Maricopa County AZ Jail Details & Overview

If a loved one or friend is being housed in the Maricopa County Jail, you may be wondering about the rules and regulations of the facility and how it operates. Having answers to these questions is essential for peace of mind and taking the correct action. 

Here, you will learn about the basics of the rules and regulations at the Maricopa County Jail. You will also discover how to send money to an inmate, the rules of visitation, and how to send a letter to someone who is incarcerated in jail. 

About Maricopa County Jail

The Maricopa County Jail has five locations that work together to house inmates and protect the public. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office is the primary booking point for all intakes. 

The Custody Bureau’s Intake Division oversees the task of providing daily care for inmates in pre-trial statuses and those serving short-term jail sentences of less than a year. 

Contact Information for the Maricopa County Jail

The phone number and address locations for the five Maricopa County Jail facilities are as follows. 

512 Facility 

(602) 876-0322

2670 South 28th Drive

Phoenix, AZ 85009

Estrella Jail

(602) 876-0322

2939 W. Durango Road

Phoenix, AZ 85009

Intake, Transfer & Release

(602) 876-0322

2670 S 28th Dr.

Phoenix, AZ 85009

Lower Buckeye Jail

(602) 876-0322

3250 W Lower Buckeye Road

Phoenix, AZ 85009

Towers Jail

(602) 876-0322

3127 W. Gibson Lane

Phoenix, AZ 85009

How to Conduct an Inmate Search for Maricopa County Jail

If you need to conduct Maricopa County Jail inmate search online, the Sheriff’s Department operates a website that is available to the public 24 hours a day. 

The information on this website is updated with new bookings frequently. You can also view jail mugshots in Maricopa county. If you cannot find information on your loved one or friend, check back often. You may also call (602) 876-1000 for assistance locating an inmate. 

Intake Procedures at the Maricopa County Jail

All inmates must go through the booking process at 2670 S. 28th Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85009. Individuals will have access to telephones to make collect calls to their families and attorneys. 

Once booked and processed, individuals will be taken to the Maricopa County Jail, where they will await their bail hearing or trial. 

How to Pay a Bond for Inmates in the Maricopa County Jail

If you would like to post bond for an inmate in the Maricopa County Jail, you will need to visit the Fourth Avenue Jail Bond & Fine room. This room is located on the northwest corner of the building. 

Once you pay the bond, it may take up to 24 hours for the individual to be released. If the inmate has an immigration or law enforcement hold of any type, paying their bond will not allow them to be released. 

If you have questions prior to paying a bond, call 602-876-0322. The Maricopa County Jail can only accept the exact amount of the bond. You may use the following to pay a bond.

• U.S. Postal Money Order
• Credit Card (You cannot pay bonds higher than $10,000 using a credit card)
• Western Union Money Order
• Cash
• Cashier’s Check

You must provide your social security number for financial transactions over $10,000. This is a requirement of the IRS.

How to Send Mail to Inmates in Maricopa County Jail

If you would like to send mail to an inmate, knowing the rules and regulations is essential to ensure your mail is delivered correctly. Failure to follow the rules could result in the mail being sent back to you or the U.S. Postal Service.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office operates a central mailroom located at the Lower Buckeye Jail. All inmate mail is processed here. The address for all inmate mail is: 

Lower Buckeye Jail

3250 West Lower Buckeye Road

Phoenix, Arizona 85009

Please address any mail with the inmate’s full name and booking number. You should also include the sender’s full name and return address. 

To secure the safety and health of staff members, only standard postcard mail is accepted. The following rules must be followed precisely, or the mail will not be delivered to inmates. 

• You may not send custom postcards. 
• Do not send postcards smaller than 3.5 x 4.25 inches. 
• Do not send postcards larger than 4.25 x 6 inches. 
• Postcards must be written in blue or black ink only.
• Do not send plastic-wrapped postcards.
• All stamps will be removed from the postcards.
• Do not send postcards with labels or stickers. 
• Postcards that have been contaminated in any way will be refused.
• Do not send postcards with stains, lipstick, perfume, body fluids, etc.
• Do not send postcards that depict nudity, sexual content, weapons, gang materials, or any form of criminal activity. 

If you would like to send photographs to an inmate, you can only send five at a time. The photographs must be placed in an envelope that is clearly marked “Photographs” and cannot contain anything but photographs. All photographs must be no larger than 4 inches X 6 inches. 

Books, publications, magazines, and newspapers must be sent directly from the publisher or bookstore. Hardback books are strictly forbidden. All book shipments must be accompanied by an order sheet and packing sheet.

Inmates may only possess up to three books and five magazines at a time. Publications that contain pornography, nudity, or sexual content are not allowed. Inmates will be provided a rejection notice if they receive mail or publications that do not meet the rules.

How to Visit an Inmate in Maricopa County Jail

You have two options for visiting inmates in the Maricopa County Jail System. 

Remote Video Visits

You can conduct a remote video visit from your home computer. Inmates may receive unlimited video visits based on availability. 

You may schedule remote video visitations daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Each session can be booked for 20 minutes. 

On-Site Visitation

You also have the option of on-site visitation. Regardless of the jail an inmate resides in, visitors will use the kiosks located in the Lower Buckeye Jail or 4th Avenue Jail. 

On-site visitation may be scheduled daily between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Inmates will receive one free on-site visitation per week.

Regardless of whether you take part in a remote or an on-site visit, you will need to register for an account at https://www.gettingout.com/. All inmate visitations must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. 

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Maricopa County Jail

If you would like to deposit money into an inmate's account, you have a few options available. 

By Phone

You can make deposits by phone using your debit or credit card 24 hours a day through the automated telephone line at 1-866-355-9593. 

Online

You may also make an online deposit into an inmate’s account by visiting https://maricopa.touchpaydirect.net. 

Retail Locations

Some retail locations allow you to deposit money into an inmate’s account. For a list of participating locations and further information, visit www.touchpaydirect.com/locator. 

You cannot mail cash, money orders, or checks to the jail. The Maricopa County Jail does not accept any form of currency. All deposits must be made through TouchPay. 

Most deposited funds are made available to inmates within an hour. There are fees for these services based on the deposit amount.