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Recognized as one of the most technologically innovative prisons in the world, the Santa Rita Jail is the third largest detention center in California and the fifth largest in the country. Operated by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, this facility holds 4,000 inmates, which is why it is sometimes referred to as a “mega jail.”
You are reading: Santa rita jail money on books
(please note that the glenn dyer jail in alameda county has closed and much of the inmate population has been transferred to the santa rita facility)
people who are arrested in alameda county are taken to the santa rita jail or the glenn e. dye detention center, according to
- the arrestee’s gender (women are housed exclusively at santa rita),
- which facility is closest to the place of arrest (if the arrestee is male),
- the medical needs of the arrestee (serious medical needs are taken care of at santa rita), and
- the availability of bed space.
the prison of santa rita
- temporarily houses arrestees until
- post bail,
- released on their own recognizance (known as parole),
- appear for your arraignment, or
- appear for trial, and
In this article, our oakland1 criminal defense attorneys will explain the following:
- 1. procedures on how to pay the bail of an inmate in the santa rita prison
- 1.1. cash bond
- 1.2. cashier’s check
- 1.3. bonds
- 8.1. collect property
- 8.2. leave ownership
If after reading this article you want more information, we invite you to contact us at shouse law group.
1. procedures to pay the bail of an inmate in the santa rita jail
After an inmate has been booked into the Santa Rita Jail, his bond is set according to the Alameda County Bail Schedule and is determined based on the crimes for which he was arrested.
“bail” is the amount of money a defendant (or usually someone on their behalf) must pay to be released from jail. is intended to assure the arresting agency and the court that the defendant will appear in court as expected.
If the defendant attends all of his court appearances, the bond will be returned at the end of the case. If the defendant does not attend all of his court appearances, he will lose that money in court.
the santa rita jail accepts three types of bail: cash bail, cashier’s checks, and bail bonds (all of which are discussed in detail in our article on posting bail in california). and if you choose to post an inmate’s bond, you can do so directly in the jail lobby 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1.1. cash bond
When you post or “pay” bail in cash, you pay the full amount of the bail. once bail is paid in cash, the inmate is released pending his arraignment. if the inmate attends his court appearances, the bond will be returned after the conclusion of the criminal case (minus a small administrative fee). If the inmate does not attend those appearances, he will lose his money in court.
1.2. cashier’s check
As with cash bail, if you choose to use a cashier’s check, you must post the full amount of the bail. The Santa Rita Jail only accepts cashier’s checks drawn on certified banks payable to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. cashier’s checks must include the reservation number, personnel file number, and the inmate’s full legal name.
And because funds must be verified before the jail releases an inmate, an inmate’s release can take several hours or even a few days, depending on the time of day and if bail is posted on a weekend.
1.3. bonds
Bail bonds are the most common way to pay bail, as they only require you to pay a non-refundable maximum of 10% of the total bail. you get a bond from a bail bondsman (also known as a bail bondsman). if the defendant shows up for all of his court appearances, you pay nothing besides the 10%, but you don’t get that 10% back…it’s the bondsman’s non-refundable fee. If the inmate fails to make those appearances, he will be responsible for returning the full amount of the bail to the officer.
Local bail bond agents advertise online and in the phone book. Be sure to verify the bondsman’s license and keep copies of all documents for your records.
*note: after posting bail for an inmate at the santa rita jail, you should immediately consult with one of our experienced oakland criminal defense attorneys who can schedule a bail hearing to argue that the bail should be reduced or be removed. one of our experienced local attorneys can also help design the most effective legal defense to help your loved one fight their case.
2. how to get inmate info
If you would like information from the jail about an inmate incarcerated at the santa rita jail, you may call the jail at (925) 551-6500 anytime day or night. You can also access inmate information online through the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information website.
You must provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth or their personnel file number to ensure you are receiving accurate information.
if you want information about an inmate’s case, such as an upcoming date for his
- arraignment,
- pretrial hearing,
- jury trial or
- sentence hearing,
You can visit the Alameda County Case Information website.
3. how to contact an inmate in the santa rita jail
inmates at the santa rita jail can make a free phone call at the time of booking. thereafter, calls must be made collect or with a prepaid calling account. inmates cannot receive incoming calls.
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If you would like to set up a prepaid calling account for an inmate, you may do so online through the global tel* link, or you may call the global tel at (800) 483-8314. prepaid credit is available in $25 and $50 increments. To ensure the correct inmate receives credit, be sure to specify the inmate’s register number and full name.
if you have a loved one in santa rita jail, you may want to contact your local phone provider to make sure global tel*link and collect calls are not blocked on your phone plan.
The good news is that contact with inmates in jail is not limited to phone calls. You may also visit an inmate in person or communicate by mail. these options are discussed in the next two sections.
4. visiting hours and policies
As of April 2022, the Sheriff’s Office has resumed in-person visits at 50% capacity. Covid-19 protocols, such as the use of face masks and social distancing, are in place for the safety of inmates and visitors.
Be sure to arrive early enough to allow enough time to have your temperature checked, check in with lobby staff, and be screened by visiting officers. there is a one hour “decontamination cool down period” between visits. late entry is not allowed.
the santa rita prison is located in
5325 broder boulevard dublin, ca 94568 (925) 551-6500
inmates at the santa rita jail are allowed one 30-minute visit each visiting day. only 2 visitors per stand will be allowed. children under 12 must be accompanied by their parents or guardians at all times. groups of 4-6 visitors must remain in the public visiting corridor area, but are allowed to rotate visitors during their visiting session.
video visits are available from home on compatible electronic devices or through kiosks in the santa rita jail lobby. visitors can schedule a video visit appointment online 24 hours a day.
visiting hours at the santa rita prison are from wednesday to sunday. the exact days and times vary, depending on the unit the inmate is housed in. visits must be scheduled in advance and can be scheduled up to three (3) days in advance. visits will not be allowed on the same day.
to schedule a visit you can
- Call 925-551-6500
- Fill out an online reservation request on the jail visitor website.
Attorneys and members of the clergy are not subject to these visiting hours. however, they must also call ahead to schedule their visits.
4.1. rules and restrictions
All visitors must present a valid government-issued photo ID. card, like
- a california driver’s license,
- a california identification card,
- a us identification card uu. passport,
- alien registration card, or
- us identification card. military card.
All visitors are subject to a search of their person and property. and any visitor who
- has been detained in an alameda county jail within the last six (6) months, or
- was convicted of a felony and served time in the california state prison
- revealing, sexually provocative clothing or clothing with images or writing related to sex, drugs, violence or gangs,
- food or drink,
- alcohol, drugs or any other illegal substance,
- illegal weapons or other objects that can be used to cause injury to another person,
- purses, briefcases, wallets, keys, cameras, cell phones, pagers, tape recorders, strollers/baby carriers, etc.
- eating, drinking, or smoking on the premises,
- being intoxicated or under the influence of any controlled substance,
- loitering on the premises,
- leaving children unattended,
- attempting to have physical contact or exchanging any item with an inmate, and/or
- engaging in loud conversations, boisterous laughter, or any other disruptive behavior
- money orders payable to: alameda county sheriff’s office c/o inmate name and personnel file number, and
- western union express collect to be addressed as follows manner: alameda county sheriff’s office alamedassheriff ca inmate’s last name, first name, and personnel file number
- On-site medical and mental health services,
- Residential substance abuse treatment for men and women, such as Narcotics Anonymous “n.a.” and Alcoholics Anonymous “a.a.”),
- educational services (such as testing to help inmates earn their ged high school equivalency diplomas and computer training),
- religious services and counseling,
- recreational activities, and
- a library that includes free access to current magazines, newspapers, and books.
- preliminary hearing,
- jury trial, or
- injunction.
- qualify as a “low risk” offender (based on the offense for which the defendant was convicted and his or her criminal history),
- were referred by the sentencing judge, and
- were sentenced to less than 30 days in jail.
You will only be allowed to visit an inmate with the prior approval of the Santa Rita Jail Commanding Officer.
Visitors are not allowed to bring anything to inmates. additionally, visitors may not bring/wear any of the following onto the premises:
visitors who
You will be evicted from the premises and… depending on the exact infraction… you could even be arrested on the spot. and the santa rita jail staff reserves the right to deny entry to anyone they believe poses a threat to the safety of staff or inmates in the facility.
5. rules and regulations regarding correspondence by mail in the santa rita jail
Mail is distributed to inmates Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. if you want to send mail to an inmate at the santa rita jail, send it to
santa rita jail [inmate name and personnel file number] 5325 broder boulevard dublin, ca 94568
Jail staff will open and inspect all general mail outside of the inmate’s presence. if the inmate does not consent to this process, the mail will simply be returned, marked as “rejected”.
Be sure to include your name and a return address on the outside of the envelope. if you do not, your mail will not be delivered to the inmate. likewise, mail larger than 8″ x 14″ will be returned to sender.
any sexually explicit drawing on the envelope will cause the mail to be returned to the sender. however, sexually explicit material that is mailed in an envelope will be delivered to the inmate, provided it is not defined as “obscene” under Penal Code 311 pc.
Paperback books, newspapers, and magazines are the only packages inmates can receive…and that’s only if they’re mailed directly from the publisher. no more than 6 of these items can be received at any one time.
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The only types of mail that will be delivered to inmates are photos (not Polaroid photos) and letters; no stamps, clips, stickers, glue, etc.
if you wish to mail money to an inmate for their account (discussed below in the next section), the santa rita jail accepts
6. how to put money “on the books”
inmates at the santa rita jail are allowed access to money to make purchases at the jail commissary. such purchases may include snacks, beverages, medications, cosmetics, and hygiene items.
If you wish to deposit money into an inmate’s account…a process known as putting money “on the books”…you may deposit cash or a money order for the exact amount you wish to deposit. The jail will not give change or accept any other form of payment.
If you wish to deposit cash, you must do so in person. money orders can be delivered in person or by mail. you can make a deposit in person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To deposit money into an inmate’s account, you will be asked to provide identification and must know the inmate’s name and personnel file number.
if sending a money order, make it payable to
alameda county sheriff’s office c/o inmate name and personnel file number.
and be sure to abide by the other rules related to mail correspondence discussed above in section 5. rules and regulations regarding mail correspondence at the santa rita jail. inmates who were incarcerated at this facility in the last six months may not deposit money into another inmate’s account.
7. inmate services
the santa rita prison offers a variety of services to its inmates. Examples of some of these services include:
8. the “return of goods” procedures for the santa rita prison
when an inmate enters the santa rita jail, his belongings are collected and stored. this property is returned to the inmate once he is released. alternatively, an inmate may complete a property release form designating another person to reclaim that property.
8.1. collect property
If an inmate has asked you to pick up their property, you must bring a valid photo ID. You should also call (925) 551-6500 in advance to make sure the property is ready for you to pick up. once an inmate requests property release, it may take up to seven (7) days for the request to be processed.
once property is available for pickup, you can claim it 24/7 in the jail lobby.
if the inmate had a car impounded at the time of his arrest, and you are trying to release that car, you should contact the arresting agency to determine (1) if and when the vehicle can be released, and (2 ) what documentation you will need to ensure that authorization.
Car keys can be picked up in the jail lobby. again, you must call (925) 551-6500 in advance to make sure the keys are ready for pickup.
8.2. leave the property
If you are dropping off courtroom clothing for an inmate, you may do so in the jail lobby within 72 hours
You may only leave 1 set of clothing, and it must be changed one at a time with any clothing the inmate already has stored in the property department.
If you wish to drop off items such as prescription glasses, contact lens solution, or dentures, you may bring them to the jail lobby in a sealed package. however, the santa rita jail provides all medications through prison health services, so some items from visitors may not be accepted.
Before you leave the property, you may want to first contact prison health services at (925) 551-6700 to confirm that you will be accepted.
9. Alameda County Sheriff’s Alternative Work Program (Exchange)
In lieu of a jail sentence, certain defendants may be eligible to participate in the Alameda Sheriff’s Alternative Work Program (Exchange). this program is available to those defendants who
the exchange allows qualifying defendants to work 8-10 hours a day instead of a day of confinement. there is a non-refundable fee of $65 to apply for this program. there is also an additional fee of $12 per day you participate in this program.
This is simply one of the reasons why it is critical for a defendant to consult with an experienced local criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after an arrest. An attorney who is knowledgeable about alternative sentencing programs offered by local law enforcement agencies is the key to securing this type of sentence…and avoiding incarceration.
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.
1our oakland criminal defense law offices are located at 2010 crow canyon place, suite 100, san ramon, ca 94583. our san francisco bay area attorneys also have local law offices in san francisco and san jose and serving the entire Northern California region including (but not limited to) Santa Clara, Contra Costra, and Alameda counties.
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