San Francisco County Jail 2 and Annex

The San Francisco County Sheriff's Office operates the San Francisco County Jail #2 and Annex, located in downtown San Francisco. County Jail #2 can house up to 392 people and is the only San Francisco County jail that houses women. 

County Jail #2 Annex (formerly known as County Jail #4) is located on the 7th floor of the Hall of Justice. It has kitchen and laundry facilities and one administrative office that serves County Jail #2, but it no longer houses county inmates.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in San Francisco County Jail #2, 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 San Francisco County Jail #2 and Annex 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.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visitation at San Francisco County Jail #2 must be scheduled in advance. Visiting hours are available seven days a week.

How to schedule a jail visit

Locate the person you want to visit using the “Find a Person in Jail” search tool. If the person is not listed, they are not in any of the San Francisco County jails. Next, book your appointment online the day before you plan to visit

You will need the person in jail’s name or SF number to schedule your visit. You can locate their SF number, or “SFNO,” on the “Find a Person in Jail” search tool. 

You also will need to register for a visitor’s account with the online scheduler. Once you register, you’ll receive an email with a temporary password and your visitor ID. Use the temporary password and your email address to log in to the online scheduler and reserve your visit. 

When you reserve your visit online, you will need to provide:

• Your name
• Date of birth
• Email address
• Home address as printed on your ID; and
• Phone number

Click here to schedule your visit

What You Need To Know

You must arrive at the jail one hour before your visit. County Jail #2 does not have a public parking lot. Be sure to allow plenty of time to find street parking and to walk to the jail. You must arrive 60 minutes before your scheduled visit time. 

All visitors will need to show a current, government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport. If you do not provide the requested ID, the Sheriff’s Office will refuse your visit. 

You are allowed to bring keys, ID, and money, which you must keep in the jail’s visiting locker. You and your belongings may be subject to search.

Minor children under 18-years-old must receive advance approval for jail visits. Click here to learn more. Incarcerated people can apply to have their minor child (under 18) have a contact visit with them in jail. To qualify, the person in jail must:

• Submit an application 
• Complete parenting classes
• Follow the rules of conduct

Visitors are not allowed to disobey jail rules or deputy directions. They can not disrupt the jail, show uncontrollable behavior, or take photographs. No food, drink, or personal items can be brought into the visiting room.

• You cannot bring cell phones or cameras
• You cannot yell or swear
• You cannot show gang signs, tattoos, or graffiti
• You cannot give anything to a person in jail
• You cannot receive anything from a person in jail without approval from the jail watch commander
• You cannot visit a person in jail more than once a day
• You cannot visit a person in jail if you have a restraining order or other court order against that person

If you threaten the security of the jail, appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, bring any alcohol, drugs, medications, or tobacco products, or bring any weapons, you may be detained and arrested.

Dress Code

All visitors at County Jail #2 must wear appropriate, non-revealing clothes and shoes. If you wear clothes that are not approved, you will be asked to change them. You will not get extra visiting time if you change your clothes during the time reserved for your visit. 

You CANNOT wear:

• Hats, bandanas, wave caps, headscarves, or other head coverings except for religious headwear
• Sexually provocative clothing that reveals genitalia, buttocks, or breasts
• Clothes that show your underwear
• See-through or excessively tight clothing
• Spaghetti strap, strapless, halter, bare midriff, or sleeveless shirts or tops
• Mini-skirts or shorts (all skirts and shorts must be as long as the ends of your fingertips when your hands are resting at your sides)
• Gang-related clothing, colors, or accessories
• Clothes that are printed with obscene or offensive words or drawings
• Orange, red, all-blue, or all-green clothes that could be confused for an incarcerated person’s clothes

Video Visits

Click here to look up the person in jail to find their SF Number. 

You must use the U.S. Postal Service to send mail to a person in jail. The Sheriff’s Office will open and search mail to make sure it follows the law and all jail rules. Your mail cannot be larger than 8-½ inches by 14 inches.

Only a publisher or book distributor can send books, newspapers, and magazines to a person in one of the San Francisco County Jails.

You may send cashier’s checks, certified checks and money orders from U.S. banks drawn on U.S. currency. The total amount cannot be more than $100. You may not send cash or a personal check.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the San Francisco County Jail #2 cannot receive incoming phone calls. However, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area on a daily basis. 

California law has established the right of an arrested person to make at least three free local telephone calls when they are 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

Friends and family can send cashier’s checks, certified checks and money orders from U.S. banks drawn on U.S. currency via the US Postal Service directly to their inmate housed at County Jail #2. The total amount cannot be more than $100. You may not send cash or a personal check.

Depositing Cash in Person

To add funds in person, visit the Sheriff’s Office money window located on the first floor at 425-7th Street, San Francisco. The window is open during the following times:  

• Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Remember to allow time for parking.  

You’ll need your inmate's first and last names or SF number and the exact amount you’d like to deposit. You’ll also need to show your valid government-issued, photo ID.

The office accepts the following types of funds:

• U.S. dollars (no coins).
• Cashier’s checks, certified checks or money orders up to $100

You can also deposit funds 24 hours a day for anyone housed in San Francisco County Jails by using the kiosks located in the lobby at 425-7th Street. 

There is also a kiosk at County Jail #3 located at 1 Moreland Drive in San Bruno. If you are an approved, registered visitor, you can use the kiosk in the lobby to deposit funds for anyone housed in the various San Francisco County Jail locations during your visit.

Sending Money Online

You can send money online through Access Corrections. Start by clicking the “Send Money” button in the middle of the home page. Then, select a state (California) and an agency (San Francisco County Jail Facilities). 

The screen will prompt you to provide your inmate's first and last names. Follow the instructions to create an account and make a deposit. Fees do apply for this service.

Ordering Commissary

You may order commissary items for your inmate through the Sheriff’s Office approved online vendor. The vendor will deliver your items. This is the only approved way to send store items to a person in jail. 

Programs For Inmates

If you have a friend or family member in jail who would like to participate in a specific program offered at County Jail #2, please tell them to provide an action request to staff. 

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

This program helps people in jail apply for health insurance.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

This 12-step program is offered in both English and Spanish. It helps individuals recover from alcohol addiction and stay sober.

Discharge Planning

Ahead of an inmate's release, their caseworker will connect them with housing and support services if the inmate struggles with substance abuse, mental health issues, and homelessness.

Five Keys Charter High School

Five Keys offers high school classes inside the San Francisco County jails. While in custody, inmates can earn their high school diploma or take college classes through City College of San Francisco. 

Glide Services

Glide is a program that supports women who struggle with violence and poverty.

Jail-Based Career Center Programing

This program helps inmates set career goals, build their resumes, and prepare for job applications. This program is in connection with America Works, an employment network that helps people from disadvantaged backgrounds find jobs.

Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

This 12-step program is offered in both English and Spanish. It helps individuals recover from drug addiction and stay sober.

Law Library

Offers books and resources to help people in jail learn about the law and possibly get help with their case.

Older Adult In-Custody Services

This program focuses on inmates 55 and older by offering support groups, connection to services, and help with returning to the community once their sentence is complete.

Religious Services

Volunteer religious leaders provide spiritual guidance, bible study, and grief counseling to people in jail. Other activities include concerts, dinners, holiday celebrations, and prayer support for visiting family members.

Roadmap to Peace (RTP)

This Five Keys program is for inmates aged 18-24. It connects young adults with neighborhood support programs to gain self-sufficiency and avoid violence once they are released from jail.

Sisters in Sober Treatment Empowered by Recovery (SISTER)

This program helps female inmates recover from drug and alcohol abuse. The focus is on life skills, job skills, wellbeing, family, and community.

Transitional Age Youth Resiliency Program

This intensive one-on-one case management approach for young adults aims to help them prevent violence, build self-sufficiency and connect with helpful services.

Survivor restoration program (SRP)

SRP advocates for and supports survivors of domestic and random violence. 

Successful Transitions for a New Direction (STAND)

STAND helps cis and trans female survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and trafficking. The program offers group treatment, individual counseling, and connection to helpful programs and services.

Re-entry Pod

The Re-entry Pod is a living and learning housing community inside the San Francisco County Jail #2. People who are housed here learn strategies and connect with services that help them successfully return to the community after their release.

Pictures of San Francisco County Jail 2 and Annex

Careers at San Francisco County Jail 2 and Annex

If you are interested in a career with the San Francisco County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings in the San Francisco County Jail #2 and Annex, click here.