The Santa Rita Jail

Address/phone	Santa Rita Jail 5325 Broder Blvd Dublin, CA 94568 (map) (925) 551-6500
Find an inmate	Inmate locator
Post bail	Jail lobby 24/7
In-person visitation	By appointment
Video visitation	GettingOut.com
Emails	ConnectNetwork GLT
Send care packages	Securepak
Capacity	3,489 inmates, co-ed

Recognized as one of the most technologically innovative jails in the world, the Santa Rita Jail is the third largest detention facility in California and the fifth largest in the country. Operated by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, this facility is sometimes referred to as a “mega jail“.

(Note that the Glenn Dyer Jail in Alameda County has closed and much of the inmate population transferred to the Santa Rita facility)

The Santa Rita Jail temporarily houses arrestees until they

• post bail,
• are released on their own recognizance (known as an O.R. release),
• appear for their arraignment, or
• appear for trial.

Santa Rita Jail also houses convicted defendants who have been sentenced to incarceration in a county jail.

If your loved one is incarcerated at the Santa Rita Jail, keep reading for answers to frequently-asked-questions as provided by our Oakland criminal defense attorneys¹:

• 1. How do I bail someone out of Santa Rita Jail?
  • 1.1. Cash bail
  • 1.2. Cashier’s check
  • 1.3. Bail bonds
• 2. How do I check if someone is at Santa Rita Jail?
• 3. Can I make phone calls?
• 4. When can I visit?
  • 4.1. In-person
  • 4.2. Video
• 5. Can I send mail?
• 6. How can I send money to my loved one?
• 7. What services does the jail provide?
• 8. How can inmates release their property to me?
  • 8.1. How do I drop off court clothes, eyeglasses, or medicine?
• 9. What is the Alameda County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP)?
• Resources for inmates and families

If, after reading this article, you would like more information, we invite you to contact us at Shouse Law Group.

1. How do I bail someone out of Santa Rita Jail?

You can post bail 24/7 at the jail, located at 5325 Broder Blvd., Dublin, CA 94568. As discussed below, Santa Rita Jail accepts either:

1. cash bail,
2. cashier’s checks, or
3. bail bonds.

The bail amount turns on the Alameda County Bail Schedule and specifics of the case. An Alameda County criminal defense attorney can also petition for a bail hearing to secure a reduced bail amount or obtain an O.R. release, which would require no payment.

1.1. Cash bail

When posting bail with cash, the full bail sum must be paid up front.

Assuming your loved one attends all mandated court hearings, the bail money will be refunded to you once the case concludes, subject to a minor administrative charge. However, if your loved one fails to show up for a court hearing, the bail money will be surrendered to the court.

1.2. Cashier’s check

As with cash, bail posted with a cashier’s check must be paid in full. Cashier’s checks must

• be certified and bank-drawn,
• be made payable to the Alameda County Superior Court,
• include the inmate’s full legal name, booking number, and personal file number.

Because the funds must be verified before the jail will release an inmate, the release may take several hours or even a few days depending on the time of day and whether the bail is posted on a weekend.

As long as your loved one does not miss any required court appearances, the bail amount will be returned to you at the case’s conclusion.

1.3. Bail bonds

2. How do I check if someone is at Santa Rita Jail?

To see if your loved one is incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail, you can call the facility at (925) 551-6500 or check the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department inmate information website.

3. Can I make phone calls?

You cannot call people incarcerated at Santa Rita Jail. However, they can call you. You can also set up an account at GTL that allows you to:

• leave voicemails with your loved one
• send/receive emails
• send videos and photos

4. When can I visit?

4.1. In-person

Santa Rita Jail inmates may have one 30-minute visit a day. To visit, you must make an appointment online at least one day in advance and no more than three days in advance.

Available in-person visitation days/times depend on your loved one’s housing unit:

	Sun	Mon	Tue	Thu	Fri	Sat
9:30am – 11am	1 2 (A & B) 4	21 (A – D) 22 23	24 (A, B, C) 35	31 34	7 8 (A – D) 9	31 35
12pm to 2:30pm	24 (A, B, C) 33 34	31 35	25 (D & E) 33	25	33 34	25
6pm to 8pm	7 8 (A – D) 9	1 2 (C & D) 4	21 (A, B, C, E) 22 23	7 8 (A, B, C, E) 9	21 (A, B, C, F) 23 23	1 2 (E & F) 4

You cannot bring personal items with you into the visiting area, so you should lock them in your car or a jail locker. At the jail, you will go through a metal detector and must provide your:

Note that you need permission from the Commanding Officer to visit the Santa Rita Jail if either:

• you were incarcerated at Alameda County Jail System within the last six months;
• you were a convicted felon and were confined in California State Prison; or
• you are currently on county probation

The visitor dress code is conservative. You must wear shoes or sandals at all times, and you may not wear:

4.2. Video

You may schedule a video visit through GTL or gettingout.com. For technical support, call ViaPath at (855) 208-7349.

Video visits can be conducted over your electronic device or a Santa Rita Jail lobby kiosk. They are recorded, so do not say anything incriminating.

During the video visit, you must keep your face within the camera view. You must also dress conservatively, which means no:

• tank tops, half tops, spaghetti straps, or bathing suits
• sheer, tight, or provocative clothing or exposed undergarments
• gang attire
• hats or anything else on your head

5. Can I send mail?

Yes, you may mail letters and photos to your loved one at:

The Santa Rita Jail
[Inmate’s name and personal file number]
5325 Broder Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568

Note that the jail will inspect all mail, so do not say anything incriminating. Furthermore, the following mail will be rejected:

• packages
• Polaroids
• envelopes larger than eight by 14 inches
• mail without a name and return address
• envelopes with sexually explicit drawings
• stamps, paper clips, stickers, or glue

You can send up to six newspapers, magazines, or paperback books through the publisher or online retailer such as Amazon: You may not mail them directly from you.

You can also mail money orders to go on your loved one’s books. They must be made payable to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office c/o [your loved one’s name and personal file number].

6. How can I send money to my loved one?

In order to put cash on your loved one’s books so they may purchase commissary items, you can either:

• send funds electronically through GTL/ConnectNetwork, JPay, or Access Corrections;
• deposit cash or money orders in person at the jail, which is open 24/7 (make sure you have your ID and know your loved one’s personal file number); or
• mail a money order to Santa Rita Jail, [Inmate’s name and personal file number], 5325 Broder Boulevard, Dublin, CA 94568. Make money orders payable to Alameda County Sheriff’s Office c/o [your loved one’s name and personal file number].

7. What services does the jail provide?

Some of the services and programs that Santa Rita Jail offers inmates include:

• on-site medical and mental health services,
• residential substance abuse treatment for men and women, such as narcotics anonymous (NA) and alcoholics anonymous (AA),
• educational services, such as GED preparation and computer training,
• religious services and counseling,
• recreation activities, and
• a library that includes free access to current magazines, newspapers and books.

8. How can inmates release their property to me?

After your loved one is booked at Santa Rita Jail, the staff will store their clothes, keys, and other belongings until their release. Though you may retrieve these items if your loved one fills out a “property release form” designating you to pick them up.

Phone the jail ahead of time at (925) 551-6500 to ensure the property is ready for pick-up. When you do go to the jail, you will need to show your photo I.D. The jail lobby is open 24/7.

Note that if your loved one’s car was impounded, the jail cannot help you. Instead, call the police department for information on

• the car’s whereabouts and
• the documentation you need to secure its release.

8.1. How do I drop off court clothes, eyeglasses or medicine?

To drop off a set of courtroom clothing for your loved one, bring the items to the jail lobby within 72 hours of their scheduled appearance.

Santa Rita Jail already provides medication to inmates, but you may drop off prescription glasses or dentures in a sealed package at the lobby. Though first call Prison Health Services at (925) 551-6700 to confirm that it will be accepted.

9. What is the Alameda County Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP)?

The Alameda Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP) permits certain Santa Rita Jail inmates to live at home and work eight-10 hours a day in lieu of jail. SWAP does not accept

• convicted felons or
• registered sex offenders.

Your loved one must be referred to SWAP by the court. Their defense attorney can ask the judge to refer them.

Resources for inmates and families

For help with reentry following incarceration, former inmates and their families can refer to the following:

• From Corrections to Community: Reentry Health Care – Information by the California Health Care Foundation about connecting people released from custody with community-based medical services.
• List of Reentry Programs in California – Guide compiled by HelpForFelons.org.
• Social Justice Services – Options for social work help compiled by the Alameda County Library.
• Santa Rita Jail Solidarity – Avenues for help for people incarcerated or released from the Santa Rita Jail as well as their families.
• Re-entry & Rehabilitation – Analysis based on surveys about programs necessary to aid with reentry of newly-released inmates.

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