Sonoma County Jail, CA

Personal visits at Sonoma County Jail must be scheduled by phone—call (707) 565-1400 Tuesday through Friday from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Same-day sign-ups aren't allowed, so plan ahead. Professional visitors work differently: they can use the lobby on a drop-in basis without an appointment. Program providers also operate as drop-ins with slightly different start times, and approved providers may access the secure side for module visitation—but not during lockdowns or outside visitation hours. Module timing matters: open at 7:30 am, lunch lockdown 10:45 am–12:00 pm, dinner lockdown 4:45 pm–7:30 pm, close at 9:45 pm. Convicted felons need prior written approval, and recently released inmates generally must wait 30 days to visit unless visiting a spouse. A new personal-visitation schedule for the Main Adult Detention Facility begins February 22, 2025.

ViaPath handles remote video and messaging at Sonoma County Jail. Remote video visitation costs $0.12 per minute. Video messages (effective April 1, 2025) run $1.00 for 30 seconds or $2.50 for 60 seconds. Statewide communications platforms are changing, so the vendor and app may shift—confirm the facility's current provider before creating an account or adding funds. To use prepaid video visits or electronic messaging, set up an account on the department's communications platform and add money through the app's prepaid feature before scheduling sessions. For in-person visits, Sonoma County requires telephone scheduling and a visiting-approval form with basic identity and relationship details.

Sonoma County Jail is switching non-privileged mail processing to Pigeonly. Starting Sept. 1, 2025, send letters, cards, postcards, and photos to Pigeonly (PO Box 96777, Las Vegas, NV 89193). Include the inmate's name and booking number on every item, plus the facility code: MADF 2000 or NCDF 2001. Pigeonly opens and scans mail within 24 hours, sends the scan to the jail, then prints it for delivery. Originals stay at Pigeonly for 45 days. You can include up to 10 photos per parcel—just follow their size and content guidelines. Books, magazines, and other printed materials still need to come directly from a publisher or distributor to the facility address. Legal and confidential mail is handled separately.

Putting money on someone's account at Sonoma County Jail is straightforward once you know the limits. The jail caps trust account balances at $1,000—any deposit that would push the balance over $1,000 gets rejected. The Cashier may accept cash, money orders, certified checks, cashier's checks, and government checks. Money orders and certified/cashier's checks are preferred via U.S. mail. Funds in the trust account cover commissary and related purchases. At MADF, inmates place commissary orders using housing-module kiosks and tablets, with a $100-per-week spending limit. Typical items include hygiene products, stationery, snacks, shower shoes, underwear, reading glasses, and toiletries. Before sending funds, confirm the person's full name and booking or facility ID, and follow the deposit instructions for timely posting.