updated
Men and women who are arrested in Orange County will be taken to the Orange County Intake Release Center (“IRC”). once booked, men
You are reading: Oc jail money on books
- theo lacy or james a. are transferred to jail. musick jail, or
- stay on irc, also known as orange county central jail (all of which are run by the orange county sheriff’s department). women are brought to james a. musick or central oc.
male inmates can be found at theo lacy because
- is the closest facility to the place of arrest,
- the inmate is considered a high-risk offender, and/or
- the inmate has serious health conditions mental or medical problems.
Since its opening in 1960, Theo Lacy Jail has been transformed from a 424-bed minimum-security jail to a 3,111-bed maximum-security jail, making it the largest jail in Orange County.
/p>
this installation
- temporarily houses arrestees until
- post bail,
- released on their own recognizance (known as parole),
- appear for their arraignment, or
- await their trial, and
inmates who are incarcerated at theo lacy are segregated for security reasons based on criteria including (but not limited to):
- your previous incarceration history,
- current charges, and
- level of criminal sophistication.
and…depending on where they fall within this range…inmates are housed in multiple bunk-style dormitories or single or double cells. inmates are further spaced so that low risk minimum security offenders have more freedom to move around the facility without the danger of higher risk offenders who are housed in a more restricted part of the facility.
In this article, our orange county criminal defense attorneys1 will explain the following:
- 1. procedures on posting bail for an inmate at theo lacy jail facility
- 2. how to obtain inmate information
- 3. how to contact an inmate at theo lacy jail
- 4. visiting hours and policies of theo lacy
- 4.1. visiting hours
- 5.1. Acceptable Mail Items
- 5.2. unacceptable mail items
If after reading this article you want more information, we invite you to contact us at shouse law group.
1. procedures on posting bail for an inmate at theo lacy jail facility
Bail for theo lacy facility is set according to the orange county bail schedule and is determined based on the crimes for which the inmate was arrested.
“Bond” refers to money the inmate (or someone on his or her behalf) pays to assure the arresting agency and the court that the inmate will appear in court after being released from jail.
If the defendant attends all court appearances, the bond will be returned at the end of the case. If the defendant does not attend all of his court appearances, the inmate loses that money to the court.
If you would like to rescue someone from theo lacy, you can do so directly at the facility Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. m. to midnight and Friday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. at midnight. after midnight, you can pay the bond at the intake release center (open 24/7) which is located at
550 north flower street santa ana, ca 92703
To find out the amount of bail that has been set for an inmate, you can call the Sheriff’s Records Department at (714) 935-6940.
theo lacy accepts the following forms of bail:
- cash (if you pay “or post” a cash bond, you must pay the full amount),
- cashier’s checks (if you pay by cashier’s check, it must also be for the amount must be in a check drawn on a california bank made payable to orange county sheriff’s dept. once funds are verified by the jail, the inmate will be released),
- personal checks (make Your check is payable to Orange County Superior Court The maximum amount you can write a check for is $7,500 Make sure the check is for the issuer’s California driver’s license or identification card and is a california bank check),
- traveler’s checks (traveler’s checks must be made payable to the orange county sheriff’s department and will only be accepted if signed in the presence of a cashier at the cashier at the time of posting the bond),
- money orders (money orders, emi ted from any state, must be made payable to the orange county sheriff’s department and must be for th the exact amount of bail) and
- bail bonds (bail bonds are the most common form of posting bail, since they only require you to pay a non-refundable maximum of 10% of the total deposit. The problem is that if the inmate does not show up for all of his court appearances, you will be responsible for paying the bondsman back the full amount of the bail. You can look for a bail bondsman online or in the phone book. be sure to ask for the bondsman’s license for verification. you should also request copies of all documents and keep them for your records).
*note: after posting bail, you should immediately consult with one of our local santa ana criminal defense attorneys.2 not only can we help you create the most effective defense to help free your loved one from charges , but we can also schedule a bond hearing to potentially reduce or even waive the inmate’s bond.
And a word of caution: Lacy Theo’s service does not allow you to combine checks, money orders, and cash to post a bail bond. you must pay the bond using only one type of payment.
2. how to get inmate info
if you would like information about an inmate at theo lacy center, you can
- call the facility directly at (714) 935-6940,
- call the orange county sheriff’s inmate tip line at (714) 647-4666, or
- look for information online at the orange county sheriff’s department’s inmate information website.
Before you are given information, you must know the inmate’s full name and date of birth.
See Also: About Marsha – Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Generally, inmates who are in custody must be processed within two (2) days of their arrest. at that time, the judge will continue with the arraignment or set the case for a pre-trial hearing. If you would like to look up case information or upcoming court dates for an inmate or defendant housed at Theo Lacy, visit the Orange County Court Online Access Information website.
3. how to contact an inmate at theo lacy jail
inmates at theo lacy center can make a free phone call when they arrive at the center. beyond that, inmates may only make outgoing phone calls that are collect or made with a calling card.
if you wish to purchase a phone card for an inmate, you may send money to the inmate in accordance with the policies set forth in section 6. how to put money “on the books” at theo lacy jail facility so you can purchase one in the prison police station.
If you have a loved one in this jail, you may want to contact your local phone company to make sure collect and calling card calls are not blocked on your phone plan.
inmates cannot receive incoming calls. however, you may choose to visit an inmate in person or engage in correspondence by mail. both options are discussed in the next two sections.
4. visiting hours and policies of theo lacy
theo lacy jail facility is located at
501 city drive south of orange, ca 92868 (714) 935-6940
Visitors may park in the north parking structure located across from juvenile court and next to uci medical.
Due to covid-19 concerns, face coverings are required at all times and are not provided by the jail. The jail also has screening procedures that visitors must follow prior to visiting.
visiting hours at theo lacy jail are friday through monday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. appointments must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. inmates at this facility may have one 30-minute visit per day from a maximum of two adults and two children. minors must be supervised by adults at all times.
Attorneys and members of the clergy are not subject to these hours and have unlimited access to inmates.
4.1. rules and restrictions
All visitors are subject to a search of their person, property and vehicles. this includes passing through a metal detection device before entering. any person found in possession of any weapon or instrument capable of causing injury is subject to arrest. and anyone who refuses to be searched will be denied entry to the facility.
lockers are currently unavailable due to covid-19 protocols. the only items visitors may bring into the visiting area are identification and keys (with the exception of certain necessities for those bringing infants into the facility). A valid ID consists of a government-issued photo ID card, such as
- a california driver’s license,
- a california identification card,
- a us identification card uu. passport,
- alien registration card, or
- us identification card. military card.
Visitors may not bring anything to inmates. if you have a document that the inmate is required to sign, you must obtain prior approval from the Theology staff.
Also, visitors should not bring
- food,
- drinks,
- cigarettes,
- matches,
- lighters,
- cell phones, or
- anything else deemed “inappropriate” for a jail visit.
Anyone wearing offensive or inappropriate clothing, as well as anyone who is disruptive, intoxicated, or poses a security threat, may be denied entry. and on that note, anyone found to be in violation of any law will be subject to arrest.
5. rules and regulations regarding correspondence by post
Inmates at theo lacy jail facility can send and receive an unlimited number of letters each day. however…for security reasons…all incoming and outgoing mail is subject to screening before being delivered.
if you would like to send mail to an inmate at theo lacy jail facility, please address it to
[inmate name and register number] 501 the city drive south orange, ca 92868Be sure to include a return address because if you don’t, your mail won’t be delivered.
See Also: Two States. Eight Textbooks. Two American Stories. – The New York Times
all mail must comply with the facility rules and regulations below.
5.1. acceptable mail items
- money orders payable to the orange county sheriff’s department that include the inmate’s full name and register number,
- up to ten (10) pages of photocopied/reproduced material or print,
- up to ten (10) 8×10 or smaller photos (as long as they do not show nudity or sexually suggestive material), and
- new paperback reading materials that shipped directly from a publisher or distributor (amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.) ∗each inmate at theo lacy may have up to five (5) books at any given time.
5.2. unacceptable mail items
you are prohibited from sending
- anything that cannot pass inspection without being damaged,
- any item containing aluminum foil, metal, glass, wood, hard plastic, rubber, or any illegal substance,
- maps, travel brochures, calendars or posters,
- cash, credit cards, check stubs, personal or payroll checks,
- food,
- clothing, hygiene items, or other personal property,
- padded envelopes, or
- any item an inmate may purchase at theo lacy commissary (many of which are can see by clicking here).
Prohibited mail will not be delivered to the inmate.
6. how to put money “on the books” in theo lacy jail
Putting money “in the books” is a procedure that conveniently offers family members or friends of inmates at theo lacy jail the opportunity to deposit money into an inmate’s inmate bank account. Any cash the inmate had at the time of booking will also be deposited into this account unless the money has been seized by the arresting agency as evidence of a crime.
This account allows inmates to purchase items that are available at the commissary, such as food, drinks, games, and cosmetics while incarcerated at this facility.
If you want to “put money on the books,” you can do so with cash, a government check, or a money order. no other forms of payment will be accepted. Each inmate is allowed to have a maximum of $500 in his account at any one time.
If you wish to deposit money in person, you may do so at the jail box Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. m. to 1:30 a.m. m. or from Friday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. m. to 1:30 a.m. m. alternatively, you can deposit the money 24/7 at the income release center (“irc”) located at
550 north flower street santa ana, ca 92703.
theo lacy cashier offices accept cash or money orders payable to the orange county sheriff’s department that includes the inmate’s name and register number.
If you want to make a deposit by mail, you are prohibited from sending cash. however, you may send a properly endorsed money order, cashier’s check, or government check. and make sure you comply with the additional rules and regulations related to mail described above in section 5. rules and regulations related to correspondence by mail.
7. inmate services
Theo Lacy Jail offers its inmates a variety of services. some of these include:
- access to television,
- outdoor recreation,
- access to local newspapers,
- a commissary,
- medical and dental care,
- religious services (performed by chaplains from a wide variety of religious denominations),
- vocational and educational programs,
- treatment by substance abuse and
- the opportunity to work in a jail kitchen or other facility to earn “work time” credits to reduce your sentence.
8. procedures related to the return of property in theo lacy prison
When inmates are brought into the Theocracy, any property they had at the time of arrest is collected and stored. this property is generally stored until the inmate is released. however, an inmate may designate a friend/family member to pick him up on his behalf.
If you know an inmate wants you to pick up his property, you can complete a property release form at a regular visit. a staff member will have the inmate sign the form, and they can then retrieve their property within 7 days of request during those same hours.
clothes will not be delivered unless you provide a change.
9. theo lacy community work program
Eligible inmates may qualify to participate in the County’s Community Work Program (“CWP”). Under this program, participants are still considered inmates at theo lacy…and are still subject to specific rules and regulations…but are allowed to perform work for the county in lieu of serving their jail sentence.
Participants work ten hours a day, each equivalent to a 24-hour stint in jail. And because this program is only offered to low-risk offenders, it allows them to go home for the night rather than stay in jail.
some of the eligibility criteria include (but are not limited to):
- a county jail sentence of 150 days or less (for a non-violent or sex-related crime),
- no active warrants or arrests,
- physically able to perform manual labor,
- orange county permanent resident status,
- able to provide own transportation, and
- payment of a $90 application fee.
This type of alternative sentencing option is simply one of the reasons why it is so important to consult with a local criminal defense attorney. only an attorney who has experience with the orange county court system knows that these types of sentencing alternatives are available…and more importantly, knows how to persuade a judge that their client should be approved for this type alternative statement.
call us for help…
If you or a loved one is charged with a crime and is looking to retain an attorney to represent you, we invite you to contact us at shouse law group. we can provide a free consultation in the office or over the phone. We have local offices in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, Long Beach, Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and throughout California. /p >
1Our orange county criminal defense attorneys serve the newport beach, fullerton, laguna beach, irvine, santa ana, anaheim and westminster areas. In addition, our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys have local law offices in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Pomona, Torrance, Van Nuys, West Covina, and Whittier.
2Our Santa Ana criminal defense attorneys have a local law office located at 500 North State College Blvd., Suite 1100 Orange, CA 92868
See Also: Gillian Flynn – Book Series In Order