The Monterey County Jail is also known as the Detention Division of the Monterey County Sheriff's Department. This facility has both a main jail and a rehabilitation section. The officers who work there are responsible for the intake, housing and release of all arrestees in the county and their division is made up of a classification unit, collateral assignments, a CERT Team, K9 Jail Unit and Facility Trained Officers.

The County Jail houses sentenced male and female inmates as well as defendants who are awaiting trial. Bail can also be posted there for eligible pre-trail defendants.

The Detention Division receives prisoners and inmates from all police agencies in the county; from the California Department of Corrections for parole violations, the Probation Department for probation violations, and the Superior Court of California (County of Monterey), once a defendant has been sentenced.

Defendants are processed into the system through the use of Iris Scan, digital imaging and digital fingerprint scanning. All bookings are now done on computer to ensure accurate identification by electronically transmitting fingerprints to the Department of Justice in Sacramento. A limited video arraignment program and the use of video conferencing that reduces security risks is also available, but defendants must pay for this out of their own pockets.

STEPS TO OBTAINING A BAIL BOND

1. Call a bondsman at 888-BAIL-BOND (1-888-224-5266)
2. We will explain how bail works and answer all your questions
3. We can email or fax you the simple bail documents and you fax them back (or you can meet with a bondsman in person)
4. Our bondsman posts the bail with the jailer and the defendant is released

After the bond is posted at the Monterey County Jail, you can expect release from jail to be within 2 to 8 hours. This varies widely and may be longer or shorter depending on conditions at the jail.

INMATE CLASSIFICATION

Inmate processing is overseen by the Classification Unit, which is a group of officers and civilians who have been trained to evaluate and then group inmates of similar backgrounds and characteristics into appropriate housing units. This is done to maintain jail security and for the safety of both inmates and staff.

Classification evaluation is based on criminal sophistication, seriousness of the crimes that were committed, the potential for assaultive behavior, age, and other criteria. Approximately 15 percent of the population requires medication due to psychiatric illnesses and they, too, are placed accordingly.

Another important criteria includes gang affiliation. At least 30 percent of the jail population is associated with a major gang so keeping rival gang inmates separate is essential. The Unit is also responsible for developing gang intelligence, follow-up investigations, and assisting outside agencies with gang related issues.

PRISONERS & INMATE LIFE

About 1200 prisoners live in the Monterey County Jail and they are placed in 31 separate housing units. These range from single cells for maximum security prisoners to open dormitories for lower risk inmates. Sentenced inmates who live in open dormitories also put in time as part of the prison’s work crews. Some of these inmates are even sent off the campus to grounds keep the Sheriff’s Office and to pick up litter on Monterey County highways.

Prisoners are also given the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of programs that include educational and vocational classes, religious services, library services, and drug and alcohol programs. Around 250 volunteers support and work with them by conducting these programs.

The Inmate Welfare Fund is an entity that runs the Monterey County Jail store. All of the money it generates is used for the benefit, education and welfare of the inmates confined within the jail. The Inmate Welfare Fund exists thanks to a statutory authority granted to the Sheriff to establish, maintain and operate it. The sale price of the merchandise is fixed by the Sheriff, too.

In addition to the revenue generated from commissary sales, any money, refund, rebate, or commission received from a telephone company or pay telephone provider is deposited into the Welfare Fund. Any funds that are not needed for the welfare of the inmates are used to help maintain the county jail.

JAIL STAFFING & SPECIAL UNITS

The Detention Division falls under the Custody Operations Bureau of the Sheriff’s Department. This bureau also has a related division known as the Court Services Division. Both divisions work in tandem. There are two cheifs, one for each division chiefs supervise no less than five commanders and nineteen sergeants, along with a staff of 150 deputies and 50 civilians.

This prison is a state-of-the-art facility with its own infirmary and an in-house medical, psychiatric and dental staff. It has on-site laundry rooms, an industrial kitchen, library, commissary services, a building maintenance shop and a chapel.

As mentioned, there are several law enforcement teams that make up the Correctional Division. One of them is the Correctional Emergency Response Team, which was created to handle cell extractions, inmate uprisings, and emergency situations. Also known as C.E.R.T., this team is often utilized by the Enforcement Operations Bureau and outside county agencies for crowd control. The C.E.R.T. is run by one Commander, two Sergeants and sixteen Deputies.

The Correctional Department has a specific training program its Officers must take called Facility Training. In addition to this mandated State Board training, all Deputies must complete a supervised in-house training program with another training officer. Deputies can also be a part of the training program by becoming a Facility Training Officer, once they have passed their initial training.

All COB deputies must receive 24 hours of extra training annually. Because they are essentially Peace Officers, much of the training COB deputies receive is also recognized by POST. Deputies who have been assigned to the COB who are often promoted to the ranks of commander, sergeant and Facility Training Officer.

Another important unit in this correctional facility is the Jail K-9. This unit consists of highly trained dogs that each have their own personal handlers. They also have very specialized skills that include locating, controlling and apprehending prisoners, crowd control and narcotics detection.

 If you need additional information about the Monterey County Jail, inmate location or bondsman assistance, please call 888-BAIL-BOND (1-888-224-5266).