Benton County OR Jail

County Jail
Oregon
PO Box 788, Corvallis, OR 97339
541-766-6858
Official Website

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Benton County OR Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 541-766-6858

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Benton County OR Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 180 NW 5th St Corvallis, OR which is operated locally by the Benton County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Benton County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Corvallis Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Benton County Jail is the only jail in the county. When someone is arrested anywhere in the county – whether by Corvallis, Philomath, or Albany Police, by Oregon State Troopers, or by our own Patrol Deputies – they are brought to our facility. It is the smallest jail per capita of any county in Oregon. As a result, we must be creative in how we provide for the needs of inmates while keeping our community safe.

Corrections Deputies monitor and provide direct services to the inmate population. They complete bookings, screen for medical and/or mental health issues, inventory and secure inmate property, monitor behavior, determine release eligibility, and complete release documents. Under the guidance of a part-time nurse, they also administer medications and carry out inmate medical orders.

Please remember that even though inmates are given daily opportunities to contact their family, it is their choice to place a call, send correspondence or to put names on their visiting list. Contact is always at their option. We do not take messages for inmates.

Due to the inadequate size of our jail; we contract with other jails to rent beds for Benton County inmates. Inmates are subject to transport to any of our contract facilities at the discretion of the jail. We currently rent beds from Lincoln, Yamhill and Linn Counties.

Contact an Inmate by Mail

Allowable Mail

Legal or personal-business documents/correspondence
Postcards – postcards may be any size the post office delivers, with maximum dimensions of 5½" tall by 8½" wide. Postcards must include the sender's name and address
Books – books must be ordered and sent directly from the publisher, book club, or bookstore. Books must not have plastic or metal binding. Inmates in segregation may only receive paperback books.
Periodicals – magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals must be new and sent directly from the publisher.

Privileged Mail
In accordance with ORS 169.076 an inmate's correspondence to or from an attorney, the courts, the Attorney General, the Governor, the Oregon State Corrections Department, or Jail Administration is considered "official mail" and will not be inspected.

Restrictions
Anyone can send mail to an inmate, with some restrictions. We will not accept mail from:

An inmate in another corrections-monitored facility or treatment center
Someone who is acting as a go-between for inmates by taking mail received from one inmate and sending it to another
A victim of a crime that the inmate is in custody for either in pretrial or sentenced status
Determination of whether mail or periodicals are to be restricted or refused will be made on an issue by issue basis. Both the sender and the receiver will be notified in writing of any mail rejections

Appeals
Persons wishing to appeal the rejection decision may do so within 7 days, in writing to the Jail Commander, indicating why they believe the rejection is unwarranted.

Addressing Mail to Inmates

Clearly write the inmate's complete name. Do not use nicknames. If you know the inmate's middle name or initial, please include that. Send mail to this address:

(Inmate's Name)
Benton County Jail
PO Box 788
Corvallis, OR 97339

Be sure to hand write your return name and address on the mail! We will not deliver or hold mail for an inmate if it is missing a return address.

Inmate Mail Delivery
We only allow inmates to receive mail sent through the US Postal Service. We do not accept hand, courier, or commercial-mail-service delivered mail. We will not accept mail with postage due.

Contact an Inmate by E-mail

Go to the website, www.inmatecanteen.com.

Complete the registration information and make a deposit for a communication account. There is an initial onetime set up fee to establish your account.
Select the inmate you wish to e-mail.
Follow the easy three step process to send your first e-mail.
Once this is completed, you will be provided an e-mail address that will allow you to send e-mails direct from
your e-mail account or text messages from your mobile phone. You will not have to log in to the website to send
messages once you have completed the registration process.
No more trips back and forth to the Post Office or mailbox.
All messages are reviewed for approval and once approved, go right to the inmate kiosk for your loved one to
view AND respond.
When the inmate responds, the e-mail comes directly to your e-mail address. Again, you do not have to log in
to any website to view messages from your loved one.
Better yet, e-mails are only $0.25 each which is far cheaper than mail and in most cases, instant communication.
All revenue from this feature helps support inmate programs at the jail.

Contact an Inmate by Phone

Telephone calls are a privilege for inmates. Staff may restrict the number, length, or telephone use hours based on an inmate's behavior and/or classification status.

Inmates in the Benton County Jail should have no expectation of privacy in their personal telephone calls. Inmate personal calls will be monitored and recorded at any time and this information used in either disciplinary or criminal charges.

Social calls to inmates will not be accepted.
Jail staff will not take and relay messages to inmates.
Inmates are provided with collect-call-only telephones in the housing areas and may call out only during proscribed hours.
Local calls (including Philomath, Albany and Corvallis) cost approximately $1.55 per call.
Long-distance calls are charged on a flat-rate plus the regular per/minute rate which makes the call close to $7.50. Get all the calls at $1.55
Inmates who have funds on their account may purchase phone cards in the amount of $10 and $25.

The current inmate phone vendor for the Benton County Jail is Legacy Inmate Communications. If you would like to establish a prepaid account or have general inquiries call 1-888-729-4326 or you can go online to www.legacyinmate.com

El actual proveedor de teléfono interno de la cárcel del condado de Benton es Legacy Inmate Communications. Si desea establecer una cuenta prepagada o tiene preguntas generales llame 1-888-729-4326 o usted puede ir en liniea a www.legacyinmate.com.

Please be advised that if you choose to accept a call from an inmate housed in the Benton County Jail the telephone company will charge you for the cost of the call. If you are receiving unwanted calls or attempted calls from inmates, you may contact jail staff at 541-766-6866 and request that a block be placed on your phone number.

We understand that you may have a loved one incarcerated that you would like to show support for. Unfortunately we are limited in what we can allow. We cannot accept any mail or personal property from the public other than the following:

Prescribed medication in the original bottle/packaging with the inmates name visible
Prescription eye glasses
Money to deposit on an inmate’s account

Mail must go through the USPS. There are times when we will accept clothing for trial for those inmates who do not have suitable attire. Any item brought in for an inmate becomes their property upon receipt. You can deposit funds on an inmate's account with which they can purchase snacks, writing materials, hygiene items, haircuts, phone cards, etc. Once money is deposited on an inmate's account it becomes their property. Inmates who do not have any money are provided with hygiene items regardless of their ability to pay.

Inmates housed in the Benton County Jail will not be permitted to release property or funds without approval from the Jail Manager. The Manager may, upon verification of an emergency situation authorize the release of some or all of the funds or property an inmate has in their possession at the time.

WARNING

Intentionally bringing contraband into a jail is a felony under Oregon Law. Persons smuggling weapons, drugs, tobacco or any other prohibited item in the jail are subject to arrest and prosecution.

Posting Bail

Bail generally means that the full amount of money must be posted in order for the defendant to be released from custody. If the defendant shows up for all subsequent court appearances, the money is returned to the person who posted it, less any administrative charge the court may impose.

Security Release is part of ORS 135.265 and generally means that ten percent of the full bail amount must be posted in order for the defendant to be released from custody. If the defendant fails to appear in subsequent court appearances, they can be:

Charged with the crime of Failure to Appear in the First or Second Degree and
The person posting the security may lose the ten percent they posted AND be liable for remaining 90 percent.

Even if the defendant shows up for all court appearances, the court will keep 15 percent of the posted security release amount as an "administrative charge."

Due to the high fees associated with the service, the Benton County Jail will no longer accept Credit or Debit cards for bail. Should you wish to use a credit card to post bail for an inmate you may do so during business hours at the Benton County Courthouse. The Courthouse is located directly south of the jail at 120 NW 4th St.

Bail in the form of cash only may be posted at the Jail at anytime 24/7 for local Benton County charges and for other jurisdictions.

Due to the inability to ensure quality control, the following will NOT be accepted:

Personal Checks
Cashiers Checks
Money Orders

Bail/Security for out-of-county charges will be accepted in accordance with that jurisdiction's policy. Please check with jail staff.

Ways to Fund Inmate Accounts

Jail kiosk: available in the Benton County Jail lobby. The kiosk will accept cash, Visa/MasterCard and debit card.No American Express or Discover cards accepted. No pre-paid credit cards accepted.
Inmate accounts: you may deposit money on an inmate's account through the lobby kiosk or online at www.inmatecanteen.com. For online deposits there will be an initial one time set up fee with inmatecanteen.com

visitation Info

Benton County Jail – Visitation

Social Visiting

Visits must be scheduled in advance over the telephone at 541-766-6866 between the hours of 8:00-9:00 a.m. and 6:00-7:00 p.m. daily. (Disponible en español)

Visitation Rules:

To be eligible for visits inmates must have completed the inmate orientation and classification process.
Inmates must submit a Visitor List which includes the full name, date of birth, address and phone number of the person(s) he or she wishes to visit. Additions to an inmate's visitor list must originate with the inmate and jail staff will not make such additions.
Visitor lists are screened and eligibility for visits is either approved or denied based on the perspective visitors criminal history or conduct during prior incarcerations or visits to the jail.
Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian unless legal verification of marriage to the inmate being visited is provided. Minor children of an inmate may visit when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
All visitors must provide current valid photo identification evidencing date of birth and proof of identity.
No personal belongings are allowed in the visiting areas. CELL PHONES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE VISITING AREA
Visitors may be subjected to searches at anytime in accordance with policy.
Visitors must wear conventional clothing which in the judgment of jail personnel is not unduly suggestive and does not resemble inmate attire, for example:
No mini skirts or excessively short shorts
No spandex type clothing
No see through clothing of any kind
No low cut blouses or shirts
No bare mid rifts
Any visitor who displays signs of intoxication of alcohol or drugs will not be permitted access to the jail.
Adults or children creating a disturbance in the visiting area may have their visit terminated and be required to leave the jail.
All visits with family and friends are scheduled in advanced on a "first-come, first-served" basis with a minimum of 2 hours prior notification.
Visits are limited to 30 minutes per visit. Each inmate is allowed only one visit per day and the number of visits per week depends on the inmate's classification level

Scheduled Social Visiting Hours
Monday thru Thursday Between the hours of…	Friday Between the hours of…	Saturday Between the hours of…	Sunday Between the hours of…
No Visiting	8 a.m. – 11 a.m.	8 a.m. – 11 a.m.	8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
No Visiting	No Visiting	1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
7 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	7 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	7 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	7 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Contract Beds and Transporting Inmates

Once inmates complete the orientation process the inmates can be transported to any contract bed facilities at Yamhill, Lincoln, and Linn counties. With the current facility (40 beds) and the contract beds, BCSO can handle around 80 inmates.

Transporting inmates is obviously time consuming, and it is costing Benton County one million dollars a year in just transport money.

That does not include gas and the transport deputies pay. Over the last couple of years, transport deputies have traveled an average of about 18,000 miles annually.

Although most inmates housed in the contract facilities are transported on set days during the week, there are multiple occasions where we make special transports to Newport, McMinnville, and Albany.

Rules for Inmates Held in Contract Facilities

Inmates held at contract facilities are under that facilities rules and regulations. It is highly encouraged to know what facility the inmate you're trying to contact is being held, for each jail facility has its own rules and regulations that must be obeyed.

Visitation in Our Contract Facilities

See the procedures for the contract facility you are visiting:

Professional Visiting

Professional visits do not require appointments, but we do encourage appointments of our visiting rooms when possible. Tuesdays and Thursdays have been reserved for professional visiting only.

These rooms are strictly for use by attorneys and other professionals such as ministers and counselors, to meet with inmates in a manner that maintains jail safety, security, good order, and meets legal requirements. Professional representatives are screened before being allowed to use these rooms for visits.

Professional visitors are encouraged to download, read, and sign the disclosure forms below ahead of time and hand them in to the deputy. They will be kept on file for future visits.

Supporting Documents

PDF icon Professional Visitor Orientation (155 KB)

PDF icon Professional Visitor Verification (136 KB)