The Bedford Heights City Jail in Bedford Heights, Ohio is a municipal law enforcement agency. Officers patrol the city, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests within Bedford Heights's jurisdiction. Bedford Heights City Jail does not operate a long-term jail. Arrestees may be held briefly in a Bedford Heights City Jail holding cell or booking room, typically only for the few hours required to complete initial processing, before being transferred to the Cuyahoga County jail for arraignment and longer-term housing. If you're trying to locate or contact someone just arrested in Bedford Heights, the destination within hours of arrest is almost always the county jail, not Bedford Heights City Jail.
Police department holding is short-term by design. Most arrestees brought to Bedford Heights City Jail are held only long enough for fingerprints, photographs, an inventory of personal property, and entry into the booking system. Holding can last a few hours to roughly 24 hours, depending on the time of arrest, court schedules, and intake capacity at the receiving jail. Late-night and weekend arrests often sit longer because court arraignments are limited to business hours and the transfer van may not run until morning. During this window, visitors are not permitted and phone calls may not yet be available.
After initial processing at Bedford Heights City Jail, arrestees are transferred to the Cuyahoga County jail. The county jail handles longer-term pretrial detention, arraignment scheduling, bond intake, and any sentenced time served locally. Once the transfer is complete, the arrestee shows up in the county jail's inmate roster, becomes available for phone calls under the jail's contracted provider, and follows the county jail's visitation rules. To find the arrestee after transfer, use the InmateAid inmate search and look for the Cuyahoga County jail record. The county jail's facility page on InmateAid covers visitation, phone discount setup, and money transfer options once your person is in their system.
Arrestees at Bedford Heights City Jail may or may not receive a phone call during the brief holding period. Most jurisdictions allow at least one call after booking, but the timing depends on staffing, processing volume, and whether the call happens at Bedford Heights City Jail or after transfer to the county jail. The call is typically routed through the facility's contracted phone provider as a collect call or via a prepaid account. To make sure you don't miss the first call when it comes through, set up a prepaid account in advance through InmateAid's discount calling service.
Bedford Heights City Jail does not set bail. Bail is set by a judge at arraignment, which usually happens at the county courthouse after transfer to the Cuyahoga County jail. Minor misdemeanor arrests may qualify for cite-and-release at the scene or station-house release after booking at Bedford Heights City Jail, in which case the arrestee is released without ever going to county jail. Felony arrests and serious misdemeanors almost always go to the county jail to wait for arraignment, which can take hours, overnight, or until the next business day depending on when the arrest occurred. For specific bond information, contact the receiving county jail.
There is no visitation at Bedford Heights City Jail because the holding period is too short and the facility is not built for visitors. Once the arrestee is transferred to the Cuyahoga County jail, that facility's visitation rules apply, including approved visitor lists, scheduled visiting hours, ID requirements, and dress codes. To find the receiving facility and its visitation rules, search for the Cuyahoga County jail through the InmateAid inmate search and review the visitation section on that facility's page.
To confirm whether someone is still at Bedford Heights City Jail or has been transferred to the county jail, call 440-786-3254.
Only sentenced prisoners can have visitors.
Visitors are subject to searches.
NO CHILDREN
Only one visitor a day
Friends and Family Visits - Visitation is scheduled by individual request only. Detainees must schedule the visit on Sundays and they are allowed one (1) 30-minute visit per week to take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays or Sundays. To ensure adequate time to process visitors through security, all visitors must arrive 45 minutes prior to the scheduled visit time.
Visitors must present a valid verifiable government-issued identification card to enter the facility.
Visits shall not exceed 30 minutes. If the visitor has travelled more than 25 miles, visits shall not exceed 90 minutes.
Minors who are visiting the facility must be accompanied by an adult guardian (18 years or older). Minors must not be left unaccompanied in the waiting room, visiting room or any other area.
Attorney Visits - Legal representatives of detainees are authorized to visit their clients during the following hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
A list of pro bono (free) legal organizations will be posted in all detainee housing units and other appropriate areas. This list shall be updated quarterly. If a detainee wishes to see a representative or paralegal from that organization, it is the detainee’s responsibility to contact them for an appointment.
Consular Visits - Consular officials may meet with their detained nationals at any time. It is requested that prior arrangements be made with the ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer to the extent possible, and that consular officials bring appropriate credentials when they come to the facility. The ICE Supervisory Deportation Officer in charge of the facility can be reached at (216) 535-0364.
Clergy Visits - Clergy may visit detainees at any time, but must make prior arrangements with the facility at (440) 786-3254.
Visiting Restrictions - All family or other social visits are non-contact.
Search Procedures (prior to or during all visitations) - All individuals requesting admittance to the facility or the visitation area are subject to a pat-down search of their person, an inspection of their belongings, and a metal scan search. Individuals refusing to cooperate with a reasonable search will not be admitted. No firearms or weapons of any kind are permitted. No electronic devices (cell phones, pagers, radios, etc.) are permitted in the secure areas of this facility.