WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PERSON IS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO JAIL?

ARREST

When individuals are arrested, they are usually taken to a local police station / Sheriff’s Office where they may be interviewed, and where necessary reports and forms are prepared. If the individual is arrested for driving under the influence, a breath, urine, or chemical blood test will be conducted. This process can take as long as four hours before the person is brought to a county jail to be booked. The jail system will not have any notification of a person’s arrest until they are brought to the jail for booking. A call to the jail shortly after a person’s arrest may find they are not yet in the jail system and may still be in the pre-booking processing. Do not be concerned by this delay; the pre-booking period is routine and necessary.

BOOKING

When arrested individuals arrive at the jail facility, they go through the intake process before being housed in the inmate population. This process can take from one to six hours and is comprised of medical screening, the booking process and the classification interview.

Immediately upon arrival at the jail the inmate is examined for any medical conditions that need immediate treatment. A second medical questionnaire is conducted later in the booking process to ensure all conditions that an inmate may have are properly noted and that the facility is capable of meeting the inmate’s medical needs.

During the booking process all inmates are searched to make sure that no contraband is being brought into the facility. They are photographed and fingerprinted. Their personal information and charges are entered into the computer system, their bail is calculated, and a court date is set.

Some inmates may be eligible for release on their own recognizance 18 hours after booking. Intoxicated inmates will be held for up to 6 hours, and sometimes longer, to ensure they are sober enough to be safely released before posting a bond. Persons arrested for crimes of domestic violence may also be subject to a 6 hour hold before being eligible to post bond. Most inmates are eligible for bail, and they have access to telephones to arrange bail through friends, family, or bail agents. A list of bail agents is posted above the telephones. When it is determined that inmates will not be released on their own recognizance or make bail, they are given a classification interview and their housing criteria is determined.  The booking process can take anywhere from an hour up to several hours depending on the cooperation of the individual being booked into jail.

VISITATION AND SECURITY

Inmates are allowed two social visits per week, each visit lasting 30 minutes.  For the purpose of counting weekly visits, the week begins on Sunday and ends on Saturday.  Inmate workers are allowed additional visit time, but their visit schedule is dependent on their work schedule.  Social visits are normally non-contact, conducted through a visit window using telephone handsets. 

Each cell has a visitation schedule.  You can view the schedules for our facility by going to the Sheriff’s website, www.salinesheriff.org and visiting the Jail Information page. 

Things to remember when visiting an inmate

Visitation is on a space available basis—and first come, first served—as long as the visitors check in 15 minutes before the visit time.   Additional visitors may be allowed, but the visitor must share visitation time with the other visitors.

There is a dress code for visitors and if you are improperly dressed when you come in for your visit it will be denied. If you do not know the dress code you can receive this information from your inmate or jail staff. If your visit is denied because of dress you will be given the option to wear a smock provided by the Sheriff’s Office or come back at your next visitation date.

While we attempt to honor all visitations, visits may be changed or cancelled without notice.  Also, changes in the inmate’s housing assignments may automatically cancel a scheduled visit.  Visits will not be conducted if the inmate is scheduled for court at the time of visitation. 

A maximum of 1 visitor may visit an inmate at any one time, unless accompanying the inmate’s minor child. 

Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. 

Visit times are subject to change or cancellation due to facility security or for disciplinary reasons.

Disabled access visiting areas are available.  If you have special needs, please inform our staff when you reserve the visit. 

If you are on probation, you will not be allowed to visit without prior approval from your probation/parole officer. 

There is no expectation of privacy in a jail facility.  Social visits may be monitored or recorded.