St. Louis Co Jail in Clayton, MO is a county detention facility operated by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or sentencing - this is not a prison, and most stays are measured in days or months, not years. If someone you care about was just booked here, you have questions. Start with the one that matters most right now.
If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the St. Louis County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches across Missouri facilities by name.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they have been transferred somewhere else. You can also pull their arrest record and booking details to confirm the charges and facility assignment. For the most direct answer, call St. Louis Co Jail at 314-615-5245.
Most people booked at St. Louis Co Jail appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets the bail amount - or denies bail - based on the charges, the person's history, and whether they are considered a flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or by using a bail bondsman, who typically charges 10 percent of the total as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or the amount is unaffordable, they remain at St. Louis Co Jail until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide walks through every option including what to do if you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest, your family member goes through intake at St. Louis Co Jail - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on the charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people picked up on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
For the first 24 to 48 hours, phone access and visitation are typically unavailable while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit, those channels open up. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide covers the full intake process step by step so you know what to expect.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them. Calls from St. Louis Co Jail go through Securus Tech® and all calls are recorded except attorney calls. Set up a Securus Tech® account before the first call so the connection goes through without delay.
Phone contact is more important than most people realize going into this. A regular call - even a short one - makes a measurable difference in how someone holds up inside. Do not let the setup friction stop you. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page for step-by-step account setup, current rate information, and tips for keeping funds available.
Visitation hours at St. Louis Co Jail are set by the facility and can change without much notice. Before making the trip, call 314-615-5245 to confirm current hours, any advance registration requirements, and what you are allowed to bring.
The most common mistake families make is showing up without confirming first - and that results in a wasted trip and a missed visit for your family member. General rules across most Missouri county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, and bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements depending on the facility. InmateAid's visitation guide has a full checklist you can run through before you go.
St. Louis County Jail Visitation Guidelines
The Buzz Westfall Justice Center provides both in-person and video visitation opportunities for inmates, subject to strict guidelines to ensure a secure and orderly environment. Visitors must adhere to all policies to ensure a successful visit.
Visitation Overview
Inmates are allowed up to two visits within a continuous seven-day period and no more than one visit per day. Visiting sessions are 40 minutes long, beginning promptly on the hour. Visitors must arrive on time, as late arrivals will forfeit their visit for that period. Due to space limitations, an acceptable combination of visitors includes:
- Two adults
- Two adults and one child
- One adult and two children
Visitation Hours
- Days: Monday through Sunday
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Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Visitors should plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled time to allow for check-in.
General Rules
- Age Requirements: Visitors must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by an adult.
- Identification: Acceptable forms of ID include a valid driver’s license, Missouri State ID, military ID, or passport. Visitors without proper photo ID will not be admitted.
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Dress Code: Visitors must adhere to strict clothing guidelines. Prohibited attire includes:
- Low-cut blouses, miniskirts, sheer or tight-fitting clothing.
- Shorts, skirts, and dresses shorter than knee-length.
- Wrap-around or slit skirts/dresses and clothing with holes.
- Cleavage or midriff exposure.
- Muscle shirts, hats, or sleeveless shirts.
Visitors must wear footwear, and any inappropriate apparel will result in denied entry.
- Behavior: Visitors must conduct themselves in an orderly manner at all times. Anyone appearing under the influence, creating disturbances, or using obscene language or gestures will be placed on the NO-ADMIT list.
- Prohibited Items: Smoking, eating, drinking, and bringing personal property (including clothing, food, or hygiene products) for inmates is prohibited. Cell phones are also not allowed. All necessary items for inmates must be purchased through commissary accounts.
Video Visitation
The facility offers video visitation through Securus Technologies, allowing for remote visits. To get started:
- Sign up online at securustech.net.
- Contact Securus customer support at 1-800-844-6591 for assistance.
Money on the books - also called the commissary or trust account - gives your family member access to hygiene items, snacks, phone time, and postage. It is one of the most practical things you can do and it has a direct effect on their daily comfort.
St. Louis Co Jail accepts deposits through approved channels that typically include online deposit, phone deposit, or a kiosk at the facility. Use your family member's full legal name and booking number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error in the name or number will delay or reject the deposit. InmateAid's send money page lists the specific deposit methods accepted at St. Louis Co Jail and walks through the process.
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people outside appreciate. St. Louis Co Jail accepts incoming mail addressed to your family member at 100 S Central Ave. Put their full legal name and booking number on every piece of mail.
Standard rules at most Missouri county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Photos should be standard print size with nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and the facility may not notify you that it was. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service lets you write and send directly from your phone or computer. We print on approved stock and mail it for you, so rejection for formatting is not a risk.
Books and magazines must come new, ordered directly from the publisher or through an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Facilities require this to prevent contraband. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything shipped from a personal address will be turned away.
County jail procedures, visitation rules, phone rates, inmate search tools, bail processes, and what happens at release all vary by state. Missouri has its own rules and its own agencies, and what applies in one state does not always apply here.
InmateAid's Missouri prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Missouri system. Start there when you need answers that go beyond what this facility page covers.
County jail time is hard in a way that is different from anything else. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - wears on everyone. What you can control is the connection. Calls, letters, visits, money on the books. Every one of those things tells your family member that someone out here is paying attention and is not going anywhere.
InmateAid was built for exactly this. Use us.