Santa Rita Jail

• Bail can be posted in the Santa Rita Jail lobby 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Inmates who are determined to be eligible for release, will be released as quickly as possible. However, this procedure can take up to several hours. It is recommended that you wait until receiving a telephone call from the released inmate before coming to the jail.
• Inmates granted release while at court must return to the jail to complete all necessary paperwork. The inmate will receive all personal property and be released from the jail facility.
• Inmates being released who are indigent, have inadequate clothing for climatic conditions, do not have clothing available at the time of release, or who can no longer fit into their clothing, will be provided appropriate welfare clothing.
• Inmates who have no money upon release are given a free bus passe or a free B.A.R.T. ticket. The inmates are also provided with transportation schedules and directions to the B.A.R.T. station if they choose to walk.

Emergencies
Inmate Services handles all outside emergencies ( please refer to the Inmate Services section ). You can reach the Inmate Services Section at (925) 551-6580, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., excluding holidays.

Santa Rita Jail after hours emergency number: (925) 551-6500

Incoming Mail

• Mail will be distributed daily (Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays). Mail will be delivered only to the addressee.
• Incoming mail MUST have the inmate’s name AND PFN.
• Incoming mail MUST have the name and address of the sender on the outside of the envelope.
• All mail sent to, or from, any inmate may be opened and inspected by jail staff outside the presence of the inmate involved (except legal mail).
• Incoming mail with any perceived bio-hazard (i.e. lipstick, gloss, perfume/cologne, etc) shall be returned to sender.
• Envelopes and letters containing address labels, stickers, tape, glued surface (homemade cards) shall be returned to sender.
• Items which are considered contraband and will cause the mail to be returned to the sender are envelopes, stamps, and writing materials.
• Sexually explicit drawings on the outside of mailing envelopes will cause U.S. Postal authorities to return the envelope to sender.
• Incoming mail from attorneys or governmental officials will be opened by the jail staff in the presence of the inmate involved.
• Money may be sent by MONEY ORDER or CASHIER’S CHECK ONLY. Personal checks and cash will be returned to sender (refer to money section).

Reading Materials

• NEW Books and Magazines (Limit of six (6) per day) are allowed to receive through the mail (NO HARDBACK BOOKS ALLOWED) – PROVIDED THESE ITEMS ARE SENT DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLISHER OR “ON LINE” BOOKSTORE, such as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, etc. On-line bookstore must have a legitimate website that is verifiable and allows consumers to order directly. Any website that re-directs to another website for ordering is not accepted. PACKAGES MUST BE PROFESSIONALLY LABELED and recognized as an on-line bookstore. Books from private sellers will be returned.
• Envelopes, magazines, and periodicals sent to inmates may not exceed 8-1/2″ x 14″. Any mail exceeding this size will be returned to sender.
• Inmate newspaper subscriptions must be made directly to the newspaper company by a third party. Cancellation or change of address for subscriptions must be made directly to the newspaper company. Newspapers will then be distributed through regular mail channels. Weekend and Holiday newspapers will be distributed the next working day. Newspapers for inmates no longer in custody will be disposed of by the mail room staff. (Each housing unit receives six daily Tribune newspapers, paid for by the Inmate Welfare Fund).

Photographs

• Photographs may not be larger than 4″ x 6″.
• A maximum of ten (10) photographs may be mailed to inmates in an envelope at a time.
• Polaroid and negative photographs are not accepted.
• Photographs that are altered or blacked out in any manner shall be returned to sender.
• Photographs or pictures that are pornographic, nude, suggestive, showing gangs, gang tattoos, or hand gestures (signs) are not allowed.

Money
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office takes pride in the services provided to inmates; including meals, library services and inmate programs. In addition, the Sheriff’s Office provides the opportunity for inmates to purchase additional items such as snacks, soups, drinks, stationary, hygiene supplies, medicines, and specialty items for women, to name a few. All proceeds from the sale of these items go directly to the Inmate Welfare Fund. This fund is used to support the numerous programs offered to inmates, as well as the televisions, games, recreational supplies, etc.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE:

• Deposits may be made by mail or in person. Only cash or money orders will be accepted for deposits on inmates accounts’ (NO PERSONAL, PAYROLL, TAX REFUND OR SOCIAL SECURITY CHECKS OR COINS). Do not send cash through the mail. If depositing money in person, you must have the exact amount. NO CHANGE WILL BE GIVEN. If you have been an inmate within the last six months, you may not deposit money on another inmate’s account.
• Visitors must produce valid photo identification (driver’s license, military, etc.) and have the inmate’s PFN before depositing money on the inmate’s account.
• Money orders must be made out as follows:The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO)
  c/o Inmate’s Name and PFN

HOURS FOR MONEY DEPOSITS
Seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Although you may deposit money 24 hours a day, it is recommended you do so during normal lobby hours from 8:00am to 6:30pm.

Property
Property releases and clothing exchange transactions will be accepted 24 hours a day at the Santa Rita Jail ( SRJ ).

Property Release requests forms must be submitted by the inmate and received by lobby personnel prior to the day the visitor will be picking up the property. This usually takes up to 7 working days at SRJ.

It is required that you provide photo identification when receiving the released property. It is recommended that you call the lobby to ensure the property is ready for pick-up.

Santa Rita Jail: (925) 551-6500

Court clothing for inmates will only be accepted at the Lobby within 72 hours of a jury trial, preliminary examination, or if a Court Order has been received. You may only bring a maximum of two sets of clothing. The clothing in the inmate’s property must be taken during the exchange. Clothing is exchanged on a one-for-one basis.

All medications are provided to inmates through Prison Health Services. Lobby personnel will accept prescription glasses, dentures and contact lenses solution in sealed packages. It is recommended that you coordinate with Prison Health Services prior to leaving items in the lobby (925) 551-6700.

Telephone Calls
Pay phones are available to all inmates daily. However, inmates can only make collect telephone calls.

• In order to eliminate problems associated with 3-way calling, the telephone system in use automatically terminates the call if an attempt is made to connect a third party.
• If you have call waiting, be advised the telephone system in use may terminate your call if the call waiting “click” is heard. The system cannot differentiate between the call waiting “click” and the 3-way calling “click”.
• Private citizens can prevent collect calls by having a BLOCK put on their personal phone line. This can be done by contacting your local telephone company.

Vehicle Impoundment
If a vehicle was impounded upon arrest, you will need to contact the arresting police agency to determine the documentation needed for the release of the vehicle. It is often necessary to provide a written letter from the registered owner authorizing the release of the vehicle. Inmates can release keys to the vehicle, by simply filling out a property release request form. Keys must be picked up in the lobby of the jail in which the inmate is being housed. It is recommended that you call the jail lobby to ensure the keys are ready for pick-up.

** Santa Rita Jail Facility (925) 551-6500 **

Visiting
Please refer to the Santa Rita Jail Visiting page.

Santa Rita Jail Facts
The original Santa Rita Jail opened in January 1947. It served as a replacement for the original County Prison Farm that operated on 275 acres next to Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro. The old Santa Rita Jail encompassed about 1000 acres of a World War II military base known as Camp Schumacher that was adjacent to the existing site of the Camp Parks Reserve Training Center. The original site included a Navy Brig that was converted into a maximum-security facility known as Greystone. A wire-enclosed complex of eight barracks was converted into a minimum and medium security facility that was known as the Compound. Women were housed in a horseshoe shaped barracks known as Women’s Quarters.

Over time, the Santa Rita Jail became overcrowded and the changing demographics of the jail population made it difficult and costly to operate the aging facility in a safe and secure manner. In 1983 Design and development of the “new” Santa Rita began. Construction costs of the new Santa Rita Jail totaled about $172 million. State bonds augmented by matching local funds made the project possible. On September 1, 1989, Sheriff Charles C. Plummer gave the order to open the facility and inmates were transferred from the old to the new jail.

The New Santa Rita Jail
The facility holds about 4000 inmates housed in one of eighteen modern housing units. It is considered a “mega-jail” and ranks as the third largest facility in California and the fifth largest in the nation. Santa Rita is accredited by the American Correctional Association, thus making it the only facility in California holding this prestigious award.

It is recognized as one of the most technologically innovative jails in the world. A robotic system speeds delivery of laundry, supplies and food to all areas of the 113-acre campus. State-of-the-art criminal justice systems serve the internal operation while the largest rooftop solar power system converts enough electricity to power nearly one-half of the facilities electrical needs during daylight hours.

Sheriff Ahern’s philosophy of cost-effective delivery of services is reflected in the private sector partnerships that support the jail’s operation. A modem cook-chill food service operation produces 12,000 economical meals per day. On site medical and mental health services saves money while reducing the patient load at county medical facilities.

Throughout its history, the Santa Rita Jail Facility has served the criminal justice system and contributed to the safety of the citizen of the County of Alameda by providing a safe, secure and humane environment for inmates and staff.