Buchanan County Jail

Buchanan County Jail holds non-contact visitation on Saturdays from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–5:00 PM (no visits on holiday Saturdays). You'll need to schedule in advance—either in person or by calling (816) 236-8888 during appointment hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM, and Fri 8:00 AM–12:30 PM. Visitors must be at least 18 and show a valid photo ID at check-in. Arrive at least 10 minutes early. If you don't check in 10 minutes before your scheduled time, your visit gets canceled. Staff run warrant checks on all visitors, and visits can be denied for security or operational reasons. People on probation or parole aren't allowed to visit. Leave your cell phone and any recording devices in your car (unless you're an approved professional). Dress appropriately, and don't attempt to bring contraband—doing so leads to arrest and prosecution.

Buchanan County Jail uses Securus for inmate phone service. Inmates place outgoing collect calls only—you can't call into the jail to reach them. Each call lasts up to 15 minutes, then the line disconnects automatically. Plan for short check-ins. Not getting calls? A collect-call block on your phone is the most common reason. Contact your carrier to check and remove any blocks. For billing questions, account setup, payments, or technical issues, reach Securus at 1-972-734-1111 (mobile) or 1-800-844-6591 (landline/international). You can also use the Advanced Connect portal at securustech.net. Expect to register, add funds, and complete identity verification before receiving calls.

Send mail through USPS only to: (Inmate's Name) C/O Buchanan County Jail, 501 Faraon Street, St. Joseph, MO 64501. Every letter or card must include the inmate's full name and your return address—mail without a return address won't be delivered. All incoming mail gets searched. The jail doesn't accept packages. You can include photos, but no more than three per letter. Double-check your addressing and postage before sending to avoid delays.

Add commissary funds at Buchanan County Jail using the Turnkey kiosk in the lobby (cash or credit) or online at www.inmatecanteen.com. Kiosks in the booking area handle bonding payments. Timing matters for commissary orders: deposits made by 8:00 AM Monday go toward Tuesday orders, and deposits by 8:00 AM Thursday go toward Friday orders. The jail no longer accepts cash, checks, or money orders at the front desk or by mail—everything runs through the kiosk system. Kiosks take cash or credit cards for bonding but won't accept pre-paid cards. Card transactions usually post quickly, so stick to the cutoff times for same-week orders.