Santa Barbara County Main Jail

You can support your loved ones at Santa Barbara Co Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 805-681-4260.

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 Santa Barbara Co Jail is a detention center located at 4436 Calle Real Santa Barbara, CA which is operated locally by the Santa Barbara 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. Santa Barbara County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara County Jail accommodates both male and female inmates, offering comprehensive incarceration and rehabilitative services for individuals awaiting trial as well as those sentenced by the court.

The facility’s dedicated staff are committed to addressing the diverse needs of inmates, ensuring their incarceration meets standards for medical, nutritional, hygienic, legal, and spiritual care. In addition to meeting these essential needs, the staff facilitates programs and services aimed at enhancing inmates’ lives both during their confinement and after their release. These initiatives are designed to support personal growth and reduce the likelihood of reoffending, thereby contributing to overall recidivism reduction.

When individuals are arrested, they are typically first taken to a local police station, where they may undergo interviews and the necessary reports and forms are prepared. In cases involving driving under the influence (DUI), a breath, urine, or chemical blood test will be conducted. This initial process can take up to four hours before the individual is transferred to a county jail for booking. As a result, there may be a delay in the jail system receiving notification of the arrest, so if you call shortly after someone has been arrested, they may not yet be registered in the jail system. This pre-booking period is routine and necessary, and there is no need for concern.

Upon arrival at the jail, the arrested individual undergoes an intake process before being placed within the inmate population. Intake includes several steps: medical screening, the booking process, and a classification interview.

Connect with your Inmate

The camp 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 intake process begins with an initial medical examination to identify any immediate medical needs. A nurse conducts a private screening to ensure that the inmate is not injured and does not require urgent medical attention. Later in the booking process, a second medical examination is conducted to thoroughly document any medical conditions and confirm that the facility can meet the inmate's needs.

During the booking process, all inmates are searched to prevent contraband from entering the facility. They are photographed, fingerprinted, and their personal information and charges are entered into the jail's computer system. Bail is calculated, and a court date is scheduled.

Some inmates may be eligible for release on their recognizance shortly after booking. However, intoxicated inmates are typically held for up to 12 hours, sometimes longer, to ensure they are sober enough for safe release. Most inmates are eligible for bail and have access to telephones to arrange bail through friends, family, or bail agents. Each facility provides a list of bail agents. If it is determined that inmates will not be released on their recognizance or make bail, they undergo a classification interview to determine their housing criteria within the facility.

The Booking and Custody Records professionals assigned to this unit handle thousands of new bookings and releases each year. This complex process ensures that bail amounts and charges are accurate, citations and court dates are properly assigned, and all legal paperwork is completed correctly. The staff in this unit regularly communicates with the courts, arresting agencies, bail bond agents, attorneys, and the families and friends of the incarcerated to facilitate this process efficiently and accurately.

Connect with your Inmate

The camp 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.