Mendocino County Jail

The Mendocino County Jail is a maximum-security detention facility that is operated by the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. It is located in Ukiah, California. 

The Mendocino County Jail houses adult males and females who have been arrested by county or municipal law enforcement and are awaiting trial, inmates who have been sentenced to the county jail, and inmates being held for transport to the California Department of Corrections.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in the Mendocino County Jail, click here or use VINE (see below). 

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)

Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) is a free and anonymous telephone service that provides victims of crime both information and notification. VINE monitors the custody status of offenders in the Mendocino County Jail and receives updated information every 15 minutes.

The Toll Free Number for California VINE is 1.877.411.5588. Anyone can call the California State VINE line to determine an inmate's custody status. To search for offender information, callers will need one of the following items:

• Offender name or alias
• Secondary search option (if there is more than one offender with the same name), such as:
  • Arrest date
  • Date of birth
  • Middle initial
  • Offender identification number

VINE will let callers know about the offender's current custody status, the location of the inmate, and their offender number. 

Posting Bail

Bail can be posted by paying the entire amount in cash, by using a certified check or money order made out to the Court of Jurisdiction, or by posting a bail bond (NO PERSONAL CHECKS). No other forms of bail are accepted. 

Misdemeanor Bail Schedule -- Mendocino County has a uniform bail schedule for misdemeanors that ranges between $2,500 and $30,000. 

Felony Bail Schedule -- The uniform bail schedule for felonies has a maximum of $500,000. However, there are some offenses where bail will be denied. 

Court

Individuals who are arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail will be scheduled to appear in court within 72 hours (not including weekends and public holidays). The jail staff will not release information concerning the exact date and time an inmate is scheduled to appear in court.

For information about court appearances, contact the clerk of the court of jurisdiction or the inmate's attorney.

Releases

The booking process at the Mendocino County Jail can take several hours, depending on the workload. There are no releases from the Mendocino County Jail between 10:00 pm and 8:30 am.

Individuals who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of their arrest -- but are eligible for release on their own recognizance -- remain in custody until they are no longer under the influence. 

Inmates who have been released by the courts are processed as quickly as possible. Generally, they are released two to four hours after their return from court.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

The Mendocino County Jail has a remote video visitation program that allows friends and family members to schedule and visit with an inmate via their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Video visitation opportunities are available seven days per week.

Video visits with a Mendocino County Jail inmate must be scheduled through Gettingout.com. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office staff cannot assist you with video visitation. For more information or to get help with scheduling your visit, call the 24/7 helpline at 1-866-516-0115.

NOTE: Depending on an inmate’s classification, housing unit, or disciplinary status, they may be ineligible for video visitation.

All personal inmate mail at the Mendocino County Jail is delivered electronically via tablets. They do not receive the physical letters. You must include the inmate's booking number with their name and mailing address or it will be returned to you.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the Mendocino County Jail cannot receive incoming phone calls. However, they have access to phones and can make outgoing collect calls from the inmate housing area. 

California law has established the right of an arrested person to make at least three free local telephone calls upon being booked: one call to an attorney, one to a bail bond agent, and one to a relative or other personal contact. Phone calls are recorded and may be monitored at any time.

How to Send Money

Family members and friends can send money to their inmate at the Mendocino County Jail via mycarepack.com. Cash or money orders sent through the mail are not accepted.

Money can also be deposited to an inmate’s account via the money kiosk at any time (24 hours a day), which is located at the jail lobby. 

Money must be deposited into an inmate’s account before 11:00 AM on Tuesday if the inmate wishes to use it for their commissary order that Wednesday.

Programs For Inmates

The Mendocino County Jail offers educational, cognitive, and recovery based programs. Including Alcohol and Narcotics Anonymous, G.E.D. preparation and testing, Adult Education, Life Skills, Substance Abuse & Recovery Education, Anger Management, Horticulture, and a variety of religious services.

Home Detention -- provided to inmates who meet the criteria and are in custody for 15 days or longer. They must apply while in custody.

Home Detention Application Instructions 
Alternative Custody Program 

Work Release -- applications must be completed prior to incarceration. 

Work Release Application Instructions
Work Release Application Form

Work Furlough -- this program is administered by the Probation Department.

Pictures of Mendocino County Jail

Careers at Mendocino County Jail

If you are interested in a career with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings at the Mendocino County Jail, click here. The starting pay is between $24.53 and $29.82 per hour.