Bay County Jail Information
How do I find out if someone is in the Bay County Jail?
Information pertaining to someone who is in custody can be obtained by contacting the Bay County Sheriff's Office at (989) 895-4067. Information pertaining to an inmate's previous incarceration will not be divulged without proper authority.
When are arraignments scheduled?
Arraignments are held at the Bay County Jail on Monday through Friday (except holidays) around 1:30 p.m., depending on the presiding judge's workload. Arraignments may be viewed at the Bay County Court Facility in the presiding judge's courtroom. All visitors to the court facility will be required to pass through a metal detector. Packages and briefcases will be x-rayed for weapons and explosives.
How are bonds set?
The courts set prisoner bonds. Prisoners who are assigned a bond can be released provided the bond is paid and there are no other police agency holds on the prisoner. Information on a prisoners bond may be obtained by calling (989) 895-4067. Bond money may be provided at any time of the day in the form of a money order, certified check, or cash. If a money order or certified check is used, it must be made out to the prisoner. Personal checks are not allowed for the purpose of bonding a person. To utilize a bondsmen, check the yellow pages of the phone book.
When is an inmate going to be released?
All inmates are transported to and from the various courts simultaneously. When all arraignments are completed, the inmates are returned to the Law Enforcement Center. This process may take a couple of hours. If you arrive at the jail to pick up someone, anticipate a delay in processing. Prisoners being released are allowed to make a free local phone call in order to obtain transportation.
Can I contact an inmate?
You may contact an inmate only in letter form or through a scheduled visit. Inmates are not allowed to receive incoming phone calls. All incoming packages and letters are checked for contraband. You may send a letter to a prisoner by addressing it in his/her name at:
[Inmate's Name]
503 Third St.
Bay City, MI 48708
All incoming letters are opened to check for contraband.
How do I post money to a prisoner's account?
You can deposit money in the Kiosk located in the front lobby by of the LawEnforcementCenterbetween the hours of 7:00 a.m.and 11:00 p.m. You will need the inmate's name and their jacket number. For your convenience you can also make Commissary Deposits on-line by going to www.GovPayNOW.com, or call (888) 277-2535. You will need:
Your Credit or Debit Card
The inmate's name, jacket number, and location.
Pay Location Code 5500
Minimum Deposit $25, Maximum Deposit $300.
Phone transaction fee = 5% of total
Internet Transaction Fee = 3.5% of total
Minimum Service Fee = $3.50
You can also visit any Western Union Agent location and fill out the Blue Quick Collect Send Form. Make sure to include the following information:
Pay to: S S C
CodeCity/ State: COBRACASH/FL
Account Number: 3CM + Jacket Number + Last Name
OR
You can also call WESTERN UNION(using your Debit or Credit Card) at 1-800-634-3422 OR go on line at www.westernunion.com
Undergarments
Only new, white undergarments in the plastic bags will be accepted for prisoners. The maximum is three white tee shirts, three white briefs, and three pairs of white socks.
Clothing:
The jail will provide outer garments and bedding for prisoners while they are in jail. One set of street clothes will be accepted only for prisoners who are going to trial.
Phone Calls:
Prisoners are allowed to make one free phone call when arrested. Prisoners in general population have access to phones to make collect only calls from 6:30 a.m. until lock down each day. Prisoners are not allowed to receive incoming calls.
Visitation for prisoners:
Call (989) 895-4066 to schedule a visit using the schedule below. Visits are set up on a first-call basis. Each prisoner is allowed up to three persons per visit. Each visit will be approximately 30 minutes in length and are non-contact. An adult must accompany all visitors under the age of 17, and children must be kept under strict supervision. Visitors must have proper identification, and conduct themselves properly. Visitors who disrupt other visitors or are disorderly will be barred from visitation. Visitors not complying with staff requests will be barred from visitation. No items of property for prisoners will be allowed at this time. Prisoners must be in jail for seven days prior to being granted a visit.
The first letter of the inmate's last name determines his/her day of visitation.
N-Z for Wednesday evening visitation, call Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
H-M for Saturday evening visitation, call Wednesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
A-G for Sunday evening visitation, call Wednesday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Property Release:
Prisoners may release their personal property to a family member or friend at any time. The request must be in writing and the person authorized to pick it up must sign for the property. Prisoners being sent to prison are required to have a family member or friend pick up all their property prior to their departure. Prisoner property not picked up prior to their departure to prison will be destroyed.