Santa Barbara County - Northern Branch Jail (NBJ)

County Jail

Last Updated: August 23, 2024
Address
2301 Black Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93454
Beds
376
County
Santa Barbara
Phone
805-681-4398
Email
jail@sbsheriff.org

Santa Barbara North Jail is for County Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for County - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are seeking to send your inmate money for commissary, one recommended for this facility is AccessCorrections There is a fee for sending money, see their rates and limitations.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Santa Barbara County - Northern Branch Jail (NBJ)

You can support your loved ones at Santa Barbara North Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 805-681-4398.

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 North Jail is a detention center located at 2301 Black Rd Santa Maria, 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 Maria 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 Northern Branch Jail was inaugurated with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony on November 18, 2021. The facility officially commenced operations on January 22, 2022, with the transfer of over 250 inmates from the Main Jail in Santa Barbara. The project began with the acquisition of the site in April 2008, and the Sheriff’s Office secured an $80 million grant from the state following a competitive application process. The conditional award was accepted in October 2012, and the project officially started in May 2013, with construction commencing in September 2016. Although the jail is operational, some functions are still being completed, with full functionality expected in the coming months.

Located near Santa Maria, the Northern Branch Jail spans 133,000 square feet and offers 376 beds. It is designed to provide essential housing for both male and female inmates across medium and high-security areas. The facility features several notable aspects:

  • Increased Capacity: The jail addresses overcrowding issues by expanding bed capacity within the system.
  • Direct Supervision: Most areas of the jail employ direct supervision methods, enhancing security and improving living and working conditions for both staff and inmates.
  • Special Use Beds: 32 beds are designated for mental health and medical purposes, supported by an outpatient medical clinic.
  • Multi-Purpose Rooms: Housing units include multi-purpose rooms for classes and programs aimed at behavior modification and recidivism reduction.
  • Exercise Yards: Each housing unit is equipped with attached exercise yards for immediate use.
  • North County Location: The facility’s location reduces the time law enforcement agencies spend on inmate transportation and booking.
  • Employment: The jail employs 124 full-time staff members, including 90 custody deputies, many of whom reside in North County, thus reducing commuting time.
  • Expandable Design: The facility's design allows for future expansion in phases, aligned with the original plans to accommodate the projected needs of the county justice system.

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.

Inmate Locator

To utilize the Inmate Search page on InmateAid, begin by selecting the relevant prison facility in California. This allows you to view the current list of inmates housed at Santa Barbara County - Northern Branch Jail (NBJ).

The second section features the InmateAid Inmate Search tool, providing a user-generated database of inmates. You can access this resource to utilize any of InmateAid's services. If you require assistance in creating an inmate profile to maintain communication, please contact us at aid@inmateaid.com, and we'll gladly help you locate your loved one.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

Santa Barbara Northwest Visitation Hours

To visit an inmate housed at the Northern Branch Jail, visitors must first register with ViaPath. Registration is mandatory for all visitors. Upon approval for visitation, visitors will receive a confirmation email and can then schedule a visit with the inmate. All visitations are conducted at the Northern Branch Jail, located in Santa Maria, CA. Visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday through Saturday, with appointments starting on the hour. Visitors must check in 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time and present the same form of ID used during registration. Inmates are allowed up to four visits per week.

All visitors must check in together 15-30 minutes before their scheduled visit, presenting valid photo identification. Visitors must be on the inmate's visitation list, which allows up to four names and is updated monthly. Inmates may refuse visits, and social visits are subject to monitoring. Visitors who have been incarcerated within the past 12 months, are on felony probation or have prior felony convictions requiring written permission from the Facility Commander, are not allowed to visit.

Strict rules govern conduct during visits. Visitors are subject to searches, and bringing contraband or committing any criminal act on jail property will result in arrest. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and visitors must adhere to the facility's dress code. Any violation of these rules may lead to the loss of visitation privileges.

Ask The Inmate

Connect directly with former inmates and get your questions answered for free. Gain valuable insights from individuals with firsthand experience in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and GEO and CoreCivic-run private prisons. Whether you're seeking advice, clarification, or just curious about life behind bars, this unique opportunity allows you to ask questions or explore answers to previous inquiries from the InmateAid community. Engage in meaningful discussions and get informed perspectives from those who truly understand the system.