Santa Cruz County Main Jail

County Jail

Last Updated: May 01, 2025
Address
259 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Beds
400
County
Santa Cruz
Phone
831-454-2420
Email
shf118@co.santa-cruz.ca.us

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Santa Cruz Co Jail is for County Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for County - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Inmate Calling Solutions (ICSolutions), to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Santa Cruz County Main Jail

You can support your loved ones at Santa Cruz Co Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 831-454-2420.

When someone you care about gets locked up, it's tough to figure out all the ins and outs of jail life. From sending mail to visiting, there are a lot of things to sort out. And getting info about the arrest? Not always easy. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get a handle on how things work here so that you can stay connected and support your loved one behind bars.

The Santa Cruz Co Jail is a detention center located at 259 Water St Santa Cruz, CA which is operated locally by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Santa Cruz County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Santa Cruz Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals.

You can see all the arrest records for California here.

Mail

  • All mail will be opened and checked for contraband.
  • Postage stamps are NOT allowed to be mailed for inmate use.
  • Pictures (4"x6" or smaller). Five or less photos.
  • Greeting cards must be single layer (no plastic coating or oversized).
  • Books, newspapers and periodicals can only come from the publisher or Internet distributor (no hardbound books allowed).
  • Publications that are obscene, pornographic, intended to incite murder, arson, riot, racism, violence or material concerning gangs or gambling will not be allowed.
  • Mail to/from other penal institutions is prohibited unless authorized by the Facility Commander.
  • Mail must be addressed as follows:
    Inmate Name, Inmate S#
    Santa Cruz Main Jail
    259 Water Street
    Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Money
Money can be left daily at the kiosks located in the Main Jail Lobby or the Rountree - Medium Facility (reception staff cannot take any inmate deposits). Kiosks accept cash and credit cards. Deposits are accepted from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, 7 days a week. Money orders (payable to the inmate) can still be mailed in. Credit card deposits can also be made at these websites: www.santacruzpackages.com, www.inmatedeposits.com, or by phone at (866) 345-1884.

Property Release
Upon the request of an inmate or officer, excess personal property may be released. This only pertains to property in the inmate’s possession in the housing unit. A property release form must be signed by the inmate. Releases occur Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Property left upon release will be stored no longer than 120 days.

Inmate Locator

To utilize the Inmate Search page on InmateAid, begin by selecting the relevant prison facility in California. This allows you to view the current list of inmates housed at Santa Cruz County Main Jail.

The second section features the InmateAid Inmate Search tool, providing a user-generated database of inmates. You can access this resource to utilize any of InmateAid's services. If you require assistance in creating an inmate profile to maintain communication, please contact us at aid@inmateaid.com, and we'll gladly help you locate your loved one.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

Santa Cruz County CA Main Jail - Visitation

The Main Jail’s visiting hours will take place on Saturdays and Sundays, between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.

Visitors can call Jail Reception at (831) 454-7800, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M., and 8:00 A.M.-3:00P.M. on Friday, to schedule a visit in accordance with the schedule below.

Visits MUST be scheduled a minimum of 24 hours in advance, but no sooner than 7 days in advance.

Scheduled visits may be cancelled by the Jail Watch Commander at any time due to emergencies or a change of circumstances requiring cancellation.

The letters in the chart, below, correspond to the specific housing unit. Jail Reception can advise you in which housing unit the inmate you wish to visit is located.

Saturday
8:00am - N
9:00am - L
10:00am - K
11:00am – H/G
12:00pm – P/E
1:00pm - D
2:00pm -N
3:00pm – M/A
4:00pm – B/F
5:00pm – Q/J
6:00pm – O/C
Sunday
8:00am - O/J

9:00am - D
10:00am - M/A
11:00am - B/F
12:00pm - P/E
1:00pm - N
2:00pm - L
3:00pm - K
4:00pm - H/G
5:00pm - Q/C
6:00pm - N

The inmate you wish to visit must submit a VISITOR REQUEST FORM, with all visitors’ information. It can take up to 10 days to complete background checks for each visitor. Once the inmate’s visitor request form has been approved, visitors can call Jail Reception to schedule a visit.

Visiting
Visitor lists may only be updated every 30 days. The inmate is responsible for submitting a Visitor Clearance Form. The inmate will need each visitor’s full name, address, phone number, date of birth and a Government ID number (i.e. Drivers License, Passport, Matricula). The inmate submits the completed form to the Jail Staff for visiting clearance. Anyone who has been in custody within the past 60 days, is on parole or formal probation, has a warrant or restraining order prohibiting contact, may not visit.
We schedule appointments Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visiting slots are available every Saturday, Sunday, and are scheduled according to the inmate housing assignments. You may call (831) 454-7800 to schedule an appointment. Visits may be scheduled up to one week in advance.

Visiting Rules

  • Visitor must arrive one half hour before for check-in. Visitors arriving after the 45 minute mark will have visit automatically cancelled. No exceptions.
  • Visiting inmates is by appointment only and visitors must be approved in advance.
  • Inmates must be in custody for 72 hours prior to having any visits.
  • Appointments are required and must be made with the Reception Staff at least 24 hours in advance.
  • Inmates are allowed two visits per week (only one visit per day).
  • Visitors must arrive and register 30 minutes prior to their scheduled visit to avoid cancellation. Once you have checked in and your visit is called, if you are not in our lobby, the visit is cancelled. Any visitor canceling or missing a total of 3 visits will be banned from visiting for 30 days.
  • Each visit may include up to 2 adults and 3 children. Adult visitors must present a valid photo ID (i.e. Drivers License, Passport, Matricula). A parent or legal guardian must accompany visitors under the age of 18. The parent must bring the minor’s birth certificate and the legal guardian must present court papers showing they are the legal guardian or provide a notarized letter along with the minor’s birth certificate. Minors cannot be left unattended in the lobby area, parking lot or any other area on the jail property.
  • All visitors must be appropriately dressed. Clothing that is revealing, offensive, gang related or distracting to others will not be allowed. Shoes and shirts are required. Jail Staff will determine the appropriateness of the clothing.
  • Misconduct or violation of the jail rules will result in immediate termination of the visit and may result in the termination of visiting privileges.
  • Visitors will not be allowed to bring any property into the visiting room (i.e. cell phones, purses, pagers). Only 1 (one) key will be allowed. Lockers are available for 25 cents. No property to be held in reception.

DRESS CODE RULES STRICTLY ENFORCED

All visitors must wear shoes and clothing that is appropriate for visiting at the MAIN JAIL. Your visit will be cancelled and you will be denied entry into the facility if these rules are not followed. Any questions or clarification of these rules must be directed to the day shift supervisor.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED:

  • Dresses, skirts, skirts with slits that are more than 2 inches above the knee
  • Clothing that exposes any part of the back, shoulders, chest or midriff
  • Visible undergarments
  • Transparent clothing, strapless, halter, spaghetti straps, bare midriff clothing, tank tops
  • Unfastened buttons and zippers (they must remain fastened)
  • Clothing that resembles jail / inmate clothing
  • Law Enforcement or military patterned clothing>
  • Clothing or footwear containing metal
  • Hats
  • Medical attire (scrubs)
  • Attire displaying obscene or offensive language or drawings
  • Visitors with tattoos of an offensive nature, or visible gang-associated tattoos or clothing, will not be allowed to visit
  • Anything else deemed inappropriate by the Facility Commander or his/her designee will not be allowed>

All visitors entering the secure area of the jail are subject to being searched. Any person refusing to be searched will be denied the visit and escorted from the facility.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Santa Cruz County Main Jail - 25 FAQs

  1. How can I find out if someone is in jail at Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    To determine if someone is currently incarcerated at Santa Cruz County Main Jail, start by checking the facility’s online inmate search database, which is typically updated with recent booking information. If your search does not yield results, try using VINELink, a nationwide inmate locator that provides custody status for individuals in participating correctional facilities. If online searches are unsuccessful, calling Santa Cruz County Main Jail directly and providing the individual’s full name and date of birth is another reliable way to confirm their custody status. If all else fails, you can use the Arrest Record Finder for a small fee, which can provide broader search results across multiple jurisdictions. 

  2. What are the visitation hours at Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    Visitation schedules vary by facility and housing unit. Some jails offer in-person visits on specific days, while others have transitioned to video visitation. Always check with the jail in advance, as visits may require scheduling and approval.

  3. How do I send money to an inmate at Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    Inmates can receive funds through various methods, including online deposits via jail-approved services, kiosks at the facility, or by mailing a money order. Some jails require funds to be added by specific family members or approved contacts.

  4. Can I call an inmate at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls, but they may initiate collect calls or use a prepaid account provided by the jail’s phone service provider. Calls are generally recorded and monitored, and inmates must adhere to time limits. Communication gets costly, you might qualify for discounts on inmate calls if your inmate is calling you a lot.

  5. What items can I send to an inmate at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Approved items typically include letters, legal documents, and photographs. Some jails also permit care packages from authorized third-party vendors. Items such as greeting cards with glitter, stickers, or Polaroid photos may be prohibited.

  6. Are books and magazines allowed at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Yes, inmates can receive books and magazines directly from approved vendors such as Amazon or InmateAid. Hardcover books and explicit content are typically prohibited to maintain facility security. Some jails also have restrictions on the number of reading materials an inmate can possess at one time.

  7. What is the mailing address for inmates here?
    Each facility has a designated mailing address for inmate correspondence. It is important to include the inmate's full name, booking number (if applicable), and facility-approved format to ensure proper delivery. Mail containing contraband, including staples or stickers, may be rejected.

  8. What is the process for bonding someone out of Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    Bail or bond amounts can be paid at the facility’s designated payment location, online, or through a licensed bail bondsman. Some jails accept cash, cashier’s checks, or credit card payments, while others require payments to be made at a county clerk’s office.

  9. How do I deposit funds into an inmate’s commissary account at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Commissary funds allow inmates to purchase personal hygiene products, snacks, and other approved items. Deposits can be made online, at facility kiosks, or through phone services. Some facilities limit the amount that can be added per week.

  10. What clothing and personal items can an inmate have at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Inmates are generally issued standard jail clothing. Personal items are often restricted, and necessary hygiene products must be purchased through commissary unless the inmate is deemed indigent. Some jails allow inmates to have religious items, such as prayer beads or a Bible.

  11. How long do inmates stay at Santa Cruz County Main Jail before being transferred?
    The length of stay varies based on the nature of their charges, sentencing, and case status. Some inmates serve their full sentences in county jail, while others may be transferred to a state or federal facility after sentencing.

  12. Can an inmate at Santa Cruz Co Jail receive visits from children?
    Most jails allow minors to visit inmates but require them to be accompanied by a legal guardian. Some facilities impose restrictions based on the nature of the inmate's charges or have specific visitation hours for families with children.

  13. How can I schedule a visit with an inmate at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Many jails require visitation to be scheduled in advance through an online portal or by phone. Some facilities operate on a first-come, first-served basis, while others enforce strict scheduling rules and background checks for visitors.

  14. What happens if an inmate gets sick or needs medical care at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Jails provide basic medical care, and inmates can request medical attention as needed. Emergency cases are treated immediately, while routine care is provided through medical staff. Some jails charge small medical co-pays deducted from an inmate’s commissary funds.

  15. Can inmates work while incarcerated here?
    Some inmates qualify for work programs within the facility, such as kitchen duty, janitorial work, or laundry services. In some counties, low-risk inmates may participate in work-release programs that allow them to work in the community and return to jail afterward.

  16. How can I find court dates and case information for an inmate at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Court dates and case details can usually be found through the county court website, public records, or by contacting the court clerk. Inmates are typically transported to court on scheduled hearing dates.

  17. What are the rules for inmate phone calls at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Inmate phone calls are monitored and recorded for security purposes. Calls must be made through facility-approved phone services, and any attempt to arrange three-way calls or circumvent restrictions may result in loss of phone privileges.

  18. Can an inmate be released early from Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Early release may be granted through good behavior, completion of rehabilitative programs, or at the discretion of the court. In some cases, inmates may qualify for electronic monitoring or house arrest programs.

  19. What types of rehabilitation programs are available at here?
    Many county jails offer educational programs, GED classes, substance abuse treatment, and vocational training to help inmates reintegrate into society after release.

  20. What are the consequences of bringing contraband into the jail?
    Introducing contraband, such as drugs, weapons, or cell phones, is a criminal offense and can lead to legal charges, visitation bans, or enhanced security measures within the jail.

  21. Are there special accommodations for disabled inmates at Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    Yes, jails are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide reasonable accommodations, including wheelchair accessibility, sign language interpreters, and medical care.

  22. How do I report an issue or concern about an inmate at Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    Family members and advocates can report concerns to jail administration, a prisoner rights organization, or a legal representative. Some jails have grievance procedures inmates can follow if they experience mistreatment.

  23. Can an inmate at Santa Cruz Co Jail receive religious services or counseling?
    Yes, most jails provide chaplain services, religious counseling, and access to faith-based programs. Some facilities have multi-denominational services or allow clergy members to visit inmates upon request.

  24. What are the disciplinary procedures at Santa Cruz Co Jail?
    Inmates who violate jail rules may face disciplinary actions such as loss of privileges, placement in solitary confinement, or additional charges. Disciplinary hearings are typically conducted before penalties are imposed.

  25. How do I obtain an inmate’s release records from Santa Cruz County Main Jail?
    Release records may be available through the facility’s records department, the sheriff’s office, or the county clerk. Requests may require an application and a processing fee.

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