For inmate information, the 919-bed Santa Clara Main Jail Facility can be reached at 408-299-2305 24 hours a day.
This facility conducts booking and processing for all misdemeanor and felony arrests in the county. Inmates whose charges require detention remain here until they bond out, are released on their own recognizance, or are held through the end of their trial.
The inmate search tool gives you access to the list of people currently in custody.
Those serving a sentence of less than one year serve it at this jail. Those with a sentence of a year or longer are transferred to the California State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page gives you information about the visitation schedule, how to fund an inmate’s account, mail an inmate, receive phone calls, use voicemail, send emails and texts, rent tablets, post bail, and purchase commissary.
Save the inmate’s jail ID or booking number, as it’s commonly needed for mail. If you can’t locate it online, call Santa Clara Main Jail Facility at 408-299-2305.
Phone: 408-299-2305
Physical Address:
150 W. Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Other Jails and Prisons
An inmate’s charges, bond amount, visitation eligibility, and mugshot are all available through the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Official Jail Inmate Roster. If you need more information, call the jail at 408-299-2305. You can also find courthouse locations for Santa Clara County and the rest of California’s counties.
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility Inmate Search
Want to find out whether there’s a warrant for your arrest in Santa Clara County or anywhere in California? Need details on a court case involving a friend or relative? The California Superior Court is a good starting point.
The California Constitution gives most criminal defendants in Santa Clara County and across the state a right to bail before trial, except in certain capital and violent felony cases. In a 2021 ruling, the California Supreme Court held that judges must take a defendant’s ability to pay into account and may not hold someone solely because they can’t afford bail unless no less restrictive alternative will protect the public or ensure they appear in court. Rule 4.101 also bars judges from considering whether the defendant has requested a jury trial.
Calling the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility at 408-299-2305 is the quickest way to find out an inmate’s bail. As long as you know the crime they’re accused of, you can also look up the Santa Clara County bail schedule yourself. This county accepts cash, surety bonds, and property bonds.
By the numbers, the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility:
At most city and county jails in California, at least 35-40% of inmates turn over monthly, another 25-30% every 90 days, and another 15-20% every six months, while about 8-9% stay six to twelve months. Inmates held longer than twelve months are usually facing serious charges like rape or murder. Because those cases take longer to prepare for trial, offenders arrested in this county remain in custody at one of the Santa Clara County facilities much longer.
Each year, Santa Clara County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 90,100 offenders.
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility in California is designed to have 919 inmate beds. Both males and females are locked up here. The address for the complex is 150 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110. To reach the jail by phone, call 408-299-2305. Eighty percent of the inmates in Santa Clara Main Jail Facility are pre-trial. The inmate areas are divided into modules with individual cells and common dayrooms. Each module is designed to hold 64 inmates supervised by one trained guard. When they are out of their individual cells, inmates can interact with the guard on duty, and with other inmates. Programs are offered in the dayrooms, and telephone calls are also made there.
Inmates can come from throughout Santa Clara County and from the cities of San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Milpitas, Palo Alto, and Cupertino. There are 1,936,259, people in Santa Clara County, and each year it's estimated that 65,000 of those people are arrested and brought to this jail.
To research if someone you know has been booked into Santa Clara Main Jail Facility, you can use the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Inmate Finder and do an Inmate Search. To use the system, you'll have to know their Booking Number (CEN Number), or you should use their Person File Number (PFN Number), or if you don't know either of those, search using their legal name and their Date of Birth or their Booking Date.
Once you confirm that your friend or family member is in Santa Clara Main Jail Facility, you can schedule a visit with them any day of the week except Wednesdays. You have to register and get approved before you can schedule a visit. Inmate visits are limited to twice a week, and each visit can last one hour. There are a lot of rules surrounding visitation, some of them quite restrictive. You can't wear certain types of clothing, and if two people are visiting an inmate, you each only get 1/2 hour visits. It's important that you understand the rules, that you get to your visit 1/2 hour early, and that you have the proper identification required. See all the guidlines under Visits.
You may wish to support an inmate in other ways besides visits. Some other instructions for inmate services and accounts can be found at Mail, Phone, Money, Bail, e-mail, Commissary, and Tablet rental.
Complaints and protests have been lodged against the Sheriff's Department regarding the condition of this jail and the lack of mental health services and substance abuse treatment programs. The community has been fighting the expansion of a new jail that would focus on mental health and substance abuse.
Once arrested, the person is taken to Santa Clara Main Jail Facility for booking, a process that confirms identity, assesses charges, and determines if they will be released on their own recognizance, posted for bail, or held until court.
Staying silent is key during this process, as anything spoken can be used as evidence in court. It’s best to wait for legal counsel before responding to questions.
Steps involved in booking at Santa Clara Main Jail Facility include:
To check on an offender’s bond amount, contact Santa Clara Main Jail Facility at 408-299-2305.
After an arrest, individuals are brought to Santa Clara Main Jail Facility in San Jose for processing. Following this, three possible outcomes exist:
1. The individual may be released without posting bail, with a promise to appear in court.
2. The individual could be held in jail until their court date.
3. Bail or bond can be posted for release; for more information, contact 408-299-2305.
Bail payment can be handled through various means.
To learn more about the bail process in Santa Clara County, California, visit the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility Bail Page.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility? What is the Schedule?
150 W. Hedding Street
San Jose, CA 95110
408-299-2305
ON SITE VISITATION SCHEDULE - ALWAYS CALL 408-299-2305 TO CONFIRM VISITATION SCHEDULE!
| DAY | TIMES |
| SUNDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM |
| MONDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| TUESDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| WEDNESDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| THURSDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| FRIDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM 6:00PM - 8:00PM |
| SATURDAY | 9:00AM - 11:00AM 2:00PM - 4:00PM |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility?
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility?
To deposit money into the account of an inmate in Santa Clara County, follow these instructions:
For all the information you need regarding making an inmate deposit, what it costs, how much you can send, how long it takes for your inmate to receive funds and more, and to get the Facility Locator Number, check out our Send Money Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility?
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
For full instructions on the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How do I Mail an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Postcards
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.
Envelopes
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Legal Mail
Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address below.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility standards will be disposed of. No more than three books may be shipped at any one time.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & PFN number
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
885 North San Pedro Street
San Jose, CA 95110
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility, and what can I purchase?
The service they use is called icaregifts.
Instructions
1. Register here.
2. Click the "Find an Inmate" button and enter your loved one’s first name, last name, or inmate number. When the information is entered correctly, click the “Search” button to confirm they are in the system.
3. Select the icare gift you want to send them.
4. Confirm the order in your confirmation email.
5. Santa Clara Main Jail Facility has up to 30 days to give your icaregift pack to your inmate.
6. You will receive a confirmation email when it is delivered.
There are a total of fourteen (14) pre-determined icaregift packs available to choose from.
They range in price from $10.49 for ten pre-stamped envelopes, 2 pens and a pad of writing paper…
… to $104.99 for a box of 85 snack and food items…
… with many gift packs priced in between.
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (you must have an inmate chosen in order to review these FAQs for Santa Clara Main Jail Facility
Contact Info:
888-439-5020 - 8AM–9PM ET, 7 days a week.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Santa Clara Main Jail Facility follow these steps:
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Santa Clara Main Jail Facility, as well as sending money to the inmate so that they can purchase their own items, check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Santa Clara County.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility using an Online Messaging Service?
Santa Clara Main Jail Facility contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Santa Clara Main Jail Facility,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
How Messaging Works
Watch this video on how to send a message.
1. Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message. Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
How Uploading Photos Works
Watch this video on how to upload a photo.
1. Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
To mail or email an inmate in Santa Clara County follow these steps:
When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:
Emailing Messages & Photos
Facility_name_1} contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.
Then use the Facility Finder to:
1. Select Santa Clara Main Jail Facility,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call 866-516-0115
Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.
All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Santa Clara County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Do Inmates in the Santa Clara Main Jail Facility have Access to Tablets or Computers?
The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Santa Clara Main Jail Facility, such as:
- Free services are already available for use on the device at Santa Clara Main Jail Facility.
- Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
- Santa Clara Main Jail Facility Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.
What Does a Tablet Cost?
To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page), but the following gives you a general idea.
Game Center:
30-Day Subscription: $4.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($5.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($3.74)
Seven-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($2.49)
Unlimited eBooks:
Thirty-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($2.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($1.74)
Seven-Day Subscription: $0.49, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)
Streaming Music:
Thirty-Day Subscription: $8.99, with an additional $16.00 service infrastructure charge ($24.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $5.99, with an additional $9.00 service infrastructure charge ($14.99)
Seven-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($7.99)
Newsfeed
Thirty-Day Subscription: $3.99, with an additional $6.00 service infrastructure charge ($9.99)
Fourteen-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($6.99)
Seven-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $3.00 service infrastructure charge ($3.99)
Same Day Subscription Services
Game Center: $0.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($1.49)
Unlimited eBooks: $0.25, (Total = 0.25)
Newsfeed: $0.24, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)
FM Radio: $0.24, with an additional $0.25 service infrastructure charge ($0.49)
All Subscription and message credit pricing is subject to state and local taxes.
Replacement Components - should your inmate break it...
Tablet: $249.99 per each
Charger: $8.99 per each
Earbuds: $2.99 per each
To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:
1. First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL
2. Purchase the services you want for your Santa Clara Main Jail Facility inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.
To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Santa Clara Main Jail Facility’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 408-299-2305 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
What are the other City and County Jails in Santa Clara County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Santa Clara County?
This facility, known as "Santa Clara Main Jail Facility" is also known as Santa Clara County Jail - North, Santa Clara County Criminal Court, Santa Clara County Jail - North, California, Santa Clara.
The Santa Clara Main Jail Facility serves the following cities and towns of Santa Clara County: Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga and Sunnyvale.
