Merced County Main Jail Facility Inmate Visitation

Merced County Main Jail Facility INMATE VISITATION SCHEDULE

700 W. 22nd St.
Merced, CA 95344
209-385-7410

• Each inmate will submit the names of potential visitors using the Inmate Visitor Information Form.
• Inmates may complete and submit the form upon intake processing, and may then fill out a new form every month they are incarcerated between the 1st and 5th.
• Inmates may have as many visitors on their visiting list as they like.
• Only two visitors are allowed to visit each visiting day. Children and infants count as one of the two allowed visitors.
• Each inmate is allowed two 30-minute visits per week. Additional visits may be allowed with permission.
• The visitors will be signed in on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Valid and current State issued picture identification is required of visitors. 
• Children under age 18 must be accompanied by their parent or guardian in order to visit.
• The parent or guardian must also provide a copy of the minor’s birth certificate or legal documentation showing proof of guardianship.

Visiting sign-ups begin the hour before the visit is to occur.
Visitors must complete the sign in process not less than 15 minutes before the scheduled visit to ensure that the inmate has time to prepare for the visit.

*** All 2 man SHU cells in 1 BLOCK, 2 BLOCK and INTAKE will visit seperately from other SHU cells

Schedule a Visit with an Inmate at the Merced County Main Jail Facility

The Merced County Main Jail Facility believes in the importance of their inmates having an opportunity to have visits from family and friends. When an inmate is released he or she needs to return home, and closeness to their family is one of the strongest reasons that keeps them from getting in trouble again.

One way that Merced County Main Jail Facility is able to accomplish this is with on-site visitation, and video visitation using Viapath / gettingout.

The benefits of inmate visitation are:

• It keeps inmates happy.
• Allows the inmates to stay in touch with friends, family and children.
• It is used as a way to control bad behavior, as inmates could lose this privilege if they act out.

For more information on scheduling visits, call the facility at 209-385-7410, sign up with Viapath / gettingout, or scroll down for a complete section of Visiting Hours, Signing up and Registering with gettingout, and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, including dress codes, rules and guidelines.

Visitation - 'At Jail' and Remote Video Visits

Merced County Main Jail Facility uses Viapath / GettingOut for their Remote Video Visitation and/or Visit Scheduling. 



There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate:
1.  Using the Viapath/GettingOut/GTL Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut or GTL apps.

How it Works with GettingOut
1.  Register an account.
2. Select Merced County Main Jail Facility
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.   

• **NOTE** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Merced County Main Jail Facility.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

Visitation Options, Hours, Schedules & Rules

Visitation times and schedules for remote visitation with an inmate at Merced County Main Jail Facility with Viapath / GettingOut are available to you after logging in and selecting the inmate you wish to visit with.

* Visitation schedules are subject to change.
* The actual visiting hours vary depending on the following factors:

• Whether or not there are restrictions in place due to COVID or other factors such as security issues.
• The day of the week.
• Where the inmate is housed.
• The inmate's sex.
• Whether or not it is a Holiday.

* Each inmate is allowed one or two visits (or unlimited visits!), ranging from 15 minutes to one hour in length each week.
* Inmates with special privileges may be allowed additional visits.
* If you are visiting from another state or traveling a great distance, Merced County Main Jail Facility may allow you an extended visitation. Call 209-385-7410 to ask for special consideration.
* Call 209-385-7410 to ask about normal visiting hours at the jail, and procedures for scheduling a visit other than video visitation.

Visitation Approval for Merced County Main Jail Facility

Merced County Main Jail Facility requires all visitors to fill out an application prior to your visiting an inmate.

• Carefully fill out the application. Incomplete paperwork is cause for denial.
• Honesty, especially regarding past criminal convictions, probation etc., is important. These things will most likely show up on the background check – which if lied about on the application, will cause visits to be denied.
• Viapath / GettingOut requires detailed verification before allowing you to use their services.

At Home Video Visitation

Video visits allow your visit to take place in the privacy of your own home. Some family members 'take their inmate with them' to church, the park, the doctor or anywhere else simply by signing in and bringing the device along. Video visits save you from having to get your children ready, drive to the jail, wait in long lines and go through security checkpoints just to see the inmate.

Merced County Main Jail Facility uses Viapath / GettingOut for their Remote Video Visitation and/or Visit Scheduling. 

There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate:
1.  Using the GettingOut/GTL Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut or GTL apps.

How it Works with Viapath / GettingOut
1.  Register an account.
2. Find your Inmate's Facility.
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.   

• **Note** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Merced County Main Jail Facility.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for Viapath / GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

Who can Visit an Inmate at Merced County Main Jail Facility

Who can Visit an Inmate at the Merced County Main Jail Facility?

• Anyone over the age of 18, who isn't on felony probation and can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can be approved to visit an inmate in Merced County Main Jail Facility.
• Visitation applicants in in Merced County must sometimes submit to a background check. Those with warrants are denied visitation or if allowed to visit, will be arrested at the jail.
• Children under age 18 must be accompanied by the parent or legal guardian.
• Call 209-385-7410 to ask specific questions about this policy or click here for any updates to this policy.
• It is likely that the Merced County Main Jail Facility will deny visitation to anyone with a past felony conviction regardless of probation/parole status. Call 209-385-7410 prior to arriving for the specific jail guideline regarding your legal status.
• If you are a co-defendant with the inmate in a pending case, your visit will be denied.
• If you and the inmate are under a court order to have no contact with each other, your visit will be denied.
• The Merced County Main Jail Facility reserves the right to deny any person the right to enter the jail it chooses and for any reason.

NOTE: Viapath / GettingOut, the Merced County Main Jail Facility visitation service, will need to verify that you say who you claim to be prior to giving you permission to use their services online or at the jail lobby kiosk. This will require uploading your driver's license or other state issued ID.

Merced County Main Jail Facility Visitation Dress Code

The Merced County Main Jail Facility staff will turn anyone away who is not dressed appropriately for a visit.

• Remote Visits are monitored by the jail.
• If you are dressed inappropriately your visit will be shut off.
• The best way to be sure the visit takes place is to dress as if you are meeting someone's grandmother for the first time. 

General Clothing Do's & Don'ts for Remote Visitation
* Wear clothes that are not revealing.
* Don't wear see-through material.
* Have all undergarments covered (males and females) and avoid a lot of cleavage.
* Shorts and skirts should reach mid-thigh.
* Sleeves should be at least half-way to your elbow.
* The following types of clothing are also prohibited:
* Clothing promoting gang affiliation.
* Anything displaying drugs, weapons or profanity.
* Clothing depicting anything obscene.

Visitation Tips and Guidelines

All Merced County Main Jail Facility visits are conducted in person behind plexi-glass or on a televised screen from another location using Remote Video Visitation.

• If the visit takes place at Merced County Main Jail Facility, all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and guardians must provide proof of their guardianship.
• Leave all personal belongings, except for your state ID in your vehicle or in a locker (if one is provided).
• Children must be monitored at all times or jail staff will end the visit early.