Madera County Jail Info – Visiting, Bail, Contacting Inmates (2024)

Jail Information

The Madera County Jail is a 563-bed correctional facility housing adult detainees and inmates sentenced for California misdemeanor and felony crimes. As of April 2021, the elected Sheriff officially gained oversight and management of the Madera County Jail operations.

This correctional center was expanded in 2013 in response to passage of California AB109, which allowed for transfer of some state prisoners to county jails. The Madera County Jail was recently in the news due to controversy surrounding handling of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees.

Madera is located about 21 miles north of Fresno, off of CA-99.

(Email address: [emailprotected])

If your friend or loved one has been detained in the Madera County Correctional Facility, you will find some helpful information below. Our team of California criminal defense lawyers provide data on the following important topics:

• 1. Locate a Madera County Inmate
• 2. Bail Bonding
• 3. Inmate Phone Contact
• 4. Cash Account Funding
• 5. Visiting an Inmate in Madera County
• 6. Mail Policies at the Jail
• 7. Property Release
• 8. More About the Jail

1. Madera County Inmate Search

The Madera County Department of Corrections provides an online database search to help you locate an inmate. Inputting a first and last name into this inmate public view page, you can call up a list of candidates identified by birth-date, booking date, and race. You can also learn the booking number, inmate ID number and release date, if applicable.

You can also obtain individual inmate information by calling the Madera County Jail at (559) 675-7951, extension #2.

2. Bail Bonding

Most arrested individuals will be granted a bail amount, which can be paid by friends and family at the jail or through a licensed bail bondsman. Individual bail information can be obtained by calling (559) 675-7951, extension #2.

3. Phone Communication with Madera Inmates

New California detainees have the legal right to make three, free (local) phone calls, whether to friends, family or a criminal lawyer. Incoming calls of a personal (non-legal) nature will not be facilitated for Madera County inmates, and messages cannot be passed along by staff.

The Madera County Detention Center provides opportunity to leave inmate voicemail messages at a cost of $1.99 per message. To do this, simply call the jail and press extension #1 for “jail voicemail” services.

Depending upon housing and disciplinary status, most inmates will have access to telephones in the common areas. All outgoing personal calls are made on a collect basis, and you must set up an account to receive calls. The Madera County Jail uses Correctional Billing Services to facilitate prepay “Advance Connect” calls, allowing you to prepay for phone minutes with your credit/debit card.

To set up an account (and whenever you need to add funds) call the jail at (559) 675-7951, extension #5.

An important note: be aware that all personal inmate phone calls and voicemail messages are subject to monitoring and recording. The best policy, therefore, is to refrain from speaking about criminal charges over the phone, as your words can be held against your loved one in court.

4. Madera Inmate Cash Accounts

Inmates in residence at the Madera County Correctional Facility will be provided with basic supplies, and may use their cash account to purchase a selection of items from the commissary. There are a variety of options, including snacks, toiletries, stationary materials, and other comfort items.

Monies the inmate has at booking will be deposited into the jail trust account, and family and friends can also make deposits to fund commissary and other incidental expenses. These deposits are made through TouchPay, which offers a few options:

• Lobby Kiosk – The Madera Jail has a TouchPay kiosk that accepts cash, credit and debit cards as well as electronic debits from your bank account. The kiosk is available 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
• Telephone – Call (866) 232-1899 to set up a TouchPay account by phone. To make a cash account deposit, you will need the facility locator number for the Madera County Jail (793638) and will also need the inmate’s ID number.
• Online – You can also pay online at www.gtlfsonlinepay.com/portal. You will need the facility number (above) and inmate’s ID number. (Inmate ID numbers are available at the Madera County Correctional Department website’s inmate public view page, or by calling the jail at (559) 675-7951.

Fees for fund deposit transactions are assessed by TouchPay.

5. Madera County Visitation

Visitation at the Madera County Detention Center takes place every day of the week. In order to visit an inmate, your name must appear on his or her visiting list.

Each jail visit is up to 30 minutes long, and inmates are allowed two visits per week. A maximum of two people, including children, can visit at one time. Note that visits are “no contact” only; your visit will take place through a video screen.

There are three sessions, with visiting hours as follows:

• Session 1 — 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.; registration begins at 8:00 a.m.
• Session 2 — registration begins at 12:30 p.m., with visits following from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m.
• Session 3 — visits are from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m.; registration starts at 2:30 p.m.

Note that you must be onsite to register for a visit at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule. If you miss your visit without contacting the facility, the visit will be cancelled (and count as an allotted visit for the inmate).

You will be expected to present valid photo identification, which may include a driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, passport, foreign consulate photo ID card, or student ID. Note that all visitors are subject to search (including vehicles), and checks will be run for outstanding warrants.

The Madera County Jail has the following rules for visitors:

• Minors aged 17 and under can visit an inmate in the company of a parent.
• Children must be closely supervised at all times on jail property, and must not be left unattended.
• Personal items may not be brought into the visitation area. This includes cell phones, video recorders, and cameras.
• Visitors behaving inappropriately will have their visit immediately terminated. Inappropriate behavior includes exposing of body parts, removing clothing, damaging facility property or loud/disruptive behavior.
• You may not linger in the visiting area, but must exit promptly as directed.
• Violation of the rules may suspend all future visitation privileges.

Lastly, remember visits are subject to monitoring and recorded, so be mindful of the content of your conversations.

Off-site visitation is also available to inmates granted with the privilege.For more information visit HomeWav.com or call (844) 394-6639. Visitation rules still apply and furthermore, visitors are not allowed to operate a vehicle during off-site visitation (e.g. no visitation while driving your car or truck).

6. Mail Policies

Madera County Detention Center inmates are encourage to correspond with family and friends. An unlimited amount of mail can be sent to the jail.

All correspondence for Madera County inmates must be addressed as follows:

Inmate’s Name
Inmate ID #
14191 Road 28
Madera, CA 93638

Envelopes must also include a full name and return address.

The Madera County Jail has strict policies regarding incoming mail, which is opened and inspected prior to dispensation. Only plain, standard cards, letter size paper and stationary is allowed. These should not be enhanced or adorned with glitter, stickers, powdery substances, fluids, etc. You should not send:

• Polaroid photos
• Postage stamps
• Musical greeting cards

7. Inmate Property

An inmate’s confiscated property will be held by the jail and can be released to friends or family with appropriate identification. Release forms can be completed at the jail on Tuesday or Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Once the inmate signs the property release form, property must be picked up that same day, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. If the property pick up does not occur, a 30-day hold will be placed on the property. If an inmate declines to the sign the release form, another form may not be submitted.

8. More About the Madera Jail

The original 419-bed Madera County Correctional Facility was built in 1988, with an additional 144-bed structure added in 2013. The facility is under the direction of the Chief of the Madera County Department of Corrections, Manuel Perez, who is a decorated Desert Storm Veteran.

Healthcare is provided at the jail, and prescriptions can be filled via the appropriate channels. Friends and family members may not drop off or send in prescription medication for inmates.

Some Madera County convicts are given alternative sentences for directed “community service.” In this case, a $30 fee is due at the Revenue Services Office in the Madera County Government Building at 200 W. 4^th Street. To enroll for community service, the fee receipt must be brought to the Community Service Office at 14191 Road 28 in Madera. Failure to enroll or complete assigned service will be promptly reported to the court of jurisdiction.