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Basic Jail Information
To get information on someone in custody, call (415) 553-1430, County
Jail #1 at the Hall of Justice.
There is no smoking in any County Jail facility. Matches or smoking materials
are not allowed.
Visiting Rules and Restrictions
Visiting is offered on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. All visitors are
subject to search. Visitors must comply with any direction given by Sheriff's
personnel.
Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Children
cannot be left unattended at any time in a jail facility or waiting area.
Visitors should be prepared to present a valid photo identification. Visits
are limited to 20 minutes and are first come, first served, so early arrival
is recommended.
Visitors who are inappropriately dressed with gang related clothing, hairstyles,
or graffiti will be denied visits.
Visiting is a privilege. Persons not complying with direction or refusing
a search will not be allowed to visit. Visitors who appear to be under
the influence of alcohol or drugs, or who cause a disturbance, will not
be allowed to visit. Future visits may also be denied.
Bail
At the time of arrest and booking, the bail is set according to a published
bail schedule established by a panel of judges.
Bail may be posted at any time, 24 hours a day, at Room 201 of the Hall
of Justice, 850 Bryant Street, 2nd floor.
After the bail is posted, the bail receipt must be delivered to the jail
so that the person may be released. If the person is being held at the
Intake and Release facility, the bail slip must be delivered there. If
he/she is housed in any other jail, the bail slip goes to County Jail
#1, 6th floor, 850 Bryant Street.
Call (415) 553-1443 to determine where the bail slip should be taken.
Money
No cash is allowed through the mail. Mail may contain Postal Money Orders
or Bank Money Orders, at a maximum amount of $100. The jails do not accept
personal checks, second party checks, business checks, or money orders
from foreign banks. Postal Money Orders or Bank Money Orders are placed
on an inmate's account and a receipt issued. To place money in person on an inmate's account, go to the property window at 425 -7th Street between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and noon, 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. daily. He/She can use this money
to order commissary.
The arrestee's own money is placed in an account, and a receipt is issued.
That money can be used to purchase commissary items at the arrestee's
permanent jail housing assignment. Unspent money is returned upon release.
Mail
No cash is allowed through the mail. Mail is delivered daily except Sundays
and holidays. All mail is searched for contraband prior to being delivered.
Legal mail is searched in the inmate's presence. It is not read by staff.
Inmates can send and receive unlimited mail. Packages, except books sent
directly from a publisher, are not accepted at jail facilities. Mail is
forwarded from the facility if an inmate moves, and returned to sender
once the inmate leaves custody.
No cash is allowed through the mail. Mail may contain Postal Money Orders
or Bank Money Orders, at a maximum amount of $100. The jails do not accept
personal checks, second party checks, business checks, or money orders
from foreign banks. Postal Money Orders or Bank Money Orders are placed
on an inmate's account and a receipt issued. He/She can use this money
to order commissary.
Booking
The Sheriff's Department is responsible for booking the charges filed
against persons arrested by the Police.
County Jail #9, located at 425 7th St., is the intake and release center
for the Sheriff's Department. Anyone arrested in the City is brought to
this facility for booking. Prisoners who are being released, do so through
this facility.
CJ #9 has 19 holding tanks with a capacity of approximately 301. This
facility is the stop-off point for those arrested, although not everyone
stays and is housed in other parts of the jail system.
The booking process proceeds as follows:
All arrestees are evaluated by Department of Public Health personnel to
determine if there are any medical problems requiring immediate care.
Those who do not require immediate medical care remain in holding cells
while the booking process is started.
Free phone call(s)
Each holding cell has a telephone. This phone is available for arrestees
to make calls to arrange bail, inform family of their circumstances, or
to reach the Public Defender. Calls are free within the local dialing
area.
Fingerprinting
All arrestees are photographed and have a set of fingerprints taken to
establish their identity.
Own Recognizance/Supervised Citation
If appropriate, an arrestee may be interviewed by Project OR or Supervised
Citation to determine his/her eligibility for release on his own recognizance.
A more thorough medical screening takes place at this point.
Property
After booking, those arrestees not eligible for immediate release are
searched by Sheriff's staff and dressed in jail clothing. Inmates must
also wear a colored plastic wristband which contains name and jail number.
Clothing and property are stored at the Property Room at the Intake and
Release Center. Property items are returned upon release.
Inmate Money
The arrestee's money is placed in an account, and he/she is given a receipt.
That money can be used to purchase commissary items at the arrestee's
permanent jail housing assignment. Unspent money is returned upon release.
Public Defender
The Public Defender may be reached at 555 7th Street, 2nd floor, San Francisco,
CA 94103. The phone number is (415) 553-1671.
Classification
After the booking process is completed at County Jail #9, arrestees are
moved to County Jail #1 for further processing. County Jail #8 is located
at 425 7th Street. While there, arrestees are classified for housing in
the jail system.
The arrestee's classification (minimum, medium, or maximum security),
determines where the arrestee will be housed in the jail system. The classification
is based on running the subject's rap sheet, and on the answers to a number
of interview questions.
Housing
When the arrestee is moved to a more permanent housing site, he/she is
given bedding, basic personal hygiene items, and assigned a bed.
You may be housed at
- County Jail #1 or County Jail #2, which are located at 850 Bryant
St, 7th floor,
- County Jail #8, which is located at 425 7th St., or
- County Jail #3 or County Jail #7, which are located at #1 Moreland
Dr., San Bruno. These two jails are located in San Mateo County, 15
miles south of San Francisco.
Commissary
Commissary is not available at County Jail #9 during intake and release.
It is available once a week at all other jails. You may purchase writing
paper, candy and other food items, or personal hygiene items.
There are limits to the number of each item you may have in your possession,
so you must familiarize yourself with the jail rules regarding this. Commissary
personnel will not deliver commissary to you unless you have the money
in your account to pay for it, and have a legible wristband.
Visiting
Public visiting is held at each housing jail on Saturdays, Sundays and
holidays. Visiting times should be posted in your housing area.
Visitors may bring money to leave in your account, but they cannot bring
you any personal items.
If you are housed in a facility with contact visiting, you are not allowed
to touch or pass anything to your visitor. These rules are for your safety
and the safety of others in your housing unit.
At all jails, visits are on a first come, first served basis. Visitors
must comply with any direction given by Sheriff's personnel. Visitors
under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Children cannot be left unattended at any time in a jail facility or waiting
area. Visitors must be prepared to show valid ID with a current photograph,
showing name, address, and date of birth. All visitors are subject to
search.
Visitors who are inappropriately dressed with gang related clothing, hairstyles,
or graffiti will be denied visits. Visiting is a privilege. Persons not
complying with direction or refusing a search will not be allowed to visit.
Visitors who appear to be under the influence or cause a disturbance will
not be allowed to visit. Future visits may also be denied.
Attorneys are allowed to visit their clients in a confidential setting
at any time except during meals and counts.
Legal Assistance
Inmates are allowed unlimited legal correspondence.
The Sheriff's Department has a Prisoner Legal Services section
which is available to assist you in questions regarding the law, through
bars except for the current case you were arrested on.
They are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling
558-2480.
Custody Staff
Custody staff will be in your area 24 hours a day.
If you have problems, safety issues, or medical emergencies, they are
there to help. Feel free to approach staff with questions regarding issues
around your confinement. They are not attorneys, however, and cannot give
you legal advice or help you with your case.
Custody staff is there to insure that your stay is safe, and that you
move on to the next step in the system (including release) with a minimum
of confusion.
Medical Services
Medical staff is on duty twenty-four hours a day for medical issues. If
you have a medical problem, fill out a "Request for Medical Service" and
give it to medical staff at pill call or place it in the mailbox in your
area designated for that purpose.
In case of emergency, contact any custody or medical staff member immediately.
Jail Psychiatric Services has assistance available if you need psychiatric
help. You may be referred to them by medical or custody staff, or use
the medical services request form.
When you are housed in the jail system, you will be living with other
people charged with criminal offenses. As in any place where numbers of
people live in small spaces, it is very important that you treat people
with respect. Mind your own business and do not stay on the telephone
more than the allotted time. Please respect jail property. Damage to any
property, such as telephones or televisions, is a major rule violation
as well as a new criminal offense.
You must keep yourself clean, your bed and housing area clean, and use
the hygiene items provided for that purpose. There are showers available
in each housing unit of the jails.
Failure to keep yourself or your area clean is a violation of a jail rule.
Never lend commissary items to other prisoners. This is a source of tension
that may lead to fights or assaults. Keep your personal items safe and
in your possession. If you are experiencing problems with other people
housed in your area, let custody staff know immediately.
When you are due in court, a bailiff will pick you up and escort you to
your courtroom. Have your living area clean before you go. You are not
allowed to bring anything but your legal papers to court.
Custody staff in the housing units do not know anything about your case,
including when you are due in court. Staff cannot answer any of your legal
questions.
Every week in every jail facility, there will be a routine in jail inspection.
The managers and supervisors of each w/made bunk jail walk through and
inspect the cleanliness of your housing area. You are expected to participate
in the clean up of your area, and to have your bunk made and personal
items stored in an orderly fashion. Failure to do so is a violation of
the jail rules.
Recreation
You will be allowed recreation during your stay in jail. Depending on
your housing assignment, it may be either indoor or outdoor. Please take
advantage of recreational opportunities as they are made available.
Programs
Most housing jails have programs available for inmates. These may include
high school equivalency, basic education, English as a second language,
and others. Use your time in custody wisely. Take advantage of this opportunity
to upgrade your education.
Each housing jail has a Program Coordinator to help you enroll in an appropriate
class.
Ask any staff member about information regarding programs, or fill out
an action request.
Opportunities exist for you to participate in religious services and counseling
on a voluntary basis.
The Sheriff's Department encourages inmates to vote in local, state, and
national elections.
Each jail facility maintains its own library of religious, educational,
and recreational books with a weekly distribution schedule.
Release
When you are released, you will be escorted to County Jail #9, the Intake
and Release Facility.
Your clothing and property will be returned to you, as will any money
left in your account. When you are given your money, the first $50.00
will be in cash, the remainder will be a check. All inmates are released
from this facility, so once you are out you will be at 425 7th St. If
someone is to pick you up, this is where you will be.
Again, your stay in the jail system may be short or it may be extended,
according to the complexity of your case. Treat all people with respect,
and obey the rules of the jail. Let custody staff know if you are having
problems, and you will get through the system safely and with a minimum
of problems.
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