SCORE South is a county detention facility at 20817 17th Ave S, operated by the King County Sheriff's Office. Most people here are awaiting trial or serving a sentence under one year. This is not a prison - stays are typically days or months, not years. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
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"I had no idea what to do when my son was arrested. InmateAid walked me through everything - the calls, the money, the visits. I do not know what I would have done without it."
-- A mother in Washington
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If you are not certain they are there, the fastest way to confirm is the King County inmate search or InmateAid's inmate locator, which searches by name across Washington facilities.
Booking takes time - sometimes several hours after arrest. If the search comes back empty, wait a few hours and try again before assuming they are 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 SCORE South at 253-931-3088.
Most people booked at SCORE South appear before a judge within 24 to 48 hours. At that first appearance the judge sets bail - or denies it - based on the charges, history, and flight risk.
If bail is set, your family member can be released by paying the full amount or through a bail bondsman who typically charges 10 percent as a non-refundable fee. If bail is denied or unaffordable, they remain at SCORE South until the case resolves. InmateAid's bail and bond guide covers every option including what to do when you cannot afford a bondsman.
Right after arrest your family member goes through intake - identity verification, medical screening, property inventory, and classification. Classification places them in a housing unit based on charges, prior record, and intake behavior. It is not a punishment. It is how the facility manages a population that ranges from people on minor warrants to individuals facing serious charges.
Phone access and visitation are typically unavailable during the first 24 to 48 hours while booking completes. Once they are assigned to a housing unit those channels open. InmateAid's what happens in jail guide walks through the full intake process step by step.
Your family member calls you - you cannot call them.
Calls from SCORE South go through the facility's contracted phone provider. Visit InmateAid's jail calls page to find the current provider for this facility and get your account set up before the first call.
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.
Visitation at SCORE South is subject to the facility's current schedule, which can change without notice. Before making the trip, call 253-931-3088 to confirm current hours, any registration requirements, and what you can bring. Showing up without confirming first is the most common mistake families make - it results in a wasted trip and a missed visit.
General rules across most Washington county jails: dress conservatively, avoid colors that resemble inmate uniforms, leave your phone in your car, bring valid government-issued ID. Children may be permitted with specific requirements. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a full pre-visit checklist.
South Correctional Entity Regional Jail - SCORE South - Visitation
Remote Internet Visiting Hours for General Population:
Tuesday - Sunday : 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Lobby Visitation Hours for General Population:
Monday, Saturday, Sunday and Federal Holidays: No Visitation
Tuesday-Thursday: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm & 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Friday: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
***Visitation hours may vary based upon each inmate's housing location***
Scheduling a Visit (either at SCORE or from a remote internet location):
All visitors must register, schedule, and view visits with inmates online by visiting gtlvisitme.com
- All visitors must register online. If you do not have access to the internet, please call 855-208-7349
- All visits must be scheduled at least 24-hours in advance and no more than 7 days out
- No same-day visitation permitted
- Must provide full name, date of birth, and valid email address to register. If no email address, please call 855-208-7349 for assistance with scheduling a visit.
- Only 1 visit per inmate may be scheduled per day and no more than 2 per week
Additional information for visits from SCORE’s Lobby
- There are no fees for a video visits from SCORE’s lobby.
- Only 3 people are allowed per visit, for example: (1 adult & 2 children) -or- (2 adults & 1 child) -or- (3 adults).
- No more than 3 adults per visit (in-person or internet)
- Lobby visits are in increments of 25 minutes.
- Visitors are required to check in 10 minutes before the scheduled visit.
- Scheduled visits will start and end on time and will not be adjusted for late arrivals.
- Valid identification is required for visiting in person:
- Washington State Driver’s License or ID card
- Other U.S. State Driver’s License or ID card
- Canadian Driver’s License or ID card
- U. S. Armed Forces ID card
- U.S. Government Passport
- Resident Alien card
- All visitors are checked for:
- Active warrants
- Protection orders / No contact orders / Restraining orders
- Any other applicable court orders
- Warrants and court orders will be strictly enforced and are subject to visit cancellation and arrest.
- Visitors in violation of any court order are subject to arrest and automatic cancellation of visit.
Additional information for remote video visiting
- Internet visits are scheduled in increments of 10 and 25 minutes and have applicable fees.
- Scheduled visits will start and end on time and will not be restarted after the start time.
- Arriving late? Your visit will take place regardless of what time you connect.
- Visits may be canceled by the inmate or visitor up to 24 hours in advance of scheduled visit.
- Cancellations less than 24-hours in advance of a scheduled visit will be counted as a visit.
Additional Information for Visitation:
- Inmates on disciplinary lockdown may not receive visitation privileges. Visitors will be emailed cancellation notices.
- Persons under the age of 18 will not be allowed to visit or enter the Jail lobby unless escorted by a parent, grandparent or documented legal guardian.
- Cancellations due to SCORE initiated lockdown will not count as a weekly visit. You will receive an email and will not be automatically rescheduled.
- Visiting privileges may be temporarily canceled by the SCORE administration at any time deemed necessary for the safety and security of the facility. If SCORE initiates the cancellation you will receive an email and will not be automatically rescheduled.
- Visitors who do not follow the visiting rules, guidelines and dress code for SCORE may have their visiting privileges suspended.
Dress Code:
The general rule is to dress conservatively for participation in video visitation. Our jail includes areas for video court. Professionals are entering and leaving the SCORE facility regularly. It is strongly encouraged that visitors present themselves with modest attire in the SCORE lobby and over the Internet.
Visitors are required to show respect through their conduct in respect for the court, other visitors/inmates and SCORE employees. Conservative dress means:
- Clothing should be modest.
- Wear clothes that are not overly revealing. No see-through attire.
- Dress for a professional business environment and should cover your body appropriately.
- Shoes should be worn at all times.
Failure to dress appropriately and conduct visits professionally, a standard that is determined by SCORE staff, may result in your visits being immediately interrupted /cancelled and future visiting privileges being suspended.
Introduction of Contraband
Anyone attempting to bring or introduce contraband into SCORE jail will be arrested and prosecuted under RCW 9A.76 (Introducing Contraband I, II, III). The penalty, if you are convicted, ranges from 3 months in jail to 12 years in prison depending on severity and if you have a criminal record. Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 289-02-020 defines contraband as any substance or item not specifically permitted by the SCORE Jail administration. Contraband includes anything that is not provided by the SCORE Jail or any item that has been provided that has been altered from or used outside of its original intended purpose or use. Possessing excess amounts of items provided by the SCORE Jail may be considered contraband.
Smoking / Vaping
Smoking or vaping is prohibited inside and outside the building. This includes visiting booths in the public lobby area. If you violate this rule, you are subject to a fine and your visit will be stopped. The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 70.160.075 and the King County Board of Heath Code Title 19 prohibit smoking within 25 feet of any doorway entering any public building.
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 directly affects their daily comfort and ability to stay connected.
Steps to send money to SCORE South:
1. Go to InmateAid's send money page to find the approved deposit method for this facility
2. Have your family member's full legal name and booking number ready
3. Choose online deposit, phone deposit, or facility kiosk
4. Use the name and number exactly as they appear in the jail's system - any error will delay or reject the deposit
A letter or a printed photo costs almost nothing to send and means far more than most people on the outside appreciate.
SCORE South accepts mail addressed to your family member at 20817 17th Ave S. Include their full legal name and booking number on every piece. Standard rules at most Washington county jails: plain white paper only, no staples, no glitter, no stickers, no colored ink. Standard print-size photos only, nothing written on the back. Mail that does not meet the facility's standards will be rejected - and they may not notify you. Keep it simple.
InmateAid's send mail service prints and mails on approved stock from your phone or computer. Formatting rejection is not a risk.
Books and magazines must be ordered new from the publisher or an online retailer - not shipped from your home address. Order through Amazon or directly from the publisher. Anything from a personal address will be rejected.
Visitation rules, phone access, bail processes, inmate search tools, and what happens at release all vary by state. InmateAid's Washington prison resources hub covers all of it - written specifically for families navigating the Washington system.
Have a specific question from someone who has been through it? Browse questions and answers at InmateAid Washington Q&A.
Frequently Asked Questions about SCORE South
How long does county jail booking take?
Booking at a county jail typically takes between 2 and 8 hours depending on how many people are being processed at the same time. During that window your family member may not appear in the inmate search system and phone and visitation access will not yet be available.
What is the difference between county jail and state prison?
County jails are short-term facilities operated by the county sheriff, holding people awaiting trial or serving sentences under one year. State prisons are operated by the Washington Department of Corrections for sentences of one year or more. SCORE South is a county jail - your family member may not have been convicted yet and could be released before trial if bail is posted.
Can I receive calls from someone in county jail?
No. Calls from county jail are outbound only - your family member calls you from the facility phone. You cannot call them directly. Set up an account with the phone provider before the first call so it connects immediately.
How long can someone be held in county jail without being charged?
In most states police have 48 to 72 hours to formally charge someone or they must be released. After charges are filed your family member remains in custody until bail is posted or the case resolves. Timelines vary by state and charge - InmateAid's bail and bond guide has state-specific information.
What can I bring when visiting someone in county jail?
Most county jails permit only valid government-issued photo ID for visitors. Leave your phone, wallet, keys, and personal items in your car or facility lockers. Call SCORE South at 253-931-3088 before your visit to confirm current rules - they vary by facility and change without notice.
County jail time is hard in a specific way. The uncertainty - not knowing how long, not knowing what comes next - is its own kind of weight. 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 moment. Use us.