Santa Clara County CA Jail Details & Overview

You likely have come here because you have a friend or loved one who is being detained in the Santa Clara County Jail. You may have a lot of questions and need answers quickly. 

We understand finding information on the County Jail is not always easy or reliable. We have done all the work for you and gathered extensive information to prepare you for sending an inmate money or visiting the jail. 

About the Santa Clara County Jail

The Santa Clara County Jail is located in the heart of downtown San Jose, California. The main jail complex is divided into two jails: Jail North and Main Jail South. 

Each year, the Santa Clara County Jail books around 65,000 people. The Main Jail was built to provide housing for up to 919 inmates. 

The Santa Clara County Jail is a direct supervision facility. Locked modules house up to 64 inmates in dorm-style housing.

Inmates are housed in their own cells, which contain a toilet, sink, mirror, and bed. Direct supervision units have proven to protect both inmates and correctional officers. 

Contact Information for the Santa Clara County Jail

The phone number for the Santa Clara County Jail is (408) 299-2306, and the physical location address of the jail is:

150 W Hedding St.

San Jose, CA 95110

How to Search for an Inmate in the Santa Clara County Jail

Should you need to conduct a Santa Clara County Jail inmate search online, the County Sheriff’s Office operates a website available to citizens 24 hours a day. You may search by the inmate’s full name, CEN number, or PFN number. You can also view jail mugshots in Santa Clara county.

It is important to note that this website goes down for maintenance every Monday between 12:30 a.m. and 2:00 a.m. During this time, you will be unable to conduct an inmate search.

How to Visit an Inmate in the Santa Clara County Jail

It is important to note that you must schedule an inmate visit in advance, and these visits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You must register first and then schedule the visit online. 

Visiting Hours

There are specific visiting hour appointments available. Consider the following schedule.

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday

• 8:10 a.m.
• 9:20 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m.
• 2:00 p.m.
• 3:10 p.m.
• 4:20 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday

• 7:00 a.m.
• 8:10 a.m.
• 9:20 a.m.
• 10:30 a.m.
• 2:00 p.m.
• 3:10 p.m.
• 4:20 p.m.

Rules for Visitation at the Santa Clara County Jail

Before scheduling an appointment with an inmate in the Santa Clara County Jail, you must be aware of the rules and regulations involved. 

• Inmates will receive up to two 60-minute visits a day. 
• Up to two adults may visit, and they will each be given 30 minutes. 
• All children must be biologically related to the inmate or adult visitor (original or notarized birth certificates will need to be submitted for each child).
• All visitors over the age of 18 will be considered adults and must pre-register for visitation. 
• All visitors must check in 30 minutes before their scheduled visit. 
• Visitations may be canceled without warning due to jail security breaches or inmates being transferred. Inmates also have the right to refuse visitation.
• Visitations will be canceled if the visitor arrives late. 
• Do not bring cameras or any kind of recording equipment. 
• Lockers are available for a deposit that ranges from $0.25 to $10. Items considered contraband should be left in your vehicle
• If you are caught bringing contraband to jail, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 
• All social visitations are monitored and recorded. 
• All visitors and their belongings are subject to being searched.

Dress Code for Santa Clara County Jail

When visiting an inmate, a strict dress code is enforced. Failure to follow the dress code could result in the visitor being asked to change or leave. Consider the following before deciding what to wear to a visit. 

• All dresses, skirts, and shorts must come no higher than two inches above the knee.
• Clothing must not expose the back, shoulders, midriff, or torso of the visitor.
• Undergarments should not be visible.
• Shoes must be worn at all times.
• No transparent clothing is allowed. 
• Do not wear halter tops, tube tops, strapless clothing, tank tops, or attire that features profanity, nudity, or illegal activity in writing or images.
• You will be required to empty your pockets and remove all outer clothing to be searched by the correctional officers.
• Your buttons and zippers must remain fastened at all times.
• You may not wear clothing that is similar to inmate attire.
• Do not wear clothing or shoes that contain metal.
• No headwear is allowed, including hats.
• If you have internal metal hardware, you must present medical verification.
• Do not wear scrubs to the visit.
• Cell phones are not allowed in jail.
• The County Jail staff, at their discretion, can disapprove any article of clothing worn by visitors. 

All visitors must register before scheduling a visitation appointment. It is important to note that the approval process can take up to seven days, so make sure to register well in advance and wait for your confirmation for approval. 

If you wait seven days and do not receive an approval response, you may call (408) 808-2804 to check on the status of your request. 

Reasons a Visitation Request May Be Denied

Your request to visit may be denied for the following reasons. 

• You have been in County custody within the last 60 days.
• You have an open court case.
• You have been convicted of a misdemeanor in the last three years.
• You have a no-contact restraining order with the inmate.
• You are on parole or probation. 
• There is an active warrant for your arrest.
• You are out on bail.
• You have previous violent convictions, including those for domestic violence and rape.

You may schedule a visitation up to two weeks in advance. If you forgot your username or password, you can receive support by emailing [email protected]. 

Commissary Services

Inmates have access to the commissary that allows them to purchase personal hygiene items, writing supplies, reading materials, and snacks. Friends and loved ones also have access to an online commissary. 

You may visit https://santaclaraca.icaregifts.com/ to purchase care packages for inmates. Care packages are delivered on regular delivery days. You can order these packages with a debit or credit card payment. 

How to Deposit Funds into an Inmate’s Account

If you would like to deposit funds into an inmate’s account, you have a few options. The following are available. 

Telephone

If you would like to deposit funds via telephone, call 1-866-232-1899. This service is available 24/7 and offers bilingual help. Deposited funds are typically available within 24 hours.

Mail

You may also mail funds to an inmate. You may mail a money order to an inmate at the following address:

Inmate’s Full Name and PFN Number

Inmate Services

150 W. Hedding Street

San Jose, CA 95110

Please make the money order payable to the Santa Clara County Department of Correction. 

Online

You also have the option of sending funds online. Visit www.touchpayonline.com and register for an account. You may access this website 24 hours a day. Funds are typically available to inmates within 24 hours. You may pay by debit or credit card.

Lobby Kiosk

Friends and family may also deposit via the jail lobby kiosks. These kiosks accept debit and credit cards. The deposited funds are usually available within 24 hours.

Additional Resources