How to Send Money to Someone at West County Jail: Step-by-Step
Getting money onto someone's account should be simple—but small paperwork mistakes can slow things down. Here's what West County Jail accepts and how to send funds without delays.
West County Jail only accepts inmate funds by money order, cashier’s check, or traveler’s check. If you send cash or a personal check, the jail will return the envelope and everything inside it back to the sender - so it’s worth double-checking what you’re putting in the mail before you seal it.
How you fill out the payment matters just as much as the amount. Make money orders, cashier's checks, and traveler's checks payable to "Office of the Sheriff." Write the inmate's name and booking number on the front. This combination - correct payee plus identifying info - is how staff match the funds to the right person.
Warning: If a money order or cashier’s check isn’t made out to the “Office of the Sheriff,” or it’s missing the inmate’s information, it will be sealed in the inmate’s property - and if the person is released, it will be returned to the sender.
Prefer using a credit or debit card? West County Jail accepts card payments only through specific channels: lobby kiosks at the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities, by phone at 1-866-0460, or online through the SmartDeposit website. Other card methods won't work and could delay your deposit.
Practical Step By Step Checklist
- ✓ Choose an accepted payment type: money order, cashier’s check, or traveler’s check (don’t send cash or a personal check - they’ll be returned to the sender).
- ✓ Make the payment out exactly to “Office of the Sheriff.”
- ✓ Write the inmate’s full name and booking number on the front of the money order/cashier’s check/traveler’s check.
- ✓ If you’re paying by card, use one of the accepted card options only: a lobby kiosk at Martinez or West County, the phone line at 1-866-0460, or the SmartDeposit website.
- ✓ Keep your receipt or confirmation for your records.
- ✓ Re-check the payee line and inmate details before sending - if it’s made out incorrectly or missing info, it can be sealed in property and returned to sender if the inmate is released.
- Pick your deposit method - Use a money order, cashier’s check, or traveler’s check, or choose an approved credit/debit card option.
- Fill it out correctly - Make it payable to “Office of the Sheriff,” and put the inmate’s name and booking number on the front.
- Use approved card channels (if paying by card) - Deposit at a lobby kiosk (Martinez or West County), call 1-866-0460, or submit online through the SmartDeposit website.
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