The Ventura County Jail
(Pre-trial Detention Facility)

(A resource for anyone whose family members or friends are inmates at the Ventura County Jail)

The Ventura County Jail Pre-Trial Detention Facility is located at the Government Center, 800 South Victoria Avenue, Ventura, CA 93009. This detention facility accommodates all female inmates, male inmates awaiting trial, and other inmates who need medical assistance on a 24 hour basis.

In 1980, The Ventura County Pre-trial Detention Facility opened its doors for service and currently houses approximately 890 inmates, both pre-sentenced and sentenced inmates combined. Along with the East Valley booking facility, the Ventura County Pre-trial Detention Facility also accepts inmates from all law enforcement agencies in the Ventura County.

Below you will find information regarding:

• How to post bail at the Ventura County Jail
• How to get inmate information
• How to contact an inmate
• Schedule of visiting hours
• Inmate Visiting Policies
• Rules and Regulations for sending mail
• How to put money "on the books" for inmates
• Procedure on "Return of Property"
• Defendants Held in Custody on Ventura DUI Charges

How to post bail for inmates arrested at the Ventura County Pre-trial Detention Facility?

The Sherriff's Department will set a bail amount according to the Ventura County Bail Schedule once the inmate has been booked. At arraignment, a Ventura County judge can modify the bail amount. Afterwards, family members or friends of the inmates can now post bail for their release pending for their trial in court.

The Ventura County Jail Pre-Trial Detention Facility accepts the following forms of payment as bail:

• Cash
• Cashier's check
• Certified check
• Personal check
• Traveler's check
• Money Order
• Bail Bond
• Credit Card

Cash - If you choose to post bail in cash, this will require having the full amount of bail. Upon conclusion of the court proceedings, a refund of the posted bail amount will be given to you. However, there is a small administrative fee that will be charged to you.

Cashier's check - When paying with a cashier's check, make the check payable to the Ventura County Superior Court. The amount of the cashier's check must be equivalent to the full bail amount.

Certified check - When paying with a certified check, make the check payable to the Ventura County Superior Court. The amount of the certified check must be equivalent to the full bail amount.

Personal check - This method of payment only applies to non-felony Vehicle Code violations. When paying with a personal check, make the check payable to the Ventura County Superior Court. The amount of the personal check must be equivalent to the full bail amount.

Traveler's check - When paying with a traveler's check, make check payable to the Ventura County Superior Court. The amount of the traveler's check must be equivalent to the full bail amount.

Money order - When paying with a money order, make the money order payable to the Ventura County Superior Court. The amount of the money order must be equivalent to the full bail amount.

Bail bond - If you do not have the full amount of bail, you may hire a bail bondsman. Information on hiring a bail bondsman is available on the internet or the yellow pages. When hiring a bail bondsman make sure to deal with a licensed bail bond agent. Ask to see their license and identification before paying for their services. Ask for itemized receipts of all charges, and copies of all signed contracts and agreements for your own records.

Credit card - You may choose to pay with a credit/debit card and perform this payment online via GovPay.Com or over the phone at 1-888-604-7888. Once the payment has cleared, it will be posted and will be credited within 24 hours, weekends and holidays are not included.

NOTE: After posting bail, consult a Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney for legal counsel. For a more detailed discussion, visit our page on Ventura County Bail & Release Information.

How to get inmate information at the Ventura County Jail?

For all inmate information inquiry, please call 1 (805) 654-3335 or you may also access the Ventura County Sheriff's Department online and visit their website. You must have the inmates' first and last name (middle name if applicable) and their date of birth to access their information.

How to contact an inmate at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County

Inmates at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County unfortunately do not have the ability to accept incoming calls anyone. However, the inmates may call collect or they can purchase a calling card at the commissary that they can use to make outgoing calls.

Family members and friends can set up an account for the inmates where an inmate can withdraw money from and have the ability to purchase items at the jail store such as a calling cards, snacks and sundries.

Schedule of visiting hours for the Ventura County Jail

Visitors will be accommodated on a "first-come, first-served" basis at all times. Visitors should check in an hour before the scheduled visitation hours. With an exception on Sundays, visitors should check two hours before visitation hours begin.

Pre-Trial Visiting Hours

NOTE: The inmates have specific housing locations and the letters above correspond to their specific designations. It is best to call first and ask what the inmate's housing designation is before arriving at the facility during visiting hours.

Inmate Visiting Policies at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County

1. All visitors to the Ventura County Jail will to go through a standard procedure search. Anyone found guilty violating a law will be arrested on the spot.
2. All visitors who have been booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County within the calendar year from the date of their release will NOT be allowed to visit the facility.
3. Visitors below 18 years old must be accompanied by their parent, or legal guardian. Proof of legal guardianship might be required to be shown upon checking in. The Facility Sergeant reserves the right for the final decision whether the child will be allowed to visit an inmate at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County.
4. All visitors must show proof of identification. The list below enumerates what forms of identification are accepted:
   • A driver's license or identification issued by any U.S. state
   • A U.S. Military card
   • A U.S. Passport
   • Other forms or proof of identification may be accepted based upon the discretion of the Facility Sergeant
5. No food, beverages or smoking allowed while visiting an inmate and in the visiting area of the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County.
6. All visitors must follow specific dress code as listed below:
   • No sandals.
   • Shirt and shoes are required as standard dress code.
   • There will be no sheer, see-through, or any provocative clothing permitted as part of wardrobe by anyone visiting an inmate at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County.
   • NOTE: The Facility Sergeant reserves the right to qualify what is deemed appropriate as clothing worn by anyone visiting the jail.
7. Visitors to the Ventura County Jail may take with them to the visiting area only the following items:
   • A personal set of keys
   • A personal proof of identification
   • A baby bottle and/or blanket (if the adult is accompanying an infant)
   • NOTE: No other items will be allowed in the visiting area besides what are listed above.
8. If anyone refuses to abide by any of these regulations, it may result to denial of visitation privileges.

Rules and Regulations for sending mail at the Ventura County Jail Pre-Trial Detention Facility

All mailings (for instance, letters, greeting cards, or packages) should be addressed as shown below:

Inmate's Name, Booking Number
P.O. Box 6929
Ventura, CA 93006

NOTE: All mail without the inmate's booking number will not be delivered to the recipient. To get inmate's booking information, please call 1(805)654-3335.

All mailings received at the facility having the following contents listed below will not reach the inmate and will be returned to the sender:

• Envelopes, stamps, paper, pens, pencils
• Personal or payroll checks
• Food items
• Musical, blank or homemade cards
• Any homemade items
• Polaroid pictures or other plastic items, which includes original ultrasounds, or any type of items that cannot be torn
• Nude and suggestive items
• Sticker or other gummed labels
• Jewelry
• Personal Identification
• Magazines, newspapers not from the actual publisher, magazines with nudity and other magazines that have suggestive photos will not pass the screening process therefore these will not be delivered to the inmate
• Books that are not from the actual publisher and any books with hardbound or leather covers
• Lottery tickets
• Any items larger than (8 x 10)
• Heavy crayon, ink, water colored, painted, glittered, or glued drawings/items
• Clothing or cloth material
• Packages
• Writing and photos that are gang-related
• Any illegal and unknown substances
• Any items that contain bodily fluids such as (blood, semen, etc.) will definitely not be delivered and will be destroyed

How to put money "on the books" for inmates at the Pre-Trial Detention Jail in Ventura County

This procedure provides the opportunity for family members or friends of inmates to deposit money into their account. By doing so, the inmates can purchase items available at the commissary that they might need while detained at the jail. The list below shows the three methods of payment for this service:

• U.S. currency - You may deposit cash into an inmate's account 24 hours a day 7 days a week at the Pre-trial Facility (800 South Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA) or at the Todd Road Jail (600 South Todd Road, Santa Paula, CA) which is open on Monday-Friday from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm and Saturday - Sunday from 7:00 am - 6:00 pm.
• Cashier's check or money order - If these two forms of payment are used to deposit money on the inmate's account, they can only be done by mail and please make sure that they are addressed to the inmate, with their booking number and addressed properly as shown below:

  Inmate's Name, Booking Number
  P.O. Box 6929
  Ventura, CA 93006

• Credit/Debit card - You may also deposit money on the inmate's account by using your credit/debit card by going online at JPay.com as well as by phone by calling 1 (805) 574-5729. Once the payment has been processed, which usually takes approximately 24 hours (not including the weekends and holidays), the inmates account will be credited.

Procedure on "Return of Property" at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura County

Upon completion of the booking process, this procedure can be done at the facility during visiting hours. Any properties in the possession of the inmates at the time of the arrest (such wallets, credit cards, a set of keys, and other personal effects) can be released to a family member or a friend if the inmate chooses to do so.

By filling out a release form, the inmates give consent to release their properties to a specific individual. The designated recipient may claim these items during their visit which requires a valid proof of identification.

Defendants Held in Custody on Ventura DUI Charges

Most suspects arrested for simple DUI in Ventura County get released within hours arrest and booking. For felony or more serious drunk driving offense, they may be held at the Ventura County Jail until bail is posted. If your loved one is in custody on a drunk driving charge, Ventura DUI lawyer Darrell York can advise you on the best course of action.

DUI suspects not immediately released must be brought to court within 2 court days of the arrest. At the first court date, the inmate's Ventura DUI lawyer can ask the judge to lower bail or grant an OR release (i.e. to release the person without charging bail, on his written promise to show up for future court appearances).

Join us to discuss your DUI case at any of our
local offices: You can also contact us 24/7 at
888.327.4652 for a free consultation