t show up as expected, don’t panic right away. Log back into your SmartInmate account first to confirm the transaction went through on your end. Double check that the inmate’s name and booking or ID number were entered correctly, since a small typo can send the deposit to the wrong account or cause a delay. If everything looks correct but the funds still haven’t posted after a reasonable amount of time, call Smart Communications Customer Care at 727-349-1561. They’re available 7 days a week, from 7:00 AM to midnight EST.

What Happens When the Inmate Is Released or Transferred

If the inmate is released, any remaining SmartInmate balance is generally handled according to the vendor’s release policy, which may include a refund process or a transfer to a personal account, depending on how the platform is set up. If the inmate transfers to a Florida state prison, their county jail SmartInmate balance does not automatically carry over to the state DOC’s money system. You’d need to set up a new account with whatever vendor the new facility uses. Call 727-349-1561 for the exact process on either scenario.

Restrictions and Special Circumstances

Some situations can affect whether funds can be deposited or how they’re used:

• Court-ordered restitution or fees: If a court has ordered part of an inmate’s account balance to go toward restitution, fines, or fees, a portion of deposits may be automatically deducted before the inmate can use the rest.
• Disciplinary holds: An inmate on disciplinary restriction may have limited or no access to commissary, phone, or video visitation privileges even if funds are available in their account.
• Account limits: SmartInmate and the jail may impose maximum balance limits. Call 727-349-1561 or 321-690-1500 to confirm current limits before sending a large deposit.

Tips for a Smooth Deposit

• Confirm the inmate’s name is spelled exactly as it appears in the jail’s system.
• Keep a screenshot or confirmation number from your transaction until the deposit posts.
• Contact Smart Communications directly, not the jail, for payment-specific issues, since the jail doesn’t process the money itself.
• If you’re sending money for the first time, start with a smaller amount to confirm everything works before sending a larger deposit.