| Address/phone | 150 W Hedding St, San Jose, CA 95110 (map) (408) 299-2306 |
| Find an inmate | Inmate locator |
| Bail info | Call jail at (408) 299-2306 |
| Visiting info | Click here |
| Email inmates | Click here |
| Capacity | 919 inmates, males only |
The Santa Clara Main Jail houses arrestees until if/when they bail out or are given O.R. release. It also houses convicted defendants serving short sentences.
Males who are arrested in Santa Clara County are taken to the Main Jail where they are either housed or transferred to the Elmwood Correctional Facility, depending on a variety of factors, such as
- the charges for which the inmate was arrested (the Main Jail typically houses medium to maximum security inmates),
- the availability of bed space,
- medical needs, etc.
Female arrestees are taken to the Correctional Center for Women which is part of the Elmwood Correctional Facility.
In this article, our San Jose criminal defense attorneys1 provide information about the Santa Clara Main Jail Complex by explaining the following:
- 1. What is the process for posting bail at the Santa Clara Main Jail Complex?
- 2. How can I search for someone at the jail?
- 3. How do I make/receive inmate phone calls and emails?
- 4. What are the rules for mailing inmates?
- 5. How can I visit someone at the jail?
- 6. How can I put money on someone’s books?
- 7. How do I pick up an inmate’s property?
- 8. What are the jail’s inmate services?
- 9. What is Santa Clara County’s Work Program?
If after reading this article, you would like more information, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group.
1. What is the process for posting bail at the Santa Clara Main Jail Complex?
The Santa Clara Jail accepts four types of bail:
- Cash paid in full
- Cashier’s check paid in full – made payable to the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections, and the check should include the inmate name, booking number, and personal file number
- Money order paid in full – made payable to the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections, and the check should include the inmate name, booking number, and personal file number
- Bail bonds – you pay a bondsman 10% of the total bail, which is non-refundable
Once the criminal case ends, you get the bail money back save a small administrative fee (though if the inmate ever misses court, you forfeit the money).
If you paid by bail bond, you never get the 10% fee you paid back. If the inmate misses court, then the bondsman can go after you for the remaining 90%.
Call the jail at (408) 299-2306 before you go down there to make sure the bail desk is open.
An inmate’s bail is determined by the Santa Clara County Bail Schedule.
2. How can I search for someone at the jail?
In order to get information about an inmate at the Santa Clara County Main Complex, you can search online or call the facility’s inmate information line at (408) 299-2306.
3. How do I make/receive inmate phone calls and emails?
Santa Clara Jail inmates are not allowed to receive incoming calls. Instead, they are given time during the day to phone you.
You can send emails to inmates through emailtoinmates.com.
4. What are the rules for mailing inmates?
You may send Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex inmates mail to:
Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex
Inmate’s name, booking number and Personal File Number
150 W. Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
All mail must be sent through the U.S. Postal Service – any mail sent through UPS, FedEx or any other mail courier will not be accepted. All mail will be searched for any possible security breaches.
You may send inmates newspapers, paperback books or magazines as long as you have them mailed directly from the publisher or retailer via the U.S. Postal Service.
4.1. Prohibited items
The following items will not be delivered to Santa Clara County inmates:
- plastics, cardboard, double-ply cards, laminated items, greeting cards larger than 5″x7″, postage stamps, staples, paper clips, stamped and/or padded envelopes, items that are taped or blank paper,
- artwork done with wax, watercolors or heavy crayons,
- packages,
- pictures larger than 4″x6″, Polaroid or other “instant” pictures, or any photos that depict gang-related activities or that are sexual in nature,
- items that are homemade, have stains or suspicious prints or markings on them,
- cash, illegal items or drugs,
- flowers, or
- any type of food or drinks.
5. How can I visit someone at the jail?
Santa Clara County Main Jail permits inmates two 60-minute visits per week. Up to two adults may visit at a time, though each one would receive a 30-minute visit.
You must register and schedule a visit online at least 24 hours in advance, and you must check in 30 minutes before the visit. You must show either your:
- driver’s license,
- identification card,
- U.S. Passport,
- alien registration card, or
- U.S. military card.
These identification cards and a single key are the only items that will be allowed inside the facility. You are also subject to a search and warrant check.
If you have an infant, you may bring one diaper, some wipes and one pre-mixed formula/white milk bottle per infant. Minors must have an original or notarized copy of their birth certificate and must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
5.1. Visiting hours for Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex
| Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday | Saturday, Sunday |
|---|---|
| 8:10 am | 7:00 am |
Visiting schedules are subject to change, so it is advisable to call the visitor information line at (408) 299-3438 prior to arranging a visit.
5.2. Visitor restrictions
You may not wear/carry/display:
- revealing and/or sexually provocative clothing,
- clothing with offensive or obscene images or words,
- clothing with patterns that illustrate or resemble law enforcement or military emblems,
- clothing that is similar to that of the inmates’,
- clothing or footwear with metal parts (shoes must be worn at all times),
- hats, caps, bandanas or any other “headgear”,
- handbags, purses, wallets, cell phones or pagers, or
- a tattoo of an offensive nature or that is gang-related.
Unless you have permission from the jail commander, you may not visit if:
you have an active warrant - you are out on bail
- you were incarcerated in a Santa Clara jail within the past 60 days (unless you were booked and released on the same day)
- you have a court case that is open or pending
- you were convicted of a felony and were incarcerated in state prison
- you were convicted of a misdemeanor in the last three years
- you are on probation or parole
- you have a restraining order involving the person you want to visit
- you have been convicted of committing violent- or sex crimes while in custody
Santa Clara County Main Jail allows inmates two 60-minute visits per week.
6. How can I put money on someone’s books?
There are four ways to put money on a Santa Clara County Jail inmate’s commissary account:
- Online at www.touchpayonline.com – accepts Vista/MasterCard/debit card
- Jail lobby kiosk – accepts cash/Visa/MasterCard/debit card
- Over the phone by calling TouchPay – first call 1-866-204-1603 to set up an account, then call 1-866-232-1899 to deposit funds; the jail’s facility code is 295110; accepts Visa/MasterCard/debit card
- Mailing a money order or cashier’s check made payable to Santa Clara County Department of Correction and that includes the inmate’s name and PFN number and your contact information – also include your return address on the envelope – send to 150 W. Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110
7. How do I pick up an inmate’s property?
A Santa Clara County Main Jail inmate may release all of their property (except clothes) to you by filling out a property release form. You can then pick up the property any day between 7am and 2pm. You just need to show your ID.
8. What are the jail’s inmate services?
The Santa Clara Department of Corrections offers a variety of mental/medical, educational and recreational programs to its Main Jail inmates. Some of these include:
- a commissary where inmates can purchase a variety of items such as food, reading materials, hygiene products, games, etc.,
- mental health counseling,
- religious services,
- drug and/or alcohol counseling and meetings,
- anger management and parenting classes,
- English as a second language classes, computer classes, literacy classes and the opportunity to earn a general education diploma (GED) or high school diploma,
- work programs, and
- community work skills such as grounds, roads, parks and school maintenance.
9. What is Santa Clara County’s Work Program?
As an alternative to traditional jail, the Sheriff Work Program (“SWP”) offers low-risk offenders the opportunity to serve their sentences by performing community labor in lieu of incarceration.
For more information, visit the Sheriff’s Work Program rules website or call (408) 535-4211.
- Our San Jose criminal defense attorneys’ offices are located at 95 S. Market St., Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95113. Our telephone number is (408) 347-1200. In addition, our California criminal defense lawyers have local law offices conveniently located throughout the state in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Oakland, the San Francisco Bay area, and several nearby cities.