INFORMATION

For the General Public Revised 1/26/2023 - Information is subject to change

1. Property/Money Releases

Inmates must release all booked-in personal property, except for their clothing, when requesting a property release. The inmate can release their property to anyone they choose including their attorney, public defender, probation officer or caseworker. The location of the property to be picked-up is provided by the inmate.The person picking up the property will need to provide a government issued picture identification card (ID), such as a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) identification card/driver’s license that is current and valid. An Immigration card (work visa card, or resident alien card) presented with a DMV card is acceptable. Picture ID’s made at swap meets, or store ID cards like Sam’s Club are not valid ID’s.

Prior to the inmates transfer to DOC (Department of Corrections) inmates are encouraged to fill out a DOC RELEASE FORM which allows all booked-in personal property items to be released to anyone that comes in and asks for it, or they may list a specific person for it to be released to. If their items are not picked up in 30 days of the inmate's release to DOC, then the property is sent for destruction.

Inmates can release cell property at any time while in MCSO custody by submitting an Inmate Request Form. All cell property must be released prior to the inmate's transfer to the Department of Corrections or it shall be discarded.

Inmates can release all the money in an inmate account without approval up to 72 hours after booking. Requests for a money release after 72 hours in custody must be approved by the Jail Commander or his designee.

2. How to Place Money on the Books of an Inmate

TouchPay kiosks currently accept Cash and Visa/Mastercard and funds are usually posted within 1 hour to the inmate's account. There is a fee for this service. In addition to the payment kiosks, deposits can be made via telephone, the Internet, or at select retail locations.

• To make a deposit via telephone, please call toll free 1-866-355-9593.

• To make an online deposit, visit TouchPay’s website at https://maricopa.touchpaydirect.net.

• For additional information or to find retail locations where you can make a cash deposit, visit: www.touchpaydirect.com/locator.

 THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY U.S. CURRENCY OR CHECKS

3. Medication Questions

Individuals who are arrested, currently under a Doctor’s care, and are taking prescribed medication need to advise the medical staff upon initial booking, of the types and dosages of medication, such as insulin, diabetic, and blood pressure medication, and so on. Medication from home or purchased outside of the jail will not be accepted in the facility for the inmate to consume. It is extremely important the inmate inform the medical staff of all medication that is taken on a daily basis to in sure that required medication is ordered from our medical pharmacy, and dispensed accordingly.

4. Marriage in Jail

You will need to contact the jail commander at least 60 days in advance of the planned marriage date.

5. Intake/Release Procedures

The Office processes “police custody bookings” of a person at the Intake, Transfer and Release Facility (ITR), located off 28th Avenue and Durango, 2670 S. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Questions regarding initial arrest of an inmate should be directed to the arresting agency. Inmates are given access to a telephone to place collect calls as needed. All court-ordered “self- surrenders” are processed at the ITR, the self-surrender individuals must park or be dropped off in the designated public parking lot on the north side of the building (corner of Gibson and 28^th Dr.), and will walk to the southeast side of the building to the door marked for “Self-Surrender.” 

RELEASE PROCESS: Inmates are released at the Intake, Transfer and Release Facility, once an inmate is released they are directed to go to the public parking lot (at the corner of Gibson and 28^th Dr.) for pick up. No unauthorized vehicles are allowed to park or drive by the main lobby of the ITR building (Durango Detention Center). All inmates in MCSO custody are released from this facility. Inmates have access to place a collect call in order to notify of pending release. If a person of the public is seeking updated information on an inmate they may select the “Inmate Information” link on this website.

6. Food Stamps

If you are receiving food stamps under the name of your incarcerated loved one, you must apply for them yourself in order to continue receiving them. For information, call the DES customer service number for Food Stamps: 602-542-9935. DES is the Department of Economic Security. You will hear a menu: Option 5 will give you the location of the office nearest where you live, where you may apply in order to receive food stamps.

7. Eye Glasses

Inmates who are booked without their prescription eyeglasses will need to submit an Inmate Request Form requesting permission from the Jail Commander or Medical Staff to have them brought in from home. Only plastic frame glasses and no tinted lenses will be allowed (tint-unless medically approved), eye glasses with broken frames or broken lenses will not be accepted. Inmates may purchase Reading Glasses from the Canteen. Indigent Inmates may request one free pair from Canteen. Check with jail visitation staff for further Jail Commander instructions or restrictions.

8. Clergy

The public may contact 602-876-7206, the Chaplain’s Office, for information on clergy visitation.

9. Car Impounds

If the vehicle that the individual (inmate) was driving was impounded (taken to a storage lot) you must contact the arresting agency for information as to where the vehicle is located. Unless the Sheriff’s Office arrested the subject, we do not have this information on file.

10. Bonds & Fines

Bonds and fines may be paid at the Fourth Avenue Jail Bond & Fine room located on the north west corner of the building. After Bond is paid, it may take up to 24 hours for an inmate’s release to be processed. Please note: If an inmate has an Immigration hold or any other law enforcement agency hold, paying the bond will not release the inmate. If you have questions, you may call Sheriff’s Information Management Services (SIMS), at 602-876-0322, prior to paying a bond. If you do not know the booking number, please provide the person’s full name and date of birth. Once a bond payment is accepted, NO REFUNDS will be given. Any financial transactions over $10,000 will require you to provide your social security number in order to complete the transaction. This is a requirement of the Internal Revenue Service. If you do not wish to give your social security number, your transaction will not be completed. Acceptable means of payment are US Currency, a Cashier’s Check (official check), subject to verification, a U.S. Postal Money Order, a Western Union Money Order or credit card. Visa, Mastercard, AmericanExpress and Discover cards are accepted. There is a processing fee for all credit card transactions. Credit card transaction must be less than $10,000, including the processing fee. Transactions above this amount must be paid by other acceptable means. These must be made out to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CAN ONLY ACCEPT THE EXACT AMOUNT OF THE BOND OR FINE.

11. Video Visitation Information

Non-legal inmate visitations are conducted only through remote video visit. On-site visitation is not available. Absent exigent circumstances, the number of remote visits an inmate may receive is not limited. At-home visitors are required to pay a fee for this type of visit. In order to conduct a visit, members of the public, friends and family must create an account by going to the website: www.gettingout.com. Additional information is available there.

• Remote visits can occur between 7:00 am and 9:30 pm daily.

• Each remote visit session is 30 minutes.

VIDEO VISITATION ACCOUNT SUSPENSION APPEALS: If a member of the public has had their account temporarily suspended, due to a rule violation, and believe the suspension was placed in error, they may appeal the suspension by submitting this FORM within 14 days of the suspension being placed. The FORM must be filled out completely. Any forms received after 14 days or that do not contain the required information may not be answered. An appeal submission by a suspended visitor does not guarantee that a suspension will be lifted, only that a review of all relevant non-privileged communications will occur in order to determine if the suspension is warranted. This impartial review will be conducted by a staff member other than the person who initiated the suspension on which the appeal is based. Only one appeal may be submitted for each suspension and must be submitted by the account holder of the affected account. Duplicate appeals will not be answered and will be closed as such. 

12. Inmate Mail

MCSO now utilizes a central mailroom located at the Lower Buckeye Jail.  All incoming inmate mail, including newspapers, magazines, and books must be addressed as follows, regardless of which jail the inmate is housed in:

Inmate Name and Booking Number
Lower Buckeye Jail
3250 West Lower Buckeye Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85009

All incoming mail, with the exception of legal mail, must be standard postcards. This is to ensure the safety and security of jail facilities, inmates, and staff.

• Acceptable STANDARD Postcards Metered postage or USPS stamps

• Unacceptable PostcardsCustom postcards

• Minimum size postcards: 3.5 x 4.25 inches

• Postcards contaminated in any way

• Maximum size postcards: 4.25 x 6 Inches

• Written in blue or black ink only

• Defaced or altered postcards

• Plastic(s) or wrapping(s) on postcards

• All stamps are removed from postcards

• Postcards marked with anything other than

• blue or black ink

• Postcards with labels or stickers

• Postcards with any watermarks, stains, perfume, lipstick, et cetera

• Postcards depicting nudity, weapons, criminal activity or gang references

BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES: All Books and subscription publications must be purchased directly through a publisher. All books must be softback paper only. Book covers with any other materials such as, but not limited to, hard covers, leather, et cetera, as well as spiral bound publications are prohibited. All books must be accompanied by a shipping manifest or invoice. An inmate may only possess 3 books, 5 magazines and 1 newspaper at any one time. Publications that may pose a threat to the safety or security of the jail, or are pornographic in nature, are prohibited. Inmates will be provided a Rejection Notification for all items determined to be unacceptable, prohibited or exceeds the maximum limit.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Only 5 photographs at any one time and may be mailed to the inmate at a time, provided the envelope is clearly marked “PHOTOGRAPHS”. The envelope cannot contain anything other than the photographs or it will be rejected. Photographs may not be larger than 4 inches by 6 inches. The inmate’s name and booking number must be written on the back of each photograph to show ownership. Nothing else is to be written on the photographs. Photographs must be otherwise completely unadulterated. Inmates may possess an unlimited amount of photographs, unless possession of excess photographs creates a risk to safety and security of a jail facility. Inmates can release photographs via US Mail. Photographs depicting nudity, weapons, criminal activity, or gang references are also prohibited. Inmates will be provided a Rejection Notification for all items determined to be unacceptable, prohibited or exceeds the maximum limit.

13.Child Custody and D.C.S Involvement

When a person/parent/guardian is arrested, the arresting officer (police) will attempt to locate a natural parent or relative, where the child/children can be taken. When no relative is located, the Department of Child Safety (DCS) will be contacted. The Department of Child Safety Hotline is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, at 1-888-767-2445. If a family member contacts this number looking for Child/Children in custody of DCS, the DCS representative on the phone will take their information. Someone from a DCS office will contact the relative/relatives and meet with them as soon as possible.

14.Community Information & Referral

The Community Information & Referral (CIR) makes available information about vital community resources. The CIR 24-Hour Help Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide free services to residents of Ten Arizona Counties, including Maricopa County. CIR has a computerized database of over 2,200 federal, state, county, city, and tribal governmental social services, private non-profit organizations, self-help support groups, civic clubs and professional associations. WWW.AZ211.ORG: Resources from childcare, jobs, health care, and insurance - to State and local emergency bulletins and alerts that are vital in times of disaster or emergency.

(CIR) 602-263-8856 or (in area codes: 520 or 928) 1-800-352-3792.

SHELTER BILINGUAL HOTLINE: 602-263-8900 - 24 Hours a day- Seven days a week.

For help in locating an emergency, homeless or domestic violence shelter in Maricopa County.

U.S. BUREAU OF CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES (Immigration Services and Benefits)

2035 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ. 85004.

Open 7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. only.

1-800-375-5283 National Customer Service Call Center

UTILITY ASSISTANCE: Department of Economic Security (DES), 602-542-6600

15. Meals

• Andre House

  • Dinner Monday - Thursday at 5:30 pm

    • 213 S. 11th Ave Phoenix, AZ 85001

      • 602-252-9023

• Phoenix Rescue Mission

  • Meals daily

    • 1801 South 35th Ave, Phoenix 85009

      • 602-233-3000

• Paz De Cristo

  • Dinner 5:30 – 6:45 pm

    • 424 W. Broadway Rd. Mesa, AZ 85210

      • 480-464-2370

• St. Vincent De Paul

  • 602-254-3338

    • 9227 N. 10th Ave Phoenix

      •  5:00 - 6:00 pm daily

    • 420 W. Watkins, Phoenix

      • 5:00 - 6:00 pm Monday - Friday

    • 1075 West Jackson St., Phoenix

      • 7:00 - 9:00 am

    • 67 West Broadway, Mesa

      • 0930-1130 AM

16.Food Boxes

• Arizona D.E.S. Family Assistance

  •  Daily 8am – 5pm

    • 1717 W. Jefferson; Phoenix, AZ. 85007

    • Phone for distribution sites 602-542-9935 

• Lutheran Social Ministries

  •  Call for appointment 480-654-4539 or 480-332-5589

  • 4830 E. Main Suite 1, Mesa, AZ 85205

• Community Action Network

  •  Call for qualifications, locations, & times of 480-833- 9200

• Interfaith Co-Op Ministries

  • Mon–Fri. 9-11 am

    • 501 S. 9th Ave; Phoenix, AZ 85002

    • 602-254-7450 

• Paz de Christo Community Center

  • Food boxes: Tues., Thurs, & Sat. 

    • 1st 100 people until noon 480-464-2370

      • 424 W. Broadway Rd. Mesa, AZ. 85210 

• Family Service Center

  • 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Mon-Fri.

    • 602-495-5229 ask for location closest to you 

• Salvation Army, Phoenix

  • 24 hours daily

    • 2707 E. Van Buren; Phoenix, AZ. 85008

    • 602-267-4122 (Mesa-480-962-0013)