Owyhee County Jail COVID-19 Coronavirus Visitation Policy

Owyhee County Jail

Address:
PO Box 128
Murphy, ID 83650

Phone:

208-495-1154

New Visitation Policies in Owyhee County Jail Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus

Because of concerns for the safety and wellness of both staff and inmates at the Owyhee County Jail in Murphy, Idaho, contact visits of any type may be suspended. Even if they have visits, from time to time, face masks may be required.

Approved Non-contact visits with family, friends and the inmate’s lawyers may still be allowed when at-home or onsite video visitation is not available, however given that new guidelines are changing daily please check the visitation page or call 208-495-1154 for updates.

Video Visitation at Owyhee County Jail

At-home and onsite video visitation guidelines for Owyhee County Jail, when this service is available, can be found by going to the visitation information page.

We highly recommend that you call 208-495-1154 first for any changes due to staff shortages or other unforeseen circumstances, including whether your inmate has become ill and is unable to be in the general population where video kiosks are available.

How Long Will These Changes Last?

Experts in the study of the COVID-19 are anticipating that spread of the virus will be a ongoing concern for Owyhee County, the state of Idaho and the entire United States until well into 2024 and maybe even beyond. We are witnessing the virus becoming more contagious, but less deadly over time. Many people think that the 'more contagious, but less deadly' variants will infect so many people that a higher level of natural immunity for the majority of Americans will be the end result.

Will the Inmates in Owyhee County Jail Be Safe from Getting Sick With COVID-19 Coronavirus?

Whether the inmates are safe from contracting the coronavirus depends entirely on two things:

  1. The Virus being introduced into the facility by a staff member or inmate who is unaware that they have it.
  2. How easily it spreads.

At this stage most people who get the coronavirus show very few symptoms beyond what you might experience with a bad cold or a mild case of the common flu. Newer variants are turning out to be less deadly than the common flu we experience every year.

Studies that have been done are showing that the hardest hit are those 60 years of age and older, those with pre-existing medical issues like diabetes, leukemia or obese individuals. Young men and women rarely become very ill, and when they do, seem to recover quickly.

Given the close proximity of inmates and staff to each other in this lockup, it is going to be very difficult to prevent the spread of COVID-19 once it is introduced into the facility as the virus can spread via the microscopic vapor that we release every time we speak, cough or sneeze.

We will continuously update this page as the virus changes and new policies are instituted.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in Owyhee County Jail?

Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate at Owyhee County Jail, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, Owyhee County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of Inmate Sales utilizing the following instructions:

In order to have a successful video visit with an inmate in Owyhee County, these are the steps to follow:

  • Make sure you have a device a speaker, a camera and a connection to the internet.
  • Register with Inmate Sales.
  • Find Owyhee County Jail
  • Select 'New Purchase'
  • Choose Owyhee County Jail and a product (either 'Remote' or 'Onsite' Visit)
  • Enter your personal information and purchase minutes.
  • Schedule a visit.
  • Call 877-998-5678 if you have any questions.

* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Owyhee County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.

Owyhee County Jail Phone: 208-495-1154


 

How to Send a Secure Email Message to an Inmate in Owyhee County

To send a secure email message to an inmate in Owyhee County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register with Inmate Sales, the company that handles inmate messaging in Owyhee County, by creating an account.
  • Select Idaho, then select Owyhee County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send your message to.
  • Choose the amount of money you want to spend, and input your payment method. The funds can also be used by the inmate to send a message back to you.
  • If you want to pay by phone, call 877-998-5678.
  • NOTE: All messages between you and your inmate will be permanently recorded and seen by the staff and could be used against your inmate in court.

-  Chirping is the product name for inmate texting.  
-  This product allows Owyhee County inmates to send chirps (texts) to friends and family members.
-  Inmates will be charged a monthly service fee of $4.00.
-  Inbound and Outbound Chirps are $0.10 each.

Inmate Sales Apps

iphone app
Google Play app

For all information on how to Text/Email an Inmate in Owyhee County Jail check out our Secure Messaging Guide for Owyhee County.


 

How Do Inmates in Owyhee County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Owyhee County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

  • Owyhee County Jail uses the services of a company named Inmate Sales.
  • Register with them online or call them at 877-998-5678
  • Agents are available M-F from 8:00 AM - 12:00 midnight EST, Saturdays from 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM, and speak both English & Spanish.
  • Services for Owyhee County inmates and their families and friends include: Collect Calling, PIN Debit, Purchasing Calling Cards, Deposits, Messaging & Video Visitation.

iphone app
Google Play app

For all the information regarding phone calls with Owyhee County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How Does an Inmate Make Phone Calls in Owyhee County Jail?

To receive phone calls from an inmate in Owyhee County follow these instructions:

Owyhee County Jail uses the services of NCIC for inmate phone calling. It is called a ‘friends & family account”.

In order to receive phone calls from your inmate, you need to do the following:

  • Register here, or by phone 800-943-2189
  • Choose Idaho.
  • Choose Owyhee County Jail
  • Select your Inmate.
  • Enter the phone number your Inmate will be calling.
  • Fund your Account. ($10-$100 at a time)

NOTE:
1.   You cannot receive any calls to your phone number from your inmate until both you and your phone number are registered.
2.  When you do receive a call, the number you will view on your phone from the incoming call is: 800-943-2189.
3.  When allowed by Owyhee County Jail, families can also leave secure voicemails for inmates to listen to.

Fees

  • Adding funds to your account - $3.00 
  • Cost of phone call of a Prepaid Collect Account - $0.21 per minute
  • Cost of an interstate (ex. Idaho to a different state) phone call NOT Prepaid - $0.25 per minute
  • Cost of an intrastate (ex. Idaho to Idaho) phone call NOT Prepaid - $0.25 per minute
  • Cost if you set up your account (or fund it) by phone using a live agent, you will be charged a one-time fee of $5.95.

NCIC Customer Service
Phone - 800-943-2189 or 903-247-0069
Email – [email protected]
Full list of participating jails.

For all the information regarding phone calls with Owyhee County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, fees, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Purchase Commissary for an Inmate in Owyhee County

To purchase commissary online for an Owyhee County Jail inmate, follow these instructions:

  • Start here and click ‘PLACE ORDER in CommissaryDeposit.com
  • Choose Idaho
  • Choose Owyhee County Jail
  • View the date your order will be delivered, then click ‘NEXT’.
  • Search for, then Select your inmate from the Owyhee County Jail list.
  • Choose the amount to send.
  • Register, and Pay for the deposit transaction

Note: You will be charged a fee to purchase commissary for your Owyhee County inmate. In addition, there is a maximum amount you can spend, usually about $250.00. 
Items you may Purchase from CommissaryDeposit.com:

  • Clothing - thermals, underwear, bras, shoes.
  • Stationary, envelopes, stamps, playing cards, board games
  • Toiletries, hygiene, reading glasses, medicated creams, aspirin
  • Soda, energy drinks, coffee, packaged meat & fish, soups, cookies, chips, pastries.

Contact Information
Customer Support page.
Customer Support phone:   912-584-6102
Email - [email protected]
Customer Support Hours - Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM EST

For complete information on fees, products, policies, deadlines, rules, minimum and maximum purchases and all the information you need to know regarding purchasing commissary for your inmate in Owyhee County, go to our Inmate Commissary Page for details.


 

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Owyhee County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Owyhee County Jail follow these steps:

  • Register with correctpay by creating an account.
  • Select Idaho, then select Owyhee County Jail, and then the inmate you want to send money to.
  • Choose the amount of money you want to send, and input your payment method.
  • You can deposit money four ways:
  • Deposit online at correctpay.com.
  • Deposit at the VendEngine kiosk in the Owyhee County Jail lobby.
  • Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 855-836-3364
  • Deposit through their iOS or Android app.

For all information on how to Send Money to an inmate's account, what the fees are, how long it takes to hit their account and more, check out our full money and commissary guide for Owyhee County Jail.


 

How Do Inmates in Owyhee County Jail Get Money to Make Phone Calls?
 

To send money to an inmate in order to make phone calls in Owyhee County Jail, follow these steps:

1. Register with correctpay online, the money depositing service used by Owyhee County Jail, or call Customer Service at 855-836-3364. They are open 24/7.

2. Once registered, select Idaho, then Owyhee County Jail, then the inmate you want to send money to.
3. Choose an amount, then a payment method (any major credit or debit card in your name), and then send.

NOTE: There is a cost to use this service... usually no more than 5%. The link below has all the information you need to know.

For all the information regarding phone calls with Owyhee County inmates; what phone service they use, calling cards information, the rules, policies, fees, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.


 

How to Send Commissary Money to an Inmate in Owyhee County

To send commissary money to an inmate's account in Owyhee County Jail follow these steps:

You can deposit money four different ways:

  • Deposit online at correctpay.com.
  • Deposit at the VendEngine kiosk in the Owyhee County Jail lobby.
  • Deposit over the phone 24/7 at 855-836-3364
  • Deposit through their iOS or Android app.

24/7 Customer Service - 855-836-3364
Frequently Asked Questions

For all information, tips and available items for send money and for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Owyhee County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Owyhee County.