Contra Costa West County Detention Facility

You can support your loved ones at WCDF on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 510-262-4200.

When someone you care about gets locked up, it's tough to figure out all the ins and outs of jail life. From sending mail to visiting, there are a lot of things to sort out. And getting info about the arrest? Not always easy. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get a handle on how things work here so that you can stay connected and support your loved one behind bars.

The WCDF is a detention center located at 5555 Giant Hwy Richmond, CA which is operated locally by the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Contra Costa County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Richmond Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals.

You can see all the arrest records for California here.

The West County Detention Facility (WCDF), located in Richmond, Contra Costa County, is the newest of the three detention facilities in the county, having opened in 1991. Designed as a direct supervision jail, WCDF operates with a co-educational, program-oriented approach. The facility can house up to 1,096 inmates, distributed across five separate housing units—four designated for males and one for females. Each housing unit includes a dedicated outside courtyard to facilitate recreational activities.

WCDF emphasizes a flexible environment where inmates can leave their housing units and freely attend various programs, classes, and services. These include educational and vocational programs, religious services, medical and dental appointments, and social visits with family and friends. The facility's operational model aims to provide inmates with valuable skills and experience, particularly through work opportunities in the kitchen and laundry, where they can gain expertise in culinary arts, safe food handling, and commercial laundering.

The jail is designed with "pods," featuring a large common area with affixed tables and attached seats, and individual cells typically on two levels. Inmates spend certain times in their cells and other times congregating in the pod for activities like playing cards, games, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, occurs under the constant supervision of unarmed correctional officers. The environment in the county jail is considered less stressful than that of a prison because the sentences are much shorter.

WCDF is equipped to provide an extensive range of medical and psychiatric services, including on-site dialysis, infectious disease control, and dental care. These services are administered by a team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, and clinical social workers.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

The educational and vocational programs at WCDF are delivered through a partnership between the Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa County Office of Education. The on-site Adult School staff, managed by the Office of Education, includes a principal, teachers, and administrative professionals dedicated to providing a comprehensive educational experience for the inmates.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can sometimes reduce sentences. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.