The San Jose Juvenile Hall (Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall)

(A resource guide for anyone whose children are detained at the San Jose Juvenile Hall)

The San Jose Juvenile Hall is among two minimum security facilities under the command of the Santa Clara Probation Department.¹

Below our San Jose CA criminal defense lawyers will explain the following:

• 1. What is the intake procedure?
• 2. How do I contact my child at San Jose Juvenile Hall?
• 3. What are the visiting hours at San Jose Juvenile Hall?
• 4. How can I send mail to my child?

1. What is the intake procedure?

When your child is taken into custody at the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall, they are provided with:

• supplies to maintain their hygiene,
• clothing,
• shoes,
• toiletries, and
• other items that satisfy basic needs.

Upon intake, your child also goes through a medical examination and general physical inspection to discover possession of any illegal drugs or guns.

Most minors are released quickly after being ordered by the court to

• pay a fine,
• perform community service, and
• go on probation under your supervision along with constant visits with their Probation Officers.

Some minors remain in custody under strict supervision. The Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall provides minors in custody rehabilitation programs and treatment, such as:

• chemical dependency treatment,
• substance abuse education,
• health education,
• life skills,
• mental health treatment,
• parenting classes,
• sex offender counseling,
• sexual abuse treatment,
• sports programs,
• gang intervention,
• domestic violence education,
• religious counseling,
• vocational training, and
• Youth Education Advocate services

San Jose Juvie Hall is located at 840 Guadalupe Parkway, San Jose, CA 95110.

2. How do I contact my child at San Jose Juvenile Hall?

You cannot call your child at the San Jose Juvenile Hall, though they are given time during the day to phone you with prior approval from the court or your child’s Probation Officer.

These calls are monitored for security reasons. Confidentiality in reference to phone calls is only practiced with your child’s communication with their attorney.

To be updated on your child’s status and progress while in detention, you must coordinate with their designated Probation Officer. They will keep you posted

• on all court proceedings as well as
• all pertinent information about your child while in custody.

To contact your child’s Probation Officer, you may call the Juvenile Detention Division at (408) 278-5850 daily at any time. For general inquiries about your child, please call the Juvenile Services Division at (408) 278-5900 or (408) 278-5820 during normal business hours.

3. What are the visiting hours at San Jose Juvenile Hall?

The San Jose Juvenile Hall visiting hours are

• Monday through Friday from 5pm and 9pm and
• Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.

Only parents and/or legal guardians are allowed to visit, and you must schedule visits at least 24 hours in advance by calling (408) 278-5810. Other family members may visit with the approval of the court or the Probation Officer.

Visits are up to 30 minutes. Be sure to dress conservatively and bring a government-issued photo ID.

4. How can I send mail to my child?

You may send letters and greeting cards to your child at the San Jose Juvenile Hall at this address:

[Child’s name]
San Jose Juvenile Hall
840 Guadalupe Parkway
San Jose, CA 95110

You must write your return address on the envelope (which must be non-padded), or else the mail will not be delivered. You can send non-Polaroid photographs as long as they are no larger than 5×7 inches.

Upon inspection, any suspicious correspondence that contains perpetuation of any criminal activity or advocacy for escape will result in your child’s placement on “mail review status” or in severe cases termination of their mail correspondence privilege until further notice.

Contact us at (408) 347-1200 for more information and to discuss your child’s case with an experienced San Jose CA criminal defense lawyer.