Rountree Medium Facility Inmate Bail & Bonds

Enter his name in Santa Cruz County Inmate Search. The Sheriff's Office runs the county's jails, and the Main Jail at 259 Water Street, Santa Cruz, is the central one. People who are later classified as medium or minimum security can be moved to the Rountree facilities in Watsonville, and many women are housed at Blaine Street. The jail line is 831-454-7800. Staff share only general information by phone, so use the search first.

Back to questions ↑

The Sheriff's Office says booking information is usually available within a few hours of arrest. Booking itself, with a search, property inventory, health questions, fingerprints, photos, and a check of bail eligibility, often takes a few hours. If Santa Cruz County Inmate Search shows nothing after that, call 831-454-7800 with his full name and birth date.

Back to questions ↑

The Sheriff's Office says cash bail is accepted at the Main Jail, and that the Water Street lobby takes currency, or a cashier's check written to the Santa Cruz County Superior Court. Bring a driver's license, ID card, or passport. Call 831-454-7800 for the hours before you leave home. A licensed bail bond agent is the other route, and the bail pages cover both.

Back to questions ↑

The Santa Cruz judges adopted the schedule on December 10, 2025, and it took effect January 1, 2026. A first DUI is $5,000, or $7,500 with a high blood alcohol. Assault with a deadly weapon as a felony is $30,000. Corporal injury to a spouse or partner is $25,000 as a felony and $10,000 as a misdemeanor. A first-degree burglary is $50,000. Second-degree robbery is $40,000, and first-degree robbery is $75,000.

Some charges are marked cite and release, such as simple battery, so the person may go home with a ticket. Murder is marked bail denied. Santa Cruz judges may change that figure, and the full schedule is on the court's site.

Back to questions ↑

Under Penal Code 853.6, a misdemeanor arrest usually ends with release once the person signs a notice to appear, with exceptions such as some cases covered by section 1270.1. The county schedule lists several charges as cite and release. Signing the ticket means agreeing to appear on the printed date; the case is still open. Missing that date can bring a warrant. Read the date on the paper and keep it.

Back to questions ↑

That happens often in Santa Cruz. After the first court date, a judge uses sound discretion and can go above or below the schedule, with Penal Code 1275 listing factors such as seriousness, record, and likelihood of returning. Police can ask a judge to raise bail before the schedule amount is posted. In 2026 the California Supreme Court, in In re Kowalczyk, told judges to look at free release terms and at the family’s real ability to pay.

Back to questions ↑

Under the county schedule, anyone arrested under Health and Safety Code 11395 or Penal Code 666.1 cannot be released until a judge reviews the risk to public safety and the chance of returning to court. Serious or violent felonies and certain domestic violence arrests require an open-court hearing under Penal Code 1270.1. Ask the lawyer how the rule applies before you pay.

Back to questions ↑

Penal Code 825 allows 48 hours from arrest, not counting Sundays and holidays. Criminal cases in this county are filed only at the Santa Cruz courthouse, 701 Ocean Street, and the day's calendar is posted outside the Clerk's Office, Room 120. The clerk's phone, 831-420-2200, is answered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekdays.

Back to questions ↑

The state insurance department says ten percent of the bond is the most common fee, plus reasonable costs. Rates are filed with the state, and the fee is generally not refunded. The court's own criminal page tells people who used a bond to call the bail company about their case. Compare agents and read the contract. Concerns go to the Department of Insurance.

Back to questions ↑

It can be done, but it takes a court hearing. The judge must find that the equity is at least twice the amount of the cash deposit required. The owner asks the clerk for a hearing date, serves the District Attorney at least ten days ahead, and files a sworn application with a legal description, a current appraisal, a list of loans, a preliminary title report, and proof of fire insurance. The appraisal and title report must be dated within 30 days before the hearing. Each owner signs a note and a deed of trust, and a notary witnesses both. If the judge approves, the deed is recorded with the County Recorder and a copy goes to the Clerk's Office, Room 120, at 701 Ocean Street.

The court's instructions do not say whether land outside Santa Cruz County counts, so ask the clerk at 831-420-2200 before you gather papers. The owner pays all the costs. Plan on days, not hours.

Back to questions ↑

The schedule marks murder, certain kidnapping charges, and a few other crimes as bail denied. California's Constitution, article I, section 12, also allows a no-bail hold on a death-penalty charge, or on a violent or sex felony when strong proof shows he would likely hurt someone badly. An out-of-state warrant for a fugitive carries no bail or the same amount as that warrant.

Back to questions ↑

Releases happen at any hour, including overnight, and most take several hours once the paperwork is complete. The Sheriff's safe release program lets someone due out between 5 p.m. (or sundown, if later) and 8 a.m. stay until morning if he chooses. Monarch Services helps women with rides and phone access. Ask at 831-454-7800.

Back to questions ↑

The county Probation Department runs the Juvenile Detention Facility at 3650 Graham Hill Road, Felton, 831-454-3800. Juvenile probation also has an office at 1430 Freedom Boulevard, Watsonville, 831-763-8070. Youth cases are sealed and stay out of the adult jail search. Welfare and Institutions Code 632 gives the court until the close of the next court day after the petition to hold her detention hearing.

Back to questions ↑

The Public Defender's office is at 420 May Avenue, Santa Cruz, 831-454-5300. Tell the judge at the first appearance that you need appointed counsel. The office can ask for lower bail or release at that hearing.

Back to questions ↑

Penal Code 1305 gives about 180 days from the mailing of the forfeiture notice, with five days added for mail. In that time the person can be brought to court and the bail released. Waiting costs money. Call the bail agent and a lawyer at once.

Back to questions ↑

When the case closes and bail is exonerated, Santa Cruz returns the cash to the person who posted it, after subtracting fines or fees. A bail agent keeps the fee. Keep that slip with the case number on it and call the criminal division, 831-420-2200, how to request a refund.

Back to questions ↑

Ask the lawyer to request a review in Santa Cruz or Watsonville. California's 2026 Kowalczyk decision says bail generally must be within reach, and judges must think about what a person can pay.

Back to questions ↑

Santa Cruz hears cases in the city of Santa Cruz and at a branch in Watsonville:

• Santa Cruz courthouse: 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 · 831-420-2200
• Watsonville courthouse: 1 Second Street, Watsonville, CA 95076 · 831-786-7200

Back to questions ↑

Santa Cruz federal cases cross Highway 17 to the San Jose division of the Northern District of California:

• A magistrate judge at San Jose federal courthouse, 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113 hears him first.
• Pretrial Services reports.
• Release or detention is decided under federal law.
• The Marshals hold anyone detained.

Marshals: U.S. Marshals Service, 280 South 1st Street, San Jose, 408-535-5496.

Back to questions ↑

SB 54 forbids it. A release date can go to ICE only for a serious or violent conviction. ICE interviews require a TRUTH Act notice first.

San Francisco ICE field office, 630 Sansome Street, Room 590, San Francisco, CA 94111, 415-365-8800 covers Santa Cruz. Detainees go to:

• Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center: 425 Golden State Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
• Golden State Annex: 611 Frontage Road, McFarland, CA 93250
• California City detention site: 22844 Virginia Boulevard, California City, CA 93505

Back to questions ↑

• Santa Cruz County Inmate Search: name; booking and bail.
• VINELink (https://vinelink.vineapps.com/): California; facility.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/): register number or name; pretrial: 408-535-5496.
• CDCR Inmate Locator (https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/): CDCR number or name.
• ICE Online Detainee Locator System (https://locator.ice.gov/odls/): A-number or name and birth country; else 415-365-8800.

Back to questions ↑

End the call right away. Santa Cruz’s jail and court don’t ask for gift cards or payment apps. Ring 831-454-7800 yourself and ask whether any payment is due.

Back to questions ↑