Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I visit someone in the jail?
2. How do I Send or Receive Mail from Someone Who is in the Jail?
3. Can I make telephone calls to someone in the jail?
4. What if I have an Emergency Message for Someone in Jail?
5. How does Someone in Jail make Specific Requests?
6. How do I Post Bail for Someone in Jail?
7. How does Someone Receive Medical Care in the Jail?
8. Does the Auburn City Jail have Electronic Home Monitoring?

1. Can I visit someone in the jail?

Visiting Rules and Hours

1. All inmates must have been to their arraignment before allowed visitors with the exception of outside agencies, (i.e. brought in by another police agency and are being housed by Auburn only.)
2. If the inmate is being held here on a Felony investigation he/she is not allowed visitors.
3. All inmates who desire visitors must submit a visitor list to the jail staff. Only those persons listed on their visitation list will be allowed to visit.
4. Visiting is held on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
5. Visits are on a "first come, first served" basis. You must make an appointment with the Auburn City Jail Staff at 253-931-3088. You must call between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. on the day you wish to visit. Inmates are responsible for informing their prospective visitors of this requirement.
6. If visitors miss their appointed time without prior notification to the jail they will be required to sign a letter acknowledging this fact. If visitors fail to show a second time, they will be taken off the inmate visitation list.
7. Visitors will notify the jail of their arrival by using the silver intercom located at the top of the ramp next to the pay phone on the East side of the building. This is located on Division Street between Main and 1st St NW.
8. Visits are for a maximum of 45 minutes. Visitors will be notified by Corrections staff when their time is up.
9. Out of state visitors may request, in writing, through the Jail Administrator or Supervisor, special permission to visit outside the normal times and days.
10. Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. All visitors, except children, must produce legal and valid photo identification.

2. How do I send or receive mail from someone who is in the jail?

Mail:

1. Inmates may send and receive personal letters. All personal letters will be opened by Corrections staff upon arrival at the jail and searched for contraband. Contraband found may result in criminal charges on the sender and/or the receiving inmate. These charges can be both state and federal. It will also cause loss of mailing privileges for the inmate in question.
2. All inmates may send out three (3) pieces of mail weekly at the city's expense. NO STAMPS OR PRE-STAMPED personal envelopes, stickers, Polaroid pictures, money orders or cashier checks are allowed in to the jail.
3. All correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, must bear the name and address of the sender and recipient. No other items or drawings will be allowed on the outside of the envelopes. This is a U.S. Postal regulation.
4. Whenever outgoing mail is disapproved for sending, the inmate will be notified in writing as to the reason.
5. Packages for inmates are not accepted by the Auburn City Jail at any time.
6. Mail will not be accepted from other correctional facilities nor sent to other correctional facilities.

The addresses for the Auburn City Jail and Yakima County Jail are:

(Inmate Name)
c/o Auburn City Jail
25 W. Main St
Auburn, WA 98001

(Inmate Name)
c/o Yakima County Jail
111 N Front St
Yakima, WA 98901

3. Can I make telephone calls to someone in the jail?

Telephones:

1. Inmates can not receive phone calls in the jail.
2. Each dorm has a telephone located in the dayroom. These phones are collect calls only. Calls are limited to a maximum of 20 minutes per inmate, so each inmate has an opportunity to use the phones.
3. Telephones are made available to inmates from the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. as long as telephones and rules of use are not abused or at staff discretion for safety.

4. What if I have an emergency message for someone in jail?

Telephone messages will not be accepted by jail staff for an inmate unless it is a verifiable family emergency. There is no exception to this rule.

5. How does someone in jail make specific requests?

Request Forms (KITES)

1. Inmate request forms (Kites) may be requested from Corrections staff.
2. There are kites for non-emergency assistance (white) and medical kites (orange/yellow).
3. Kites are also used to request the release of cash (all) and/or keys (all). We will not pick and choose which keys or how much cash to release. These are the only two items we will release from the jail to someone on the outside. The inmate must include the name of the person(s) he/she wishes to have these items released to.

6. How do I post bail for someone in jail?

Cash Bail or Bail Bonds:

1. In most instances Bail may be posted 24 hours a day. Corrections staff will accept bail as quickly as possible. To post bail you need to come to the Auburn City Jail and use the silver intercom located at the top of the ramp next to the pay phone. This is located on the East side of the building located on Division St. between Mail and 1st St NW. You will need to notify staff you would like to post bail for someone in the jail.
2. Bail bonds for outside agency warrants/charges will be accepted at Auburn City Jail only if the person is in custody on Auburn charges. Bail bond company phone numbers are posted in all dorms and most companies accept collect calls.
3. Bail can be received in the form of a money order or cashier's check. If the court approves it, a bail bond may also be used. Bail bonds cannot be used for "cash" bails. This is a Court and City of Auburn policy.

7. How does someone receive medical care in the jail?

The Auburn City Jail will provide inmates access to medical care. Inmates will need to request routine medical care via a medical kite to the jail nurse. These kites will be collected by Corrections staff.

Inmates are responsible for medical care costs. If an inmate is indigent while receiving medical care, he/she will still be responsible for payment. REFER TO RCW 70.48.130. Sick call will normally be held on Saturdays and Tuesdays.

A co-pay is required for each medical visit. All unpaid medical costs will be subject to collection.

8. Does the Auburn City Jail have Electronic Home Monitoring?

Electronic Home Monitoring

Electronic Home Monitoring is an alternative custody program offered by the jail that allows participants to serve all or part of their sentence at their residence rather than in custody.

Participants must meet strict enrollment standards including employment and the ability to pay for participation in the program. The program emphasizes self motivation and a strong desire to succeed as the cornerstone of success. In addition, participants are required to meet all court obligations including drug and/or alcohol treatment (if ordered), payment of fines and restitution. To insure compliance with court ordered alcohol abstinence participants are regularly placed on VICAP (Breath Alcohol Testing in conjunction with EHM.

History of EHM

The Auburn Jail contracted with WASPC in September 1997 for monitoring equipment and services and placed the first participant to EHM on November 3, 1997. In June 1999 Auburn established a full time Home Arrest Officer to oversee the EHD Program. Officer Robert Ellis and Officer George Baker manage the Electronic Home Monitoring program and have been instrumental in increasing the daily population and providing the supervision required for a successful program

The Auburn Jail Electronic Home Monitoring program will undoubtedly grow as budget constraints increase the requirement to conserve resources. In addition there are plans to start a supervised Work Crew Program in the near future.

If you would like to know more about this Auburn Jail program please contact Officer Ellis or Officer Baker at 253-931-3088.