Auburn vs South Placer Jails: Key Visiting Differences Families Should Know

Auburn is your best bet if you're hoping for a professional contact visit. These are approved case-by-case, and the incarcerated person has to agree to it. If contact isn't approved (or they decline), you're not out of luck - Auburn will offer a non-contact visit instead. Both jails also offer video visitation. Placer County provides enrollment and scheduling instructions in English and Spanish, which helps if you're setting this up for the first time or coordinating with family members who prefer Spanish materials.

In-person visits at Auburn and South Placer Minimum Security run on a tight clock: 30 minutes total. If more than one adult is visiting, that time gets split between you - plan ahead so nobody is caught off guard. Group size is capped too. You can bring up to three visitors total: either two adults and one minor child, or one adult and two minor children.

Video visitation is a big part of how Placer County handles visits. There are two main options: on-site video (you travel to a terminal) and remote video (you connect from somewhere else). The county provides enrollment and scheduling instructions in both English and Spanish. South Placer has an extra option families ask about frequently: for inmates in select housing areas, you can book a remote video visit for $9.99 for 30 minutes. This is in addition to the two on-site visitation sessions. Timing matters. Remote video visits at South Placer must be scheduled 24 hours in advance. On-site video visits are free, but they also require 24-hour advance scheduling - and you'll need to travel to South Placer Jail to use the terminals in the visiting lobby.

• ✓ Register and schedule video visits at least 24 hours ahead (required for South Placer remote visits).
• ✓ Schedule on-site video visits 24 hours ahead as well, even though they’re free.
• ✓ If you’re doing a South Placer remote video visit and your loved one is in an eligible housing area, be ready for the $9.99/30-minute charge.

Professional visiting schedules don't match up between the two jails. Auburn Jail offers professional visiting seven days a week in four blocks: 7:30am–10:30am, noon–3:30pm, 5:30pm–6:30pm, and 7:30pm–9:30pm. South Placer Jail also runs seven days a week, but with different time blocks: 7:30am–3:30pm, 4:30pm–6:30pm, and 7:30pm–9:30pm.

1. Confirm the person’s visitation days and times - use the inmate information on the recent In Custody Report to see what applies right now.
2. Match the visit type to their housing rules - for Auburn, professional contact visits are case-by-case and require the inmate’s agreement; if that’s not approved (or they decline), expect a non-contact visit instead.
3. Plan your arrival around check-in - you must check in at least 30 minutes before the visit start time.
4. Bring an accepted ID - a driver’s license (with photo), military ID (with photo), passport (with photo), immigration card, or state ID (with photo). These IDs may be expired and still be valid.
5. Be ready for screening - you’ll go through a walk-through metal detector and need to remove metal items from your clothing beforehand.