Detention Frequently Asked Questions
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office operates the Detention Facility located at 141 West Elm, Wichita, Kansas 67203. The facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, however not all services are available all hours. The Sedgwick County Detention Facility holds only adult or adjudicated persons.
For information on who is in the facility and what they are charged with, check the Sedgwick Sheriff’s Office Inmate Search Webpage or calls (316) 383-7205. The deputy who answers the telephone will be able to give bond amounts and basic information on how to gain the release of inmates. It can take two or three hours from the time the inmate is accepted into the facility before fingerprints and a mug shot are taken. Inmates cannot be released until these two things occur. The amount of time that is required varies with the number of persons arrested and the cooperation of each inmate. Please call before you go to the facility.
If a person held in the facility requires a bail bondsman to post bond, it is the responsibility of the inmate or their family or friends to select the person or company to write the bond. Detention staff is not allowed to recommend any person or company. Click here for general information on bonding an inmate out of the Sedgwick County Detention Facility.
Cash Only Bonds — Cash bonds are accepted for the full amount of the bond. Certified cashier’s checks, money orders, and cash are all accepted for the full amount of the bond. The receipt will be given to the inmate along with a copy of the cash bond. The cash posted may be subject to court costs and fines, at the discretion of the courts. Click here for general information on bonding an inmate out of the Sedgwick County Detention Facility.
Impounded vehicles — Please contact the arresting agency for information on how and where to pickup an impounded vehicle. The Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Records Section can be reached at 383-7352. Wichita Police Impound at 303-8222.
Money and personal items for inmates—Money may be placed on an inmate’s account by placing cash or a debit or credit card into the kiosk located in the lobby of the jail. Kiosks will be available 24 hrs a day and the funds are immediately available for use by the inmate. Money may also be placed onto an inmate’s account from a home computer by going on line to www.jailatm.com and using a debit or credit card, or by calling (316) 665-6110.
A minimum transaction fee of $2.50 will be charged by the kiosk company vendor, TechFriends, for each transaction. All credit card transactions greater than $25.00 will be charged a 10% fee instead of the $2.50 fee. Deposits made over the telephone will be charged a minimum of $3.00 per transaction for deposits less than $30.00. Telephone deposits greater than $30.00 will be charged a 10% fee.
Attorney Trust Account checks made out to the Sedgwick County Detention Facility c/o inmate name will be accepted, however, the funds will not be available to the inmate until the next business day.
Personal clothing, such as socks and underwear are available to the inmate for purchase and may not be brought in for an inmate.
Medical/Dental Co-Pay Program — Each inmate will be provided medical care from the time of admission throughout their period of incarceration. Inmates who are seen by medical staff may be charged a co-pay fee. No inmate will be denied medical care because of an inability to pay. Inmates, who are given a prescription by medical staff, may be charged a fee for that prescription. No inmate will be denied prescription drugs because of inability to pay.
Release of property — Personal property will only be released once. The inmate must contact the pod deputy and a form will be created. The person picking up the property must have a picture ID. It is the inmate’s decision if and to whom his/her property will be released. Personal property of inmates that are sentenced to prison will be boxed and shipped to an address provided by the inmate. If the property is returned to the facility, it will be stored for ninety (90) days and then destroyed. If during the intake process an inmate refuses to sign for their personal property, the arresting agency will retain the property.
Release of inmate money — Inmates wishing to release money to someone outside of the facility may do so with a debit card. After 24 hours, a $2.50 service fee will be charged against the balance remaining on the card and each week an additional $2.50 fee will be deducted. The person picking up the debit card must have a photo ID.
Telephone Calls — All out-going telephone calls will be made collect. A supervisor at the facility will take emergency incoming telephone calls for inmates. If an emergency is determined to exist, the inmate will be informed and will return the telephone call collect to the caller. If a member of the inmate’s family passes away, the facility chaplain will make the notification after verification of the death.
Family Visitation — Each inmate is allowed one hour of visitation per week. The day of the week is determined by where the inmate is housed. Each inmate may have four adults on their visitation list and the list can be changed on weekends only. An adult must accompany anyone under the age of 18. Visitors must produce a valid government issued ID such as: Driver’s License (DL), state ID card, passport or Military ID for identity verification. Children twelve (12) years of age or older must show a school ID or birth certificate.
If a visitor is disruptive or not properly dressed, visitation may be stopped or refused. If there are papers or a payroll check that requires an inmate’s signature, the items may be brought to the facility on the inmate’s visitation day. The items will be signed and returned to the person bringing the item to the facility. Click here for general information, housing locations and visitation schedules for inmates in the Detention Facility.
Inmate Mail — All mail should be addressed to the inmate at 141 West Elm, Wichita, Kansas 67203.
All mail must be properly addressed with identification information to clearly identify the inmate in custody. Mail will be returned to sender if information is insufficient to reasonably determine the identity of the inmate for whom it is intended.
Cashiers checks, cash and money orders are not accepted through the mail. Mail containing these items will be returned to sender.
Mail that is addressed to inmates who are no longer in custody will be stamped "Return to Sender, Inmate No Longer in Custody" and returned. Mail containing unacceptable items or contraband will be returned with a note of explanation.
All non-privileged mail will be opened and checked for contraband prior to delivery to inmate.
Privileged mail (legal mail) must have official markings on the outside of the envelope and will be opened in the presence of the inmate and checked for contraband but will not be censored.
Newspaper and magazine subscriptions will be accepted provided they are mailed directly from the publisher; and, does not include nudity, obscenity or subversive material.
Packages mailed to inmates will not be accepted, but will be returned to sender unopened.
Contraband items listed below will not be distributed to the inmate if received through the mail.
lipstick, books or photocopies of books, puzzles, calendars, glitter, adhesive tape, aerosol cans, aluminum cans or foil, bar soap, batteries, cigarettes/lights/matches, cosmetics, hair products, medical products, hygiene items, excessive scent of perfumes, credit card, ID cards, keys, jewelry, nude, partially nude or nude photos of men, women or children, pens, pencils, marking pens, art supplies, records or tapes, electronic equipment devices, musical greeting cards, playing cards, games, plastic bags, wrap, wire, metal, plastic objects, string, twine, plastic line, correspondence to an inmate other than addressee, narcotics, intoxicating beverage and drugs, weapons or plans for their manufacture, perishable goods (food or beverage), items not included on the list of authorized possession issued to inmates or purchased through commissary, any item that threatens safety, security, or good order of the facility, issued items that have been altered, money, Polaroid photographs. Other items not listed may also be excluded from distribution if they are considered a security risk.
“Bubble Wrap” packaging is not allowed and will be marked and returned to sender.
Inmates housed out of county — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office at times houses inmates in other facilities across the state. Correspondence and money orders should be mailed directly to the facility holding the inmate. Click here to find an inmate’s location.
Sedgwick County Work Release — The work release program operates at 701 West Harry, Wichita, Kansas 67213 and can be reached at (316) 383-7012. A court order is required to place an inmate on the program. Because of limited bed space a “waiting list” is maintained for inmates sentenced to the program. A fee up to $20.00 per day is “charged to all inmates in the program.”
Release of information — Once an inmate is released from the facility, no information may be released.
Questions or difficulties — If you have a question or difficulty with the staff of the facility, please ask to speak to a supervisor
To mail a letter to an inmate:
Inmate's Name
141 W. Elm
Wichita, KS 67203
Commissary Schedule by pods:
Monday: 19, 20, 21, 22
Tuesday: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Wednesday: 10, 11, 12, 13, Clinic
Thursday: 14, 15, 16, 17, 183
Friday: 1, 2, 3, 4, WR Trustees
Visitation Schedule by pods:
Monday: 1, 3, 10, 17,18, Clinic
Tuesday: 2, 4, 12, 13
Wednesday: 5, 7, 16, 20
Thursday: 6, 8, 11, 19
Friday: 14, 21, 22
Facility Trustees (Pods 9 & 15) Monday - Friday
Visitation Hours:
9am – 11am, 1pm-5pm, 7pm-9pm
Information Lines: 316-383-7205

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