Franklin County Jail in Columbus, OH
If you discover that your loved one has been booked in Franklin County Jail in Columbus, Ohio, you need to understand how the jail system operates and what your options are for managing a release from the facility.
Joslyn Law Firm has handled over 20,000 criminal cases, and our attorneys are familiar with both the workings of the Franklin County Jail and the prosecutors and judges who will affect your case.
Brian Joslyn is a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney and the proud recipient of multiple awards and honors that underscore his knowledge and abilities related to Ohio’s criminal laws. Columbus CEO Magazine identified Brian as a top lawyer, and The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys recognized him as one of Ohio’s top 10 criminal lawyers. Having Brian by your side—and on your side—will bring you peace of mind as you work through what can otherwise be a daunting experience.
We Will Fight to Protect Your Rights
Franklin County Jail enforces a complex set of rules and procedures when it comes to managing its inmates. Consider hiring one of our lawyers who know the ropes—someone who is passionate about protecting your rights as a criminal defendant and who will work aggressively to bring about the best outcome to your situation.
As an attorney who has earned the AV Preeminent award—an honor reserved for lawyers who represent the pinnacle of professional excellence—Brian will put his skills and knowledge to work for you. In his youth, Brian stood on the receiving end of a broken criminal justice system. This experience motivated him to fight for the rights of the accused. He remains driven by this same passion today.
Call Joslyn Law Firm today for a free, confidential consultation at (614) 444-1900.
Franklin County Jail, Columbus, Ohio Information Center
- Franklin County Jail Basic Operations
- How to Call and Visit Your Loved One in Franklin County Jail
- How Do You Know if Your Loved One Is Being Held at Franklin County Jail?
- Other Resources for Researching Case Information for a Columbus Jail Inmate
- How to Post Bond for an Inmate in Franklin County Jail
- Franklin County Jail Frequently Asked Questions
- We Will Fight for the Rights of a Loved One Who Is Being Held at Franklin County Jail
Franklin County Jail Basic Operations
A person who is taken to jail in Columbus will end up in one of two Franklin County Jail facilities:
Franklin County Corrections Center I (FCCC I)
The main Franklin County Jail facility, which houses only male inmates, is located inside the Franklin County Government Center at the following address:
370 S. Front Street
Columbus, OH 43215
The jail provides means of directly contacting various departments within the facility, many of which you might need to contact if your loved one is being held in custody there:
- Phone: (614) 525-3368
- Fax: (614) 525-4327
- Visitation: (614) 525-3383
- Commissary Services: (614) 525-7133
- Social Services: (614) 525-3903
- Food Services: (614) 525-3325
- Corrections Chaplain: (614) 525-3394
- Identification Bureau: (614) 525-3835
- Medical Office: (614) 525-3465
Jail administration is overseen by Chief Deputy Penny Perry-Balonier. The office is located on the second floor of the facility on S. Front Street.
- Phone: (614) 525-5785
- Fax: (614) 525-5080
Franklin County Corrections Center II (FCCC II)
The second Columbus jail holds more inmates, which include both men and women. FCCC II is located at the following address:
2460 Jackson Pike
Columbus, Ohio 43223
The following phone numbers pertain to inmates being held at this correctional facility:
- Phone: (614) 525-7100
- Fax: (614) 525-7620
- Visitation: (614) 525-7131
- Commissary Services: (614) 525-7133
- Social Services: (614) 525-7139
- Food Services: (614) 525-7136
- Corrections Chaplain: (614) 525 3792
- Identification Bureau: (614) 525-6227
- Medical Office: (614) 525-7615
Like the main jail on S. Front Street, the Franklin County Corrections Center II is also administered by Chief Deputy Penny Perry-Balonier and is located at 370 Front Street in Columbus, on the building’s second floor.
How to Call and Visit Your Loved One in Franklin County Jail
One of the first things you will probably want to learn is how you can communicate with your loved one while they are in custody at Franklin County Jail. You will be bound by rigid rules and procedures for calling and visiting.
Who Can Visit
Only two adults and no more than three children may visit a single inmate at any given time. Visitors must provide some form of ID (children may bring a birth certificate, state ID, or health insurance card).
Visiting Hours
Visiting hours begin at 10:30 a.m. on the given day (see “Visitation Schedules” below). The last group of visitors goes back at 9 p.m. You will be permitted a 15-minute visit (if you are visiting a juvenile, you will be given 30 minutes to visit).
Visitation Schedules
The Franklin County Jail organizes its visitation schedules by inmates’ last names, as follows:
- Monday: inmates whose last names begin with the letters A-C
- Tuesday: inmates whose last names begin with the letters D-G
- Wednesday: inmates whose last names begin with the letters H-L
- Thursday: inmates whose last names begin with the letters M-Q
- Friday: inmates who are juveniles
- Saturday: inmates whose last names begin with the letters R-S
- Sunday: inmates whose last names begin with the letters T-Z
Calling an Inmate at Franklin County Jail
First, please be aware that you cannot call the jail and leave messages for inmates. To manage your loved one’s telephone service, you will need to contact GTL at 1-800-483-8314.
How Do You Know if Your Loved One Is Being Held at Franklin County Jail?
Finding out if your loved one is in a Franklin County Jail is a much simpler process than it used to be. Today, the Sheriff’s office provides an automated inmate information search utility you can access online, using any web browser.
The form lets you search by a person’s name, race, gender, age, and/or offender status. If you find your loved one in the database, you can click on a “detail” link to view a profile of their inmate record. This will include the following important information:
- Inmate number
- Booking number
- Assigned location
- Scheduled release date
Furthermore, the record will list a history of the inmate’s offenses—and for each offense, details that include:
- Case number
- Conviction type (felony or misdemeanor)
- Bond amount
- Bond type
- Next court date
- Court
Other Resources for Researching Case Information for a Columbus Jail Inmate
Franklin County provides other resources that you can use to uncover information about an inmate who is in custody at the Franklin County Jail.
The Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk provides an online case search tool that lets you search by an offender’s name, case number, ticket number, case type, case year, or case status.
Alternatively, the Franklin County Clerk of Courts provides another case information search form that lets you search by an offender’s name, court, case, and other criteria. The search results for any given offender provide details about the case that include the case’s status, judge, courtroom, and dockets, along with other important information.
How to Post Bond for an Inmate in Franklin County Jail
Of course, once you learn that your friend or loved one is being held in Franklin County Jail, your immediate thoughts might go to helping to get them released on bond. Whether this is possible depends on several factors.
Your lawyer knows the parameters at play when it comes to bail. They can represent your loved one at their arraignment and make a case for the judge to set bail at a reasonable amount that you can afford.
Franklin County Jail Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who can visit inmates in jail?
A: Adults and children can visit inmates, but both facilities limit the number of people that can visit at a time. No more than two adults and three children are able to visit someone at a time.
Please note that visitors can visit inmates on specific days based on the last name of the inmate. Check the Inmate Information page from Franklin County’s Sherriff Office for the most up-to-date information regarding visitation.
Visitors get limited blocks of time to visit with inmates starting at 10:30 a.m.
Q: Can I send anything to someone in jail?
A: Yes, you are able to send someone items in one of the Franklin County facilities. You should contact the facility for questions about items not covered in the sections below.
- You cannot bring reading glasses or contact solution to visitation.
- You may only send pictures through the United States Postal Service. Pictures from other carriers will be rejected.
- You can send money orders from U.S. Postal or Western Union only.
- Inmates that send money can only do so once a week.
- The Franklin County Sherriff’s Office no longer collects undergarments, shirts, or socks for inmates.
You can send reading and other printed materials, but Franklin County Correctional Facilities have very strict guidelines for sending these items to inmates:
- You may only send items with soft covers, like paperback books or magazines.
- You cannot modify the printed materials.
- The item must already be paid for.
- The subjects/materials cannot be:
- Pornographic
- Endorses violent/discriminatory beliefs
- Has gang-related information
- Advocates for lawless behavior or actions
When mailing the item, make sure you:
- Write or print the full name of the inmate.
- Send your permitted items via United States Postal Service (USPS).
- Items sent with carriers like UPS or FedEx will be rejected.
- Items sent from private parties will also be rejected.
- Send items directly through a commercial distributor, publisher, or retailer.
- com is one example of an acceptable distributor, retailer, or publisher.
- Only send accepted books or magazines through bulk shipping.
Q: Can I call an inmate?
A: Yes, you are able to call an inmate. Currently, Global Tel*Link (GTL) is the phone provider for Franklin County Corrections Centers. In Franklin County, GTL offers AdvancePay Phone services. You can contact the facility for questions about costs for calls.
This program offers prepaid collect calls, and you can make these deposits online or over the phone. GTL also offers refunds as needed.
Q: How can I post bond for someone in FCCC?
A: If you want to post bond for someone in one of the correctional facilities in Franklin County, you must make an in-person payment to the Franklin County Municipal Court. The address and location are as follows:
Criminal/Traffic Division of the Clerk’s Office, 2nd Floor
375 South High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
You can also call (614) 645-8186 to ask any questions about making payments, including how much the bond amount is. If you are inquiring about a refund for your bond, you can use this number.
The FCMC will only accept cash or credit card, and you much bring a valid form of ID.
We Will Fight for the Right of a Loved One Who Is Being Held at Franklin County Jail
Discovering that a friend or family member is in jail can stress even the most level-headed individual. Let the criminal defense attorneys at Joslyn Law Firm take this burden off your shoulders.
We will make sure you know your rights when it comes to contacting your loved one and supporting them emotionally through this ordeal. Meanwhile, we will do everything in our power to get the best outcome for their legal situation.
Call Joslyn Law Firm today for a free, private consultation: (614) 444-1900.
