Before Your First Visit to Jefferson County Jail: What to Bring and What to Expect

Bring a photo ID for check-in. Keep your group small: only three visitors at one time per inmate are allowed in the visiting area, and anyone under 18 must be with an adult or legal guardian. Leave purses, bags, and anything that could hold contraband in your car. Expect that you and your property may be searched. Plan ahead for anything you might need outside the room, because once you exit the visitation area you cannot return. One more thing: don't bring cash or money orders expecting to leave them at the front desk. The reception desk does not accept them.

Jefferson County Jail requires a photo ID at check-in for all visitors. If you show up without it, you should expect your visit to end before it starts.

Visitors at Jefferson County Jail are subject to a search of their person and property. Travel light and leave extra items secured elsewhere. Purses, bags, and anything able to hold contraband are prohibited from the visitation area. If you bring prohibited items to the door, staff can require you to remove them, and that can cost you time or your entire visit.

Only three visitors at one time per inmate are allowed in the visiting area. If your group is larger, be ready to rotate or have someone wait elsewhere.

Bringing a child or teen? Plan for supervision. Visitors under 18 are not permitted unless accompanied by an adult or legal guardian.

Don't bring cash or a money order expecting to hand it to staff when you arrive. Jefferson County Jail does not accept money or money orders at the reception desk.

1. Get a money order - Money for inmates must be in the form of a money order, and it cannot exceed $50.
2. Address it correctly - Mail it to the Sheriff’s Office in care of the inmate.
3. Send it by mail - This is the required way to get money to an inmate, since it cannot be dropped off at reception.

Jefferson County Jail can deny visitation if a visitor poses a security risk, a safety risk, or is disruptive to other visitors. The stakes here are serious: any visitor who has been denied visitation will not be allowed to visit any inmate at any time. If something feels like it's going sideways, stay calm, follow staff directions, and step away rather than argue.