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North County Custody Operations Division
The North County Custody Operations Division is under the leadership of Custody Commander Cassandra Marking and provides security and supervision for the inmate population at the Northern Branch Jail located in Santa Maria.
Northern Branch Jail
The Northern Branch Jail is a 376-bed, 133,000 square foot correctional facility located at 2301 Black Road near Santa Maria. The Northern Branch Jail houses both male and female inmates in a mix of medium and high security areas. This one-of-a kind correctional facility was designed as a predominantly direct supervision facility in which Custody Deputies supervise inmates while working within the housing unit twenty-four hours a day for increased supervision. This model of correctional supervision has been shown to increase safety for inmates, staff and visitors as well as increase the interactions between inmates and staff which allow for more prosocial influence and supervision.
The Northern Branch Jail was designed and built to allow inmates with increased access to medical care, mental health care, educational opportunities and vocational opportunities to better prepare inmates for their successful return to their community. The facility was built with thirty-two (32) specialty medical/mental health beds and an outpatient medical clinic as well as a full-service kitchen, laundry and maintenance area. The facility also has two large classrooms, a computer lab and two vocational classrooms for inmates to expand their educational opportunities.
This facilities motto is “faber est suae quisque fortunae”, which translates to “Every person is the architect of their own destiny”. This motto is etched on a plaque at the front of the building and is inscribed in every housing unit as well as above the intake door and on the path to release. This motto applies to everyone who enters the building from inmates to staff as well as visitors. The motto exemplifies the vision the Sheriff’s Office has of preparing offenders for their eventual release from custody and the belief that they can succeed once released if they choose to.
Northern Branch Jail
2301 Black Road
Santa Maria, CA 93455
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Community Invited to Coffee with the Isla Vista Community Resource Deputy. Read more here:
Community Invited to Coffee with the Isla Vista Community Resource Deputy – Santa Barbara County...
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
www.sbsheriff.org
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on ALPR Information Sharing. Read more here:
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on ALPR Information Sharing – Santa Barbara...
Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office ...
www.sbsheriff.org
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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office invites community members to join Deputy Morrell, the new Community Resource Deputy assigned to Isla Vista, and Lieutenant Schmidt for coffee on Thursday, March 19, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Kozy Coffee – 6560 Pardall Rd.
This informal event provides an opportunity for residents, students, and local business owners to meet with Deputy Morrell and Lieutenant Schmidt, ask questions, share concerns, and learn more about public safety efforts in Isla Vista. Deputy Morrell and Lieutenant Schmidt will also answer questions related to Deltopia and the revised noise ordinance.
Working together to keep our community safe. 🤝🔒
Members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office recently partnered with the United Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara County to provide facility safety training for their team. Trainings like this focus on practical strategies for recognizing potential threats, improving situational awareness, and strengthening emergency preparedness so staff feel confident responding to a variety of situations.
Strong community partnerships are a key part of public safety. By collaborating with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, we can help ensure the spaces where local youth learn, grow, and spend time after school remain safe and prepared. 💙
#SBSheriff #CommunityPartnerships #SafetyTraining #BoysAndGirlsClub
📚💚 Today, our team joined the students at @herewegrowelc Preschool to celebrate Read Across America with a special story time.
Moments like these are a great opportunity to connect with kids in a positive way and encourage a lifelong love of reading. Thank you to our friends at Here We Grow for welcoming us into your classroom! 📖✨
#ReadAcrossAmerica #CommunityConnection #SBSheriff #ReadingMatters
When tragedy strikes on our roadways, answers matter. ⚠️
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Response Team (SMART) responds to serious injury and fatal collisions with one goal: to determine exactly what happened. ⭐️🚓
These highly trained deputies use advanced investigative techniques including scene mapping, total station measurements, evidence documentation, vehicle inspections, and data retrieval from onboard vehicle systems. Every tire mark, debris field, point of rest, and impact angle is carefully analyzed to reconstruct the sequence of events with precision and professionalism.
Their work is methodical, scientific, and often painstaking. It can take hours at the scene and weeks of follow-up analysis. But for victims, families, and the courts, accuracy matters.
Behind the traffic cones and flashing lights is a team committed to facts, accountability, and bringing clarity during some of the most difficult moments our community faces.
#SBSO #TrafficSafety #CrashInvestigation #PublicSafety
*UPDATE: class is full- stay tuned for the next offering 📺*🚔✨ Ever wondered what happens behind the badge?
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for our Community Academy—a hands-on, behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement in Santa Barbara County!
👮♂️ What you’ll experience:
📜 History of law enforcement
⚖️ Criminal law & patrol tactics
🗣️ De-escalation communication
🧪 Forensic evidence collection
This program is perfect for community members who want to learn more about the Sheriff’s Office—or anyone considering a future in law enforcement. Get an inside look at what it truly takes to serve and protect our communities.
📅 Class Schedule:
🗓️ Begins Monday, March 2, 2026
⏰ Mondays from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. through May 4, 2026
📍 Primarily at the Lompoc Substation, with some sessions in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria
🎉 Graduation BBQ/Luncheon: Saturday, May 9, 2026
⚠️ Space is limited and classes fill quickly!
📝 Apply by Monday, February 16, 2026
🔞 Must be 18 years or older
👉 Apply now at www.sbsheriff.org or email 📧 CommunityAcademy@sbsheriff.org with questions.
🚓 Don’t miss your chance to be part of this exciting and educational experience!
Congratulations to Acting Lieutenant Neil Gowing (center) on graduating from the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute! 🎓👏 This achievement reflects months of intensive leadership training focused on ethical decision-making, effective supervision, accountability, and leading with integrity. We’re proud of Acting Lieutenant Gowing’s commitment to professional growth and thankful for the leadership he brings back to our agency and the community we serve. 💙🚓
Congratulations to the 12 members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office who were officially promoted today 👏⭐
This ceremony recognized dedicated professionals from across the organization, including three key additions to the executive leadership team:
Undersheriff Brad Welch
Chief Deputy Kevin Huddle
Custody Chief Deputy Ryan Sullivan
Each brings decades of experience spanning patrol, investigations, custody operations, and executive command—strengthening the leadership of our agency at every level.
Also honored were newly promoted commanders, lieutenants, sergeants, and professional staff, whose leadership and commitment support our mission every day.
“These promotions reflect the caliber of our people and the rigor of the process,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “Those who advance have earned the confidence of this organization.”
As they step into their new roles, these leaders are charged with upholding the values behind the word SHERIFF:
Service • Honor • Ethics • Respect • Integrity • Fairness • Faithfulness ⭐
🔈Audio on for a BOL from our Communications Dispatch Center 🎅🏼👀
