Custody

​The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Custody Division is the fifth largest jail system in California and among the 20 largest systems in the United States. Our jail is among the 100 systems nationwide with an inmate population of more than 1,000. In 2015, the average daily population for the Santa Clara County Correctional facilities was 3,638 inmates.

Approximately 48,000 arrestees are booked annually with an average stay length of 206 days.

The Custody Bureau consists of several divisions: Main Jail Facility, Elmwood Correctional Facility, Custody Administrative Services, Jail Reforms, Support Services, and Compliance.

Facilities

• Elmwood Men's Correctional Complex in Milpitas provides care, housing, and retention of approximately 2,600 medium- and minimum-security male inmates.
• Elmwood Women's Correctional Complex, established in 1964, is located in the northeast portion of the Complex.
• The Santa Clara County Main Jail Complex is located at 150 West Hedding Street in downtown San Jose and is divided into Main Jail North and Main Jail South.

Inmate Programs

Weekend Work Program/Public Service Program

The Santa Clara County Programs Division delivers services which cover a vast number of recipients, including the Department of Correction, community based organizations, the inmate population, and the community at large.

Reentry Services

In order to decrease the number of individuals incarcerated and under probation and parole supervision, the County of Santa Clara is focusing on developing a comprehensive effort that addresses the needs and risks of former offenders. The County's Reentry Program represents a new way of doing business.

Inmate Welfare Fund

The purpose of the Inmate Welfare Fund Committee is to implement the provisions of California Penal Code Section 4025 which allows the County to establish, maintain, and operate a store (commissary and vending services) at the jail so that inmates may purchase confectionary items, postage, writing materials, toilet articles, and supplies. All commissions received from commissary sales shall be deposited into an inmate welfare fund. The statute also requires that any money, refund, rebate, or commission received from an inmate telephone service provider be deposited into the inmate welfare fund.

The IWF Committee shall meet twice a year or more often if determined necessary. All meetings shall be held in the Lower Level Conference Room at 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose or in another location when notice has been duly posted in a conspicuous place and as otherwise may be required by law.

IWF Committee meetings are open to the public to attend in compliance with regulations set forth in the Brown Act.

• Calendar for scheduled meetings and agendas
• Rules of the Santa Clara County Inmate Welfare Fund Committee
• Online Inmate Commissary Orders (English, Spanish, Vietnamese)
• Order Delivery Schedule (English, Spanish, Vietnamese)

EDOVO Transcript/Certificate Requests

If a participant requests transcripts/certificates for the completion of self-paced instruction on the EDOVO tablet:

1. The participant can send a message through the tablet to the vendor and request to have transcripts/certificates sent to their family or friend on their behalf.
2. Family and friends can:
   1. Go to the EDOVO Web site.
   2. Click “Get Involved” at the top of the home page.
   3. Complete the request form.
   4. EDOVO will follow up and confirm account details.
   5. After confirmation, they will send the transcripts/certificates.

Daily Population Sheets

The County produces a daily report about the current inmate population for both Main Jail and Elmwood Custody Facilities.