Santa Cruz County CA Main Jail

Santa Cruz County CA Main 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: 831-454-2420

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Santa Cruz County CA Main Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 259 Water St Santa Cruz, CA which is operated locally by the Santa Cruz 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. Santa Cruz County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Santa Cruz Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

Mail

• All mail will be opened and checked for contraband.
• Postage stamps are NOT allowed to be mailed for inmate use.
• Pictures (4"x6" or smaller). Five or less photos.
• Greeting cards must be single layer (no plastic coating or oversized).
• Books, newspapers and periodicals can only come from the publisher or Internet distributor (no hardbound books allowed).
• Publications that are obscene, pornographic, intended to incite murder, arson, riot, racism, violence or material concerning gangs or gambling will not be allowed.
• Mail to/from other penal institutions is prohibited unless authorized by the Facility Commander.
• Mail must be addressed as follows:
  

  Inmate Name, Inmate S#
  Santa Cruz Main Jail
  259 Water Street
  Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Money
Money can be left daily at the kiosks located in the Main Jail Lobby or the Rountree – Medium Facility (reception staff cannot take any inmate deposits). Kiosks accept cash and credit cards. Deposits are accepted from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week. Money orders (payable to the inmate) can still be mailed in. Credit card deposits can also be made at these websites: www.santacruzpackages.com, www.inmatedeposits.com, or by phone at (866) 345-1884.

Property Release
Upon the request of an inmate or officer, excess personal property may be released. This only pertains to property in the inmate’s possession in the housing unit. A property release form must be signed by the inmate. Releases occur Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Property left upon release will be stored no longer than 120 days.

visitation Info

Santa Cruz County CA Main Jail – Visitation

The Main Jail’s visiting hours will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. 

Visitors can call Jail Reception at (831) 454-7800, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., and 8:00 A.M.-3:00P.M. on Friday, to schedule a visit in accordance with the schedule below. 

Visits MUST be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance, but no sooner than 7 days in advance. 

Scheduled visits may be cancelled by the Jail Watch Commander at any time due to emergencies or a change of circumstances requiring cancellation. 

The letters in the chart, below, correspond to the specific housing unit. Jail Reception can advise you in which housing unit the inmate you wish to visit is located. 

Saturday
8:00am – N
9:00am – L
10:00am – K 
11:00am – H/G 
12:00pm – P/E 
1:00pm – D  
2:00pm -N   
3:00pm – M/A   
4:00pm – B/F  
5:00pm – Q/J 
6:00pm – O/C
Sunday
8:00am – O/J 

9:00am – D 
10:00am – M/A 
11:00am – B/F 
12:00pm – P/E 
1:00pm – N 
2:00pm – L 
3:00pm – K 
4:00pm – H/G 
5:00pm – Q/C 
6:00pm – N

The inmate you wish to visit must submit a VISITOR REQUEST FORM, with all visitors’ information. It can take up to 10 days to complete background checks for each visitor. Once the inmate’s visitor request form has been approved, visitors can call Jail Reception to schedule a visit.

Visiting
Visitor lists may only be updated every 30 days. The inmate is responsible for submitting a Visitor Clearance Form. The inmate will need each visitor’s full name, address, phone number, date of birth and a Government ID number (i.e. Drivers License, Passport, Matricula). The inmate submits the completed form to the Jail Staff for visiting clearance. Anyone who has been in custody within the past 60 days, is on parole or formal probation, has a warrant or restraining order prohibiting contact, may not visit.
We schedule appointments Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visiting slots are available every Saturday, Sunday, and are scheduled according to the inmate housing assignments. You may call (831) 454-7800 to schedule an appointment. Visits may be scheduled up to one week in advance.
 

Visiting Rules

• Visitor must arrive one half hour before for check-in. Visitors arriving after the 45 minute mark will have visit automatically cancelled. No exceptions.
• Visiting inmates is by appointment only and visitors must be approved in advance.
• Inmates must be in custody for 72 hours prior to having any visits.
• Appointments are required and must be made with the Reception Staff at least 24 hours in advance.
• Inmates are allowed two visits per week (only one visit per day).
• Visitors must arrive and register 30 minutes prior to their scheduled visit to avoid cancellation. Once you have checked in and your visit is called, if you are not in our lobby, the visit is cancelled. Any visitor canceling or missing a total of 3 visits will be banned from visiting for 30 days.
• Each visit may include up to 2 adults and 3 children. Adult visitors must present a valid photo ID (i.e. Drivers License, Passport, Matricula). A parent or legal guardian must accompany visitors under the age of 18. The parent must bring the minor’s birth certificate and the legal guardian must present court papers showing they are the legal guardian or provide a notarized letter along with the minor’s birth certificate. Minors cannot be left unattended in the lobby area, parking lot or any other area on the jail property.
• All visitors must be appropriately dressed. Clothing that is revealing, offensive, gang related or distracting to others will not be allowed. Shoes and shirts are required. Jail Staff will determine the appropriateness of the clothing.
• Misconduct or violation of the jail rules will result in immediate termination of the visit and may result in the termination of visiting privileges.
• Visitors will not be allowed to bring any property into the visiting room (i.e. cell phones, purses, pagers). Only 1 (one) key will be allowed. Lockers are available for 25 cents. No property to be held in reception.

DRESS CODE RULES STRICTLY ENFORCED

All visitors must wear shoes and clothing that is appropriate for visiting at the MAIN JAIL. Your visit will be cancelled and you will be denied entry into the facility if these rules are not followed. Any questions or clarification of these rules must be directed to the day shift supervisor.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED:

• Dresses, skirts, skirts with slits that are more than 2 inches above the knee
• Clothing that exposes any part of the back, shoulders, chest or midriff
• Visible undergarments
• Transparent clothing, strapless, halter, spaghetti straps, bare midriff clothing, tank tops
• Unfastened buttons and zippers (they must remain fastened)
• Clothing that resembles jail / inmate clothing
• Law Enforcement or military patterned clothing>
• Clothing or footwear containing metal
• Hats
• Medical attire (scrubs)
• Attire displaying obscene or offensive language or drawings
• Visitors with tattoos of an offensive nature, or visible gang-associated tattoos or clothing, will not be allowed to visit
• Anything else deemed inappropriate by the Facility Commander or his/her designee will not be allowed>

All visitors entering the secure area of the jail are subject to being searched. Any person refusing to be searched will be denied the visit and escorted from the facility.