Jail and Corrections

• Visiting Infromation
• Inmate Information
• Inmate Mail
• Bonding Information
• Jail Operations
• Core Values
• Primary Strategic Paths and Outcomes
• Community Work Program
• Community Corrections 
• Court Security Services

Visiting Information

• Effective June 14, 2004, the hours for Inmate Visitation will be extended into the evening hours Monday through Friday. The extended hours of visitation will begin with the first scheduled visit at 5:30 PM and the last scheduled visit at 6:30 PM.  Visits will be scheduled in 20 minute intervals.  Two adults and children (proof of guardianship required) may visit at one time.  Inmate is entitled to one (1) twenty minute visit per week only.  You are requested to check in 15 minutes prior to the visit.
• The General Public will be permitted to schedule Inmate Visitation Monday Through Friday by telephone only between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.  To schedule a visit, please call 734-973-4363. 
• An inmate that has been sentenced to Prison may have their personal property released to a visitor Monday through Friday during scheduled visiting times. This process MUST be scheduled by the visitor Monday through Friday between the hours of 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM only.
• An inmate visit MUST be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. 
• An inmate scheduled visit is subject to cancellation due to a jail emergency, an inmate court/medical appointment, Administrative reasons or a result of an inmate’s disciplinary status.
• All visitors will be expected to adhere to all posted Visiting Rules and Regulations.  Any visitor who disrupts the visiting area shall be removed from the building and may be denied future visits and possibly prosecuted as prescribed by law.
• Valid Michigan or other state Driver’s License, valid State I.D, valid passport or valid military I.D. are the only acceptable identification required at the time of the visit.
• For Security reasons, visiting information will only be disclosed through the visiting officer between the hours of 11:00 a.m. through 1:00 p.m. over the phone.
  

The Following is a list of days and times available for inmate visits.

Males ONLY:

Female ONLY:

Visiting is CLOSED on ALL HOLIDAYS and WEEKENDS; thus no visits will be scheduled. If you are unsure as to when those holidays are, please contact the Visiting Officer at the telephone number and time indicated above.

Inmate Information

• Money can be dropped Monday through Friday (other than holidays) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. in the form of cash or money order/cashier’s check made payable to the WCSO (Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office) indicating inmate’s name on the bottom.  Inasmuch as we do not give change, please have exact amount of cash you wish to deposit.
• Books (only soft covered) and magazines and/or newspapers (must be prepaid and pre-approved at this facility) may be sent to the inmate via Amazon. Com or directly from the publisher.  Books will not be accepted from Borders Books Store, Barnes and Noble etc.
• Prescription and reading glasses (no glass cases) for inmates may be dropped off at the front desk for inmates Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• Inmate property must be picked up at the time of a scheduled visit.  You must clearly indicate to the visiting officer at the time you schedule your visit what property you wish to pick up at the time of your scheduled visit.
• The $12.00 booking may be paid at the front desk in cash, only, and, exact change, within the four hour window period.
• No personal items, clothing, or food may be dropped off at the front desk.  These items may be purchased by the inmate in the Jail’s Commissary.  All mail must be sent via U.S. Postal system.
• A dress suit may be dropped off for the inmate at the time of a scheduled visit for the inmate’s use at the time of a Trial or Jury Trial. 
• For collect calls, call our long distance carrier, Evercom, at 1-800-844-6591 and follow the prompts to set up calls to your home phone.  Evercom will not set up long distance calls to cell phones.
  In case of a family emergency, you may contact Inmate Services at 734-971-8400 ext 71380.  Otherwise, no outside messages will be taken.

Any questions regarding the daily jail fee please contact either Haley Gibson at 734-973-4746 or Chris Soves at 734-973-4394.

Inmate Mail

ALL Inmate mail should be addressed as follows:

Inmate's name (No Nicknames - Proper Full Name)
C/O WASHTENAW COUNTY RD.
2201 HOGBACK RD.
ANN ARBOR, MI 48105

Be sure to include a valid return address in the upper left hand corner of your envelope!

The following is a list of items that are unauthorized and CANNOT be accepted in any inmate's personal correspondence. If any of these items are found, the entire envelope and its contents wil be returned to sender.

• Cash
• Personal Checks / Payroll Checks
• Postage Stamps, Envelops, Stationary, Pre-printed address labels
• Musical or Novelty type Greetings Cards
• Oversized Greeting Cards (Maximum allowed is 5 x 9)
• Calendars
• Polaroid Photographs
• Nude, Partially nude, or sexually explicit photos
• Photos suggesting or depicting "gang" colors, gestures, or allegiance
• Photos may be no larger than 4 x 6, and are limited to 5 to their possession
• Magazines and newspapers mailed from other than the PUBLISHER. Books will not be accepted from bookstores or retailers i.e. Borders, Barnes and Nobles, etc.
• Letter and / or envelopes that are sealed with or contain lipstick, perfume, toothpaste, glue, glitter, stickers, staples, metal objects, metal fasteners, or any other foreign adhesive.
• Money orders made out to the Washtenaw County Jail in care of the inmate will accepted through the mail for the purchase of personal hygiene, stationary, and any other commissary items.

Bonding Information

If the 10% bond is placed in the payor's name, the refund check is sent by the court to the payor once the court case is completed. The court will keep 10% of the payor is responsible for the total bond.

If the 10% bond is placed in the inmate's name, refund check is sent by the court to the inmate once the court case is completed. The court will keep 10% of the bond paid. However, if the inmate fails to appear at the court hearing, the bond is forfeited and the inmate is responsible for the total bond.

If any portion if the inmate's commissary funds are used to pay for ANY bond, the bond is automatically placed in the inmate's name.

Other than 10% bonds, all other bonds are placed in the inmate's name.

* During the hours of 8:00AM to 4:30PM, all bonds are paid at the appropriate court.

* During the hours of 5:00PM to 7:00PM, all bonds are taken at the Sheriff's Dept.

Payment Type:

Master Card or Visa, only! Although money orders and cashier's checks are acceptable and are to be made payable to the inmate and / or Washtenaw County Sherif's Department. No Master debit card or Visa debit cards will be accepted. No personal Check.

Paying the Bond After Hours

If you want the bond posted in your name, please make sure that you indicate this to the officer who is taking your funds or else the bond is automatically placed in the inmate name.

Jail Operations

Correctional Services - Correctional Services is staffed by civilian employees and supported by a number of volunteers. Together they offer programming aimed at reducing recidivism by providing educational classes designed to assist inmates in achieving their GED, overcoming substance abuse, controlling their anger, reviewing the past decisions they have made and attempting to assist them in making moral and just decisions in the future, providing necessary life skills, and developing plans to return to their family and community better prepared to make the necessary life changes. In addition, staff is also responsible for identifying appropriate funding sources for the placement of court ordered inmates into substance abuse treatment programs.

Correctional Services works very closely with the religious leaders of the community. Many local churches provide religious volunteers who volunteer each week to meet the spiritual needs of the inmate population.

Correctional Services also works closely with the County's mental health team, Community Support & Treatment Services formally known as CMH. Together they identify inmates with mental health issues and provide treatment, counseling and when appropriate discharge planning for continued care in the community.

Food Services - The management of Food Services is by contract with Aramark Food Corporation.  Aramark provides three cooks who are responsible for the preparation of meals.  Inmate trustees are assigned to assist in meal preparation, service and clean up.

Medical Services - Provided under contract with a private contractor, they provide a registered or licensed nurse 24 hours per day.  They are responsible for the health of the inmate population, rendering emergency first aid, providing follow-up care for sick and injured inmates, administering prescribed medication and assisting contracted physicians, dentists and radiologists.

Transport Section - Deputies assigned to the Transport Section are responsible for the safe and orderly transportation of inmates between the Washtenaw County Jail and the court systems, prisons, hospitals and other county jails.

Core Values

Security ~ is one of our most important core values.  Utilizing the least restrictive means necessary, the Washtenaw County Jail will maintain effective security and control of the inmates and the institution providing the essential foundation for efficient and effective, quality based work performance.

Safety ~ includes the safety of our community, staff, inmates and all visitors to the Jail.  All Corrections Division staff members share the mutual responsibility and common role of maintaining a safe and secure Jail.

Service ~ The Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office exists as a public service organization.  The array of services the Sheriff's Office provides are broad.  Our clients include, but are not limited to: citizens who require our services, inmates, local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies, various human service agencies, Courts, the Prosecuting Attorney's Office, families of inmates, families of victims, etc. Our efforts are always focused on providing the finest quality help and assistance to our clients within our ability and resources.

Working Together ~ No one person is usually capable of, nor should be asked to shoulder the complete responsibility of operating the Jail and its various associated services.  To be successful as individuals, we must see ourselves as team members and team builders.  It is only through working together, that we will be able to achieve the strategic outcomes we have outlined within this document.

Professionalism ~ We are professionals.  We are required to be alert at every moment, as we secure and care for inmates either accused or found guilty of the most serious of crimes.  We strive to maintain high standards of conduct, service delivery and professional development.  We aim to adhere, at all times, to the mission, values and principles of operation of the Sheriff's Office and the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics.  We understand that our first duty is to the community and we recognize the important and integral role of the community in fulfilling the mission of the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office and the purposes of the Jail.

Innovation ~ Innovation means taking what we have and adding to it, or using it in ways that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our work.  This may mean the creation or enhancements of various systems in the Jail or the addition of technology, or the development of a better way to do something we are currently doing.  This may mean becoming more efficient or effective or finding ways to enhance other core values, such as: safety, security and service.

Primary Strategic Paths and Outcomes

• Professionalism ~ Redefining the nature, dignity and importance of our work.
• Focus ~ Clear and well-defined division outcomes.
• Structure and Teamwork ~ Re-engineering the classical hierarchical authority structure in the Jail to a value driven, teamwork based model.
• Policy Development Process ~ Revising institutional rules and regulations for the control of staff and inmate behavior into a value driven approach.

Community Work Program

The Washtenaw County Sheriff Community Work Program  is an alternative to incarceration program that substitutes community labor, rather than incarceration, for carefully selected offenders.  The Work Program provides service to local municipalities and other non-profit organizations throughout Washtenaw County.

It is the intent of the Work Program to maintain the highest standards of public confidence, credibility and public safety when implementing alternatives to confinement programs. Participation in the programs shall occur only when the sentencing Court concludes that a person meets the specified criteria.

The Work Program offers many benefits to Washtenaw County taxpayers, community agencies and the criminal justice system and offenders:

• Provides judges alternative sentencing.
• Provides community service labor to build,repair and improve community and county properties.
• Reduces jail overcrowding and improves jail utilization for more serious offenders.
• Allows offenders the opportunity to maintain existing employment, education and family ties.

To date in 2009, the Sheriff’s Community Work Program has picked up nearly 4800 bags of trash plus 351 large items from Washtenaw County road ways such as tires and furniture.  They have performed 19,275 hours of community service at various non-profit organizations. The Work Program has saved the Sheriff a total of 3932 bed spaces and nearly $236,000.00 in incarceration costs.

If you have suggestions for the Sheriff Community Work Program, please contact Sgt. Kurt Schiappacasse.  Please understand that due to the volume of requests there may be a waiting list.

Hours of operation for the Work Program are  8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Seven days a week.  For more information, please call 734-973-4867.

Court Security Services

The Court Security Division is comprised of approximately forty officers and bailiffs charged with providing security for seven Court facilities and nearly twenty Judges and Magistrates.  Further, Washtenaw County Sheriff Court Security Officers maintain the integrity of the judicial process by ensuring a safe and secure environment in and around the court complex.

To facilitate this first line of defense, Court Security Officers utilize sophisticated X-ray devices and the latest high-technology magnetometers, similar to those used at airports.  Not surprisingly, our officers detect weapons and items that could be used as weapons each day.  Most of these weapons are knives, but occasionally we discover other contraband such as swords hidden in canes, machetes strapped to legs, and handguns.  Sheriff’s officers also regularly detect and seize illegal narcotics from people as they attempt to enter court facilities.

Perimeter patrol of the facility is another important function of our Courts Security Division.  Court Security Officers are linked by radio to the Sheriff’s Central Dispatch Center.  Each Court Security Office has video surveillance cameras, which surround the facilities and monitor all perimeter activity. Officers monitoring surveillance cameras can direct officers to any problems or signs of trouble.

When visiting the Courts it is important to remember that for your safety and to respect the rights of others, several items are banned from entering into any Court Facility in Washtenaw County.  Some of these items include:

• camera cell phones
• weapons of any kind
• most electronic equipment (i.e., recording devices) 

It is suggested that these items are left in your vehicle while you visit our Courts.

For information about Washtenaw County Circuit Court, including contact information, click here:

Washtenaw County Trial Court

For information about Washtenaw County District Courts, including contact information, click here:

14A District Court

Should you have a question for the Washtenaw County Sheriff Court Security Division, please contact us 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday at 734-222-3055 or email Sgt. Kurt Schiappacasse.

Contact Information