COVID health and safety rules for jail visits

San Francisco County Jails is working on resuming in-person visits at a reduced capacity to protect everyone's health and safety during COVID-19. In compliance with the City Health Officer’s order, visitors are required to show proof of vaccination and booster if elligible. If a visitor does not have proof of a vaccination and booster, then proof of a negative COVID-19 test dated within 48 hours of the visit is required. Negative test result must be from an official testing location. (Walgreens, CVS, Healthcare Provider, etc.). Home tests will not be accepted.

Visitors must be symptom-free and cannot have received a COVID-19 diagnosis or positive test within 10 days of the visit. Visitors must comply with all COVID-19 prevention and safety requirements as outlined below in addition to existing jail rules established before the pandemic. K/N95 Masks are required for entry to Jail Grounds; the visiting rooms and for the duration of the visit until you exit the grounds of the jail. If you do not have a K/N95 mask, one will be provided to you.

Visitors must arrive at the entrance of CJ#2 & #3 30 minutes before the scheduled visit to allow time for vaccination/test verification and check in. Anyone arriving late for a visit will be deemed a cancellation.

 

In this page:
When can I schedule a jail visit?

Online reservations are available for a limited number of in-person weekend jail visits beginning 24 hours before the scheduled visit. 

You must arrive at the jail location one hour before the scheduled visit allowing time to be tested for COVID-19; you must receive a negative test result before entering the jail. 

Only scheduled visitors will be allowed onto jail grounds. 

County Jail #2 parking & transportation

County Jail #3 parking & transportation

Intake & Release Center parking & transportation to pick up release from custody

Visiting update

San Francisco County Jails has resumed in-person weekend visits at a reduced capacity.

Schedule your jail visit
COVID-19 testing rules

San Francisco’s Health Officer has issued an order requiring mandatory COVID-19 testing for anyone who enters San Francisco County Jail.

OK

Visitors must show vaccination/booster proof or a COVID-19 test taken within 48 hours.

OK

K/N95 Masks are required for entry to Jail Grounds. If you do not have a K/N95 mask, one will be provided to you.

OK

Negative test result must be from an official testing location. (Walgreens, CVS, Healthcare Provider, etc.).

OK

Please bring a valid form of ID such as a Driver’s License or a Passport to verify your identity.

OK

You must provide a date of birth and contact information before being tested.

OK

Minors identified as those under 16 years of age are required to take the COVID test.

Forbidden.

Self-administered or over-the-counter home tests will not be accepted.

Forbidden.

A positive COVID-19 test will result in cancellation of the visit for all parties.

COVID-19 jail health and safety rules

To enter the jail: 

OK

You must be symptom-free in order to visit any County Jail.

OK

You must follow social distancing guidelines at all times while on County Jail grounds and on CJ#3 transportation.

OK

Symptoms include: cough; difficulty breathing; fever; chills; body aches; fatigue; headache; sore throat; runny nose; diarrhea; loss of taste/smell

OK

Each visitor must schedule their appointment online.

OK

If you are 18 years or older, you must provide valid identification; Sheriff staff will verify your ID before your visit begins.  

Forbidden.

You must not have had close contact with someone who has been in isolation or tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days. 

Forbidden.

No more than one person may meet with one incarcerated person at a time.

Forbidden.

If you did not schedule your visit online, you will not be admitted to the jail. 

In addition to the COVID-19 health and safety rules, you must follow all existing jail rules established prior to COVID. The Sheriff’s Office may end your visit and/or cancel future visits if you, your group, and/or child violate COVID and/or existing jail rules.

Click here to review existing jail visiting rules.

When will visiting return to full capacity?

Congregate living settings such as jails pose a greater risk for COVID-19 transmission.

Jail Health Services, a section of the Department of Public Health, has worked with the Sheriff’s Office throughout the pandemic to reduce the risk and spread of COVID-19 through testing, health and safety protocols and vaccinations.

Since the pandemic’s onset, we have successfully prevented outbreaks, hospitalizations, and death.

As we work to re-open our jails to in-person visiting, we do so carefully and safely, monitoring potential COVID-19 exposure and managing risk. Once we assess and validate our COVID-19 visiting protocols, we will safely expand the jail visiting schedule.

425-7th Street Intake & Release Center & CJ #2