San Benito County Jail Info – Bail, Visiting, Contact

Jail Information

Address:	710 Flynn Rd, Hollister, CA 95023 Map
Phone:	(831) 636-4060
Website:	San Benito County Correctional Department

The San Benito County Jail is located in Hollister, CA. This correctional facility houses male and female detainees awaiting adjudication for a California misdemeanor and/or felony charge as well as inmates serving sentences after criminal conviction.

The San Benito County Correctional Facility is regularly filled to capacity, and has been undergoing an expansion project to accommodate the growing population. The housing capacity is set to increase from 142 to 214 beds as of late 2019.

Built in 1992, San Benito County Detention Center facility is in the Monterey Bay area of central California, about 46 miles south of San Jose.

Benefiting family and friends of individuals detained or incarcerated in the San Benito Correctional Facility, our team of California criminal defense lawyers provide important information below. The following topics are covered in detail:

• 1. Locate a Hollister Inmate
• 2. Bail Payment
• 3. San Benito County Jail Phone Policies
• 4. Commissary Account Funding
• 5. Visiting San Benito County Inmates
• 6. Rules for Inmate Mail
• 7. Life and Health in Detention
• 8. Alternative Incarceration

1. San Benito County Inmate Information

If you believe your loved one may be in custody at the Hollister Jail, you can call the San Benito Sheriff’s Department directly at (831) 636-4060. Providing a first and last name, you can confirm whether or not any individual is currently incarcerated, and also request bail bonding and other information.

San Benito Corrections does not currently provide an online search engine for inmate information.

2. Bail Bonding at the Jail

If a San Benito County arrestee is granted temporary freedom through bail bonding, the required bail can be posted at the jail, online, or through a licensed bail bondsman. You can pay bail online at GovPayNet or deliver or send in a money order, cashier’s or certified check. (Make checks payable to San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.)

3. Inmate Phone Communication

Within three hours of booking into the facility, all new San Benito Jail detainees will be allowed to place free, local phone calls to personal contacts and/or legal counsel. Thereafter, telephone access will be provided to inmates daily, but calls are made collect or funded with prepaid minutes.

An account is set up through an outside vendor to facilitate collect calls from the jail or set up “Advance Pay” service. To establish and fund your account, go to Global Tel Connect Network or call (877)-650-4249.

It is important to be aware: all calls involving inmates at the San Benito County Detention Center will be subject to monitoring and recording. To avoid causing harm to your friend or loved one’s case, it is best to refrain from speaking about criminal charges.

4. Commissary Purchases

San Benito County Jail inmates can order comfort items from commissary, and friends and family can contribute to their cash account for this purpose, or order items directly. The following methods allow you to fund an inmate’s commissary account:

• Lobby Kiosk – There is a kiosk machine in the front office lobby of the jail, which accepts cash and credit/debit card deposits for inmates.
• Online – Go online to Touchpay, where you can set up an account for depositing money. You will need the inmate ID number (available by calling the jail: (831) 636-4060).
• Telephone – Call TelMate at (888) 604-7888 to make a deposit by phone (also requiring the inmate ID number).
• Mail – Send a cashier’s check or money order to the jail at P.O. Box 920, Hollister, CA 95024-0920. Include the inmate’s name and ID number.

Alternatively, you can also order “care package” items, which will be delivered to the inmate. To select items, such as snacks/treats and personal care products, go to icaregifts.com. There is an order limit of one care package per week. For help, call (877) 615-3296.

5. San Benito County Detention Center Visitation

Hollister Detention Center inmates are permitted weekly visitation at the jail as well as remote visitation. Jail visits are limited to one adult accompanied by two children. For the latest updates on visitation information and scheduling, you can call 831-636-4060.

The GTL system allows you the option of scheduling a visit at the San Benito County Jail or scheduling a video visit from your computer or Android device. You make a selection from the available visiting hours, and the system will confirm the visit instantly. For in-person visits, you must arrive 15 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment to register with the jail administration officer (or your visit will be cancelled).

There are a number of visitation rules at this facility, including:

• All visitors are subject to a search for Wants and Warrants via the Department of Justice system. Should a want/warrant be found on any visitor, they will be immediately placed into custody.
• Valid, government-issued photo identification is required of each adult visitor.
• A minor under age 18 must be accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian. Documentation proving legal guardianship must be provided.
• Children must be closely supervised at all times and may not be left unattended on the Hollister Jail grounds.
• Leave personal items at home or in the car, or they will need to be placed in lockers in the jail lobby. This includes food/beverages, purses/wallets, cell phones, sunglasses, laptop computers, etc. You can carry a single key into the visitation area.
• You must be prepared to submit to a search, and a check for outstanding warrants. If you have been incarcerated in San Benito County in the past year, have been convicted of a felony, are on formal probation or parole, or have a restraining order involving an inmate, you may not participate in visitation.
• Any rule violation will terminate your visit and potentially prevent future visitation.

There is also a dress code for visitation at the San Benito County Detention Center. Shirts and shoes are mandatory. Do not arrive wearing revealing or distracting clothing or attire that is gang related. Items deemed offensive by staff will not be permitted.

6. Mail Policies

San Benito Jail inmates can send and receive unlimited quantities of postal correspondence. Inmates can purchase correspondence materials through commissary, and indigent inmates will receive limited supplies.

Envelopes for inmates should contain your name and return address, and should be addressed as follows:

San Benito County Jail
Inmate Name and ID Number
P.O. Box 920
Hollister, CA 95024-0920

All inmate mail will be opened and inspected by staff. Letters are not generally read unless there is reason to suspect a breach of security, criminal activity or other danger. Legal mail is opened in the presence of the inmate.

Packages and padded envelopes are not accepted. A number of other items and embellishments are not allowed and are considered “contraband” at this facility. The list includes:

• Anything plastic or laminated
• Cardboard
• Correspondence materials, i.e. blank envelopes/paper/stamps
• Paper clips, staples
• Cards larger than 5 x 7”
• Money
• Envelopes or letters with tape, stickers, labels, lipstick marks, perfume, or other foreign material
• Markings with crayon or water color paint
• Polaroid pictures
• Photos over 4 x 6” in size (limit: 5)
• Food
• Flowers
• Material that is obscene or sexually oriented, such as images showing nudity

You can order paperback books to be delivered directly from the publisher (not a bookstore.) No hardcover books.

7. Life and Health in Custody

The San Benito Correctional Facility includes two maximum-security and two medium-security modules for male inmates, as well as one medium and one maximum security unit for females. To determine housing classifications, incoming inmates are assessed according to criminal history, gang affiliation and other factors.

Healthcare and dispensation of prescription medication is available for inmates, who are initially screened by an onsite nurse. Mental health care is also provided, if needed. The facility offers detailed information for families who may have a mentally ill loved one in custody as well as a medical form to fill out and fax to the jail at: (831) 636-3954.

Detainees and inmates have access to educational and vocational assistance at the San Benito Jail. In addition, a number of volunteers facility inmate programs, including substance abuse recovery groups, ministry services, “life skills,” computer skills, and other classes and support groups.

8. Work Alternative

The San Benito County Sheriff’s office facilitates a work release or “Sheriff’s Work Alternative Program (SWAP).” This program is available for inmates who have been sentenced for 30 days or less. To participate, you must contact the jail immediately after you are sentenced (at 831-636-4123) to schedule a registration appointment . There is a $60 sign-up fee and $10 daily fee for participants.