Alameda County Santa Rita Jail

The Santa Rita Jail is located in Dublin, California, and is operated by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office. This jail houses adult male and female inmates who have been arrested by local county or city law enforcement. Inmates are held at the Santa Rita Jail after they are arrested for crimes ranging from violations to misdemeanors to felonies. 

The facility houses those who have been charged with a crime and are awaiting trial, those who have been arrested on warrants, people placed on hold by the California Department of Probation and Parole, people sentenced by county and municipal courts, and state inmates awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections. 

Pretrial confinement at the Santa Rita Jail is not for punishment purposes. Instead, detainees who haven't been convicted and who haven't made bail are being held at the facility to make sure that they appear in court. Sentenced inmates are held at the Santa Rita Jail as punishment for their offense.

To find out if your loved one is being held at the Santa Rita Jail, click here to see the inmate roster. This facility has the capacity to house a maximum of 3,489 male and female inmates.

Posting Bond

The purpose of a bond is to make sure that an arrested person will appear at their scheduled court date when they are released from jail. Judges usually determine the amount of bond, while the sheriff determines the sufficiency of the bond. If a person is arrested with a warrant, it will generally have the bond amount listed. 

Cash Bond: The person who is arrested (or someone acting on their behalf) may post the entire bond amount in cash, which will be held by the sheriff or the court pending disposition of the criminal case.

Surety Bond: Secure release from jail through a professional licensed bail bonding company, aka a “surety bond.” The bonding company will charge non-refundable fees that are not applied to any fines, costs, or restitution that may later be ordered by the court. 

OR Bond: Releasing someone on their “own recognizance” is simply a promise to re-appear at a later date for further judicial proceedings. These are usually used for minor offenses.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Santa Rita Jail uses the GTL scheduling system for in-person public visiting. To see the current visiting schedule, click here. As of November 2021, families and friends are allowed to visit inmates in custody at Santa Rita Jail, but visiting is set at a 50% capacity due to COVID.

• Physical distancing is required for all employees, general public, and professional visitors.  
• Approved face coverings must cover the nose and mouth
• Cleaning of high-touched surfaces is performed daily
• Temperature screening assessments, frequent handwashing, hand sanitizer use, and the use of plexiglass/physical barriers will be enforced.  
•  https://www.alamedacountysheriff.org/about-us/covid-19-stats

The visiting areas will remain at 50% Capacity until further notice. That means that only two visitors per public visiting booth will be allowed. (Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times).

• Groups of 4-6 visitors will remain in the public visiting corridor area. The group may rotate visitors during their visiting session. The group must manage their own time session for their visit.
• Maintain gathering limits. All visitors must stay with their group. Social distancing practices will be enforced regardless of vaccination status.

Visitation Procedures

MAKE A VISITATION RESERVATION

ALL VISITING AT THE SANTA RITA JAIL IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Visitors may schedule an appointment up to three days in advance. No same day appointments will be given. 

If you find you need assistance while visiting, please alert a deputy. Visitors with special needs should make their requests as early as possible to ensure the appropriate assistance can be provided. 

Visit the Online Visiting Reservation System to register and schedule an appointment. If you forget your Username/Password, go to "Help and Support" to get instructions on how to retrieve that information.

Each adult visitor (18 years or older) must be registered to make a visiting appointment. When registering, you must provide the following information:

• Visitor's name
• Visitor's address
• Telephone Number
• Visitor's date of birth
• Visitor's driver's license number
• Email address

To make a visiting appointment, you will also need the following:

• Inmate's name
• Inmate's PFN
• Inmate's date of birth

Visitors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by the parent or legal guardian. 

The lobby has two metal detectors and is staffed with deputies. When your visiting group number is called, visitors will line up in front of the Lobby metal detector and present their identification. Acceptable identification is:

• Valid driver's license
• California identification card
• State identification card
• Passport
• Matriculate Consulate card

Video Visits

Video Visiting is available with compatible electronic devices and through the Santa Rita Jail lobby kiosks. Visitors may schedule a video visit appointment by internet 24 hours a day. 

Video visitation is a service provided by GTL. For any customer service needs or technical support, please contact GTL at 1-855-208-7349. Please note that all Visiting Rules and Regulations apply to both in-person and video visits.

Dress Code

Visitors are expected to dress conservatively. Lobby staff have final determination of clothing dress standards.

• Visitors must be fully clothed and 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.

The Following Types of Clothing/Items are Prohibited:

• Excessive jewelry - If visitors have problems being cleared through the metal detector, after three attempts they will move to the end of the line and try clearance again.
• Articles of clothing that could be deemed "gang" colors, such as hats, belts, bandanas, shoes, sportswear, etc.
• Attire displaying obscene offensive language or drawings
• Display of tattoos or other body art that is gang or hate related
• Sleeveless, strapless, halter, spaghetti straps, swimsuits, or bare midriff clothing
• Shorts or skirts exposing more than mid-thigh (includes slits in the garments)
• Undergarments must not be visible
• No sheer or "see-through" clothing
• Pajamas (top and/or bottom)
• Clothing with non-removable metal buckles
• Bib-overalls of any kind with metal
• Steel toed boots/shoes

Visiting Rules

Any violation of the visiting rules may result in the end of the visit, and the visitor will be required to leave the facility. If the visitor engages in unlawful conduct, they are subject to arrest. Violation of the rules may result in the visitor having their visiting privileges suspended or permanently revoked.

• Any person who has been confined in the Alameda County Jail System within the last six months cannot visit an inmate without prior written or verbal authorization from the Commanding Officer or his/her designee.
• Any visitor having been previously convicted of a felony and confined in a State Prison in California will not be allowed to visit without written permission from the Commanding Officer.
• Any visitor having previously been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor and who are currently on County Probation will not be allowed to visit without written permission from the Commanding Officer.
• Bringing firearms, explosives, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, or any controlled substance, including marijuana, into the facility is a crime, and the visitor will be subject to arrest.
• Any visitor who routinely cancels scheduled visits may have their visiting privileges suspended and or revoked.
• Any visitor under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be allowed to visit and may be subject to arrest.
• Visitors are not allowed to carry laptop computers, cell phones, cameras, tape recorders, purses, bags, briefcases, cell phones, baby strollers/carriers or any other items into the visiting areas. Personal items should be left at home or locked in the visitor's vehicle.
• Visitors, their possessions, and their vehicles (when parked on jail facility grounds) are subject to search by Sheriff's Office personnel. Entering the facility is consent to search.
• Smoking is prohibited in the building, on the ramps, and within 20 feet of entrances.
• No food or drink is allowed in the visiting areas. 
• Visitors will be allowed to bring one diaper and one baby bottle into the visiting area.
• Visitors found in an area other than the one they have been scheduled, will have their visiting privileges revoked and be required to leave the facility.
• No physical contact between inmates and visitors is allowed.
• Visitors and inmates must refrain from loud talking and disrespectful behavior. Visitors with disruptive children may have their visit terminated.
• Visits will last no more than 30 minutes. 
• An inmate may refuse to see any visitor.
• Inmates are allowed one visit per day.

How to Call an Inmate

Detainees at the Santa Rita Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls. However, they can make outgoing collect calls from the housing area. They may call out either by calling collect, having an account through the inmate phone company, or by purchasing calling cards off of commissary.

How to Send Money

You can add money to an inmate's commissary/phone account at the Santa Rita Jail lobby. You can deposit cash or money orders. You must have a photo ID to deposit money, and you must also know the inmate's name and ID number.

Programs For Inmates

This information is not publicly available.

Pictures of Alameda County Santa Rita Jail

Careers at Alameda County Santa Rita Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Alameda County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Santa Rita Jail, click here.