| Address: | 131 N Isabel St, Glendale, CA 91206 Map |
| Phone: | (818) 548-3124 |
| Website: | Glendale City Jail |
| Visitation: | Video Visitation |
Like several similar facilities in Southern California, the Glendale Jail offers a “Pay to Stay” or “Private Jail” program. Pay to Stay accommodations are in addition to (and separate from) temporary housing provided for general population detainees booked into the jail.
The Glendale City Jail is located about nine miles north of downtown Los Angeles.
Provided by our team of California criminal defense lawyers, the following information may be beneficial for friends/relatives of individuals now detained or incarcerated in the Glendale Detention Facility. Below, we offer key details on the following subjects:
- 1. How do I search for an inmate in Los Angeles County?
- 2. How do I post bail at Glendale City Jail?
- 3. Can I call an inmate?
- 4. What are the visiting hours and policies?
- 5. What is “Pay to Stay”?
- 6. Property Release
The Glendale City Jail is located at 131 N Isabel St, Glendale, CA 91206
1. How do I search for an inmate in Los Angeles County?
If you think your friend or loved one may have been taken into custody in the Glendale area, you can find out in a few ways. The Los Angeles Sheriff Department’s online “inmate Information” search page provides a way to look up a potential inmate by name. After identifying your subject by birthdate and other descriptive information, a link provides a data page showing:
- Arrest date and detention location
- Booking number (important to jot down)
- Criminal charge classification (felony or misdemeanor)
- Bail amount, if applicable
You can also call the L.A. County inmate information phone line, which is (213) 473-6100, or call the GPD Jail directly at (818) 548-3124.
Note that individuals arrested in Glendale generally stay at the Glendale City Jail for just a short period of time. Many gain temporary freedom after they post bail or are released on their own recognizance (known as an “O.R.” release). Others remain for a few days awaiting their arraignment hearing and potential transfer.
Unless participating in GCJ Pay to Stay, males will generally be transferred to a larger Los Angeles County jail, such as the Los Angeles Twin Towers Jail or the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail. Women will be transferred to the Century Regional Detention Facility.
2. How do I post bail at Glendale City Jail?
Once an inmate’s bail has been set, a friend or family member may post bail on his/her behalf. Bail for inmates at the Glendale City Jail is set according to Los Angeles County Court guidelines.
“Bail” is an amount of money designed to reasonably assure the arresting agency and court that a defendant will make his/her court appearances after being released from jail. (See “How to Post Bail in California”.) It is important to understand: if the inmate attends his/her court appearances, bail money will be returned following the conclusion of the criminal case. Otherwise, the defendant forfeits your money to the court.
The Glendale Police Department accepts bail in the following forms: cash, cashier’s check (from a California bank only), money order, and bail bond. You may pay bail* directly at the Glendale Police Station 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
When paying a criminal detainee’s bail, you must post the full amount. Before obtaining a cashier’s check or money order, call the jail at (818) 548-3124 and ask how (to which agency) the check should be made out. Check information should include the full legal name and booking number of the inmate.
If you choose to use a licensed bail bondsman, you are required to pay just a percentage of the total bail amount. However, this amount will be nonrefundable — the bonding agency will keep your payment as compensation for services. And, If the inmate doesn’t make required court appearances, you will be liable for repaying the entire bail amount to the bondsman.
*Note: Alternatively, an experienced Glendale criminal defense lawyer can schedule a bail hearing, arguing that bail should be reduced or eliminated.
3. Can I call an inmate?
California law guarantees incoming jail detainees the right to make initial (local) phone calls free of charge. These calls are generally used to contact friends or family members and/or to seek help from a criminal attorney.
The Glendale Jail does not accept any incoming personal telephone calls for detainees or “Pay to Stay” inmates. Phones are available in the common areas, and housed inmates are free to use these to make outgoing calls. The GPD contracts with an outside vendor, “Legacy Inmate” to allow friends and family to fund prepaid inmate calls. To set up an inmate phone account, go to legacyinmate.com or call customer service at (877) 533-4440.
Note: Because inmate phone calls are subject to monitoring and recording, it is always best to refrain from speaking about criminal charges over the phone.
4. What are the visiting hours and policies?
Visitation at the Glendale Detention Facility takes place every afternoon between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Inmates are permitted a maximum of two 15-minute visits daily, with one person allowed to participate per visitation appointment.
All Glendale Jail visits are non-contact “video visits,” whether they take place on site at the jail or remotely, via your home computer. The cost is 50 cents per minute for both remote visits and video visits at the jail.
To schedule a visit, Glendale Jail uses the services of NCIC Inmate Communications. An account can be used to pay for telephone calls, pay for remote video visits, or schedule remote and onsite video visits.
Similar to the policy for phone calls, all inmate visits in Glendale (or remotely) are subject to monitoring and recording.
5. What is “Pay to Stay”?
In addition to providing temporary housing to inmates awaiting adjudication, the Glendale Police Jail offers a program called the “Pay to Stay Weekender” program. This type of “Private Jail” option allows eligible defendants to serve their time in quarters that are segregated from the general population at GCJ (or at a L.A. County jail).
Despite its name, Glendale Pay to Stay inmates do not serve their sentences on the weekends, but serve days consecutively until the entire sentence is complete. Men and women are housed in different units, and each unit has sleeping quarters, day room and shower facilities that are entirely separate from general population GCJ detainees. The Glendale Detention Facility is described by the GPD as “modern, clean, and efficiently operated.”
While Pay to Stay may be a desirable alternative to regular incarceration, it is by no means “luxury living.” Cells are double occupancy, including a toilet, sink and water fountain, and inmates are generally required to work in the jail’s laundry and/or provide janitorial services. Allowable attire consists of one set of “comfortable clothing,” and an additional T shirt, pair of socks and underwear. (No belts, caps, or jewelry allowed.) Other possessions are limited to photo ID and one book.
The daily fee for GPD Pay to Stay participants is $90.00, and the entire fee is due and payable upon check in at the jail. Payment can be made with a personal check, cashier’s check, money order or credit card, but no cash is accepted.
Participation in the Glendale Private Jail program is limited to men and women who meet strict eligibility criteria and have been pre-screened and approved by a judge. (If you have a health condition requiring disbursement of medication, you will not be accepted.) For more information about the program, contact the jail directly at (818) 548-3124 or (818) 548-3125 or see the GPD’s online information.
6. Property Pick-Up
Personal property is confiscated from inmates during the booking process and kept for safe keeping until their release from jail. Inmates can opt to sign a release authorization form which will allow a family member or friend to pick up property. The hours to pick up inmate property at GCJ are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Valid photo identification will be required for property retrieval. Call (818) 548-3147 for property information.