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Polk County Jail

2390 Bob Phillips Road
Bartow, FL 33830-3998
ph. (863) 534-6200

Interview with Timmy, Michael, Lindsay and Frank

JM: How long was your sentencing for?
Timmy: 4 years prison. 3 years probation.
Michael: i ended up getting 18 mos probation,community service and fees
Lindsay: 30 days war plus 1800 in fines
Frank: THAT WAS ONLY A FINE BUT I HAVE SPENT TEN MONTHS THERE ON A DUI IN 2006

JM: Did you spend time in a holding cell after your sentencing? If so, what was that like? If you didn't where did they they take you instead?
Timmy: There are several large holding cells in the basement of the court house. There is NO privacy so use the rest room before you go to court.
Michael: when arrested i spent quite awhile in a room until i was taken to the jail s.n.u.
Frank: THE HOLDING CELLS ARE THE MOST WORST PART OF THE WHOLE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE I WAS IN A CELL ABOUT 25' X 25' AND THERE MUST OF BEEN 50 PEPLE IN THERE THE FOOD WAS CRAPPY ROTTON GREEN BOLOGNY AND WATER THE PLACE STUNK FROM URINE AND THE PHONES DIDNT WORK AND WE ALL WERE IN THERE FOR AT LEAST 10 HOURS AND NO EGXAGERATION

Have you ever passed the Polk County Jail and wondered what life is like behind those locked doors? Maybe you or someone you know is facing some time there. Either way, you have come to the right place for information about this facility.

We have interviewed former inmates of Polk County, who have shared their inside knowledge about a wide range of topics, from what the food is like to what the court system in this area is like. You can read their interviews by clicking on links to the left. Take a few minutes to read their stories and learn what life is like in the Polk County Jail.

Food
Polk County provides inmates with three meals per day. The food gets mixed reviews. One ex-inmate describes the food as "disgusting slop," but someone else says "by jail standards Polk Co food is not that bad." The jail does have a canteen that inmates can order additional food items from weekly, if the inmate has money on their books. Being able to order supplemental food can make serving time a little easier, as it provides more options to the inmate.

Telephones and Visitation
Keeping in touch with friends and family on the outside is a high priority for most people who are locked up. Polk County provides inmates access to telephones everyday, generally from 8-11pm. Calls can only be made collect, and cost about $5 for a 15 minute call. All calls are recorded by the jail and screened at the discretion of the jail.

Family and friends can visit inmates on the weekends. Check in for visitors can be a hassle, and some have reported being "frisked" and required to remove their shoes before the visit. Visits are no contact, meaning that a glass wall separates the inmate from the visitor so there can be no physical contact.

Medications
Polk County is pretty good about making sure inmates have access to necessary medications. A nurse administers prescription meds daily, and over the counter items such as Tylenol, antacid and antihistamine are handed out by the officers by request.

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