Visit an Inmate

South County Visitation information

Social visits are non-contact, conducted through a visit window using telephone handsets. Each facility has a visit schedule that specifies the days and times available for inmate social visits and are subject to change without notice. Inmates are limited to two visits per week.

Refer to visiting schedule below:

• Santa Barbara Main Jail Visitation Hours
• Santa Barbara IRC Visitation Hours
• Santa Barbara Northwest Visitation Hours

North County Visitation Information

To visit with an inmate housed at our Northern Branch Jail, all visitors need to register with Via Path, the website to register is santabarbaraca.gtlvisitme.com/app. All visitors are to register in order to visit. Once visitors have been approved for visitation, they will receive a confirmation email and will be able to schedule a visit with an inmate. All visitations take place here at the Northern Branch Jail, 2301 Black Road, Santa Maria, CA. The visiting hours are Sunday-Saturday 8:00am- 5:00pm. All appointments start on the hour. When logged in to personal Via Path profile visitors are able to schedule the appointment. It is required that all visitors check-in 30 minutes prior to appointment time with the same form of ID used to register with Via Path. Inmates are limited to four visits per week.

Required Identification

Only those visitors with the following types of valid photo identification shall be allowed to visit inmates in the custody of the Sheriff:

• Driver’s license
• DMV Identification Card
• Federal, state, local government identification card (any state)
• Military or U.S. Government identification card
• Valid Passport
• U.S. Immigration identification (including visas)
• Border crossing card issued by the United States Department of Justice
• Current high school identification for children who do not possess a current California driver’s license or California I.D. card
• Matricula Consular ID card issued after April 22, 2002 by the Consul General of Mexico

A maximum of 2 visitors (including children) may visit an inmate at any one time. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.

When preparing to schedule a visit, please have the following information ready for all visitors.

• Full name
• Identification number
• Current home address

While we attempt to honor all visit reservations, visits may be changed or cancelled without notice. Also, changes in the inmate’s housing assignments may automatically cancel a scheduled visit.

General Rules for Visiting Inmates

1. All visitors must check in together 15-30 minutes before the scheduled visit, to be here no later than the 15-minute mark and are required to present valid photo identification. If a visitor is late, the visit will be cancelled.
2. Visitors must be placed on a visitation list which the inmate provides. 4 visitors can be on the list at one time. the list will be updated the last 7 days of the month and the first 7 days the inmate is in custody.
3. Inmates have the right to refuse visits at any time.
4. There is no expectation of privacy in a jail facility. Social visits may be monitored or recorded.
5. Visitors who have been ncarcerated within the last 12 month or on felony probation will not be permitted to visit.
6. If you have previously been convicted of a felony and served time in state prison, you may not enter the grounds of a county jail without the permission of the Facility Commander. That permission should be obtained in writing before attempting to schedule a visit. Entry to the facility grounds without such permission is a felony (California Penal Code §4571).
7. Visitors may be subject to a search of their person and belongings by deputies and are subject to warrant checks and arrest.
8. Visitors must be 18 years or older to visit. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children may not be left unattended, in parked vehicles or on the facility premises, at any time.
9. Diaper bags, infant carriers, strollers, are not allowed in the visiting area. One baby blanket and one baby bottle will be allowed.
10. No smoking or vaping is allowed in any part of the jail including the lobby.
11. All visitors must dress in appropriate attire. Visitors who fail to comply with the dress code will be denied their visit. Please see below more information about Visitor’s Apparel.
12. Visitors are only allowed to visit with the inmate they signed up to visit. You may not change or trade inmates with another visitor. Once a visitor departs the visitation area, the visit with the inmate is terminated.
13. Covertly communicating with an inmate by using notes, letters, hand gestures associated with gang affiliation, etc. is strictly prohibited.
14. Any visitor committing a criminal act anywhere on jail property is subject to arrest.
15. Any visitor bringing illegal contraband into the visiting area is subject to arrest.
16. Violation of any of the rules by a visitor may subject him/her to loss of visiting privileges.

The following items are not permitted in the visiting area:

• Purses / bags / backpacks
• Firearms, knives or other weapons
• Alcohol / Drugs
• Cigarettes / E-cigarette or Vaping device
• Pets
• Food / Drinks
• Cameras / Photography
• Cell phones / Computers / Laptops or Electronic devices capable of recording
• A citation will be issued for cell phones and the offender will be rejected from visitation for one year.

Visitor’s Apparel

Visitors are expected to dress to meet the constraints of the institutional setting. Attire should be conservative and not revealing. Lobby staff has final determination of acceptable clothing

• Visitors shall be fully clothed
• Visitors shall wear shoes or sandals
• Visitors will not be permitted to remove clothing items such as sweaters, jackets, etc. Which would violate the dress code standards.
• Visitors’ clothing must not refer to gang affiliation, display sexual or lewd comments or pictures, or have the potential for being offensive to others.
• Visitors must not display articles of clothing that could deemed “gang” colors, such as hats, belts, bandanas, shoes, sportswear, etc.
• Visitors must not display tattoos or other body art that is gang or hate related.
• Clothing must cover the upper torso and lower/mid body parts.
• Shorts or skirts must be at least to mid-thigh length.
• Undergarments must not be visible.
• Visitors must not wear sleeveless, strapless, halter, spaghetti straps, swim suits, or bare midriff clothing.
• No sheer or “see-through” clothing.
• No pajamas (top and/or bottom)
• No cigarette packs, loose cigarettes, cigarette lighter or cigars
  

  Hospital Visits

  Occasionally, inmates may be admitted to hospitals for medical treatment. Visits may be allowed for hospitalized inmates, subject to approval of the Watch Commander. Persons wishing to visit a hospitalized inmate must check at the appropriate facility and register for the visit. The Watch Commander will be consulted concerning the inmate’s suitability to have visitors. If the visit is approved, a visit pass will be issued, which can be taken to the hospital and presented to the assigned Deputy or Guard. In addition to normal visiting guidelines, the following rules apply to visits occurring in hospitals:

  • All visits must conform to the hospital’s regular visiting hours and policies
  • Only two visitors are allowed at a hospital visit for the duration of one hour.
  • Two visits per week are allowed, Sunday and Saturday.
  • Inmates cannot receive items of any type from social visitors.
  • Any deviation from the above rules requires Watch Commander approval.