▼

Corrections - Jail

Show All Answers

1. How can an inmate recieve money, and/or how do inmate accounts work?

Please click the link for more information: Account Information Page

2. What is the mailing address of the jail?

Inmate: ______________________
COWLITZ COUNTY JAIL
1935 FIRST AVENUE
LONGVIEW, WA 98632

You are urged to read the FAQ on what items you may send an inmate.
Letters sent in a plain envelope with no stickers except a stamp, written on plain white paper with non-gel pen is preferred.

3. How does the Inmate Phone System Work?

The inmate telephone system is contracted through Securus Technologies. This system has the ability to automatically record telephone conversations. All parties involved are advised prior to the call acceptance that their conversation will be recorded. Inmates are now able to be left voice-mail messages. These messages are subject to a fee. Set up a phone account to leave voice-mails by calling: 360-355-3331. Inmates have daily access to phones that allow them to place calls and check for voice-mail. Jail staff will not pass notes or messages to inmates. Money on an inmate account can be applied to a "phone debit" that is used like a phone card, which will allow them to make non-collect phone calls. If the inmate is indigent, only collect phone calls are available. Set up a phone account by calling: 360-355-3331 For more information please contact: Friends & Family Support - Correctional Billing Services Consumer Customer Sales and Support 1-800-844-6591 E-mail: Customer_service@correctionalbillingservices.com

4. May I send mail to an inmate?

Yes. Most inmates look forward to correspondence, however, many items are restricted for security and various other reasons. If restricted items are used or sent, the inmate will not receive the mailed items until they are released. 

Prohibited Items: 

1. Items that can be purchased on commissary (blank paper, envelopes, pens, blank cards, phone cards) 

2. Stamps 

3. Unknown substances on paper, envelopes, or photos 

4. Lipstick, perfume, cologne, or scented items 

5. Stickers, tape, post-it notes, labels, glitter (including glitter pens), glued on items, white- out, paint 

6. String, ribbon, confetti 

7. Musical cards 

8. Plastic, laminated items, metal objects 

9. Cardboard, construction paper, cardstock

10. Polaroid pictures

11. Sexually explicit photos or materials, including nude/semi-nude photos 

12. Pages torn out of books, catalogs, or magazines 

13. Food items 

14. Tobacco products 

15. Clothing 

16. Books, magazines, or newspapers not sent directly from the publisher, book club, or recognized internet bookseller.  Be careful when ordering online we cannot except used books from third-party sellers.  Used books are not allowed.  Any books that come in from an unauthorized source will be returned to sender.

17. Hardbound books 

18. Gang related material 

19. Racist or other inflammatory materials (advocating ridicule or scorn of any ethnic, racial, religious, or other group) 

20. Inmate to inmate mail 

21. Personal/Payroll checks 

22. Any other non-listed item that is deemed a security threat. A best practice for jail correspondence is to use plain white paper with plain pen or pencil, mailed inside a plain white envelope. 

5. What type of property may be brought to an inmate?

All clothing and necessary personal hygiene items are provided. The Corrections Department will accept the following items: -- Prescription glasses or contacts (not contact solution) -- Court clothing for trials: Accepted starting one week prior to the trial start date. -- Medications prescribed by a licensed medical provider in their original container

6. What type of property can an inmate have while incarcerated?

At the time of booking, inmates are allowed to keep their own underwear, plain white socks, plain white t-shirts. Jail issued clothing and bedding items are provided. Undergarments and hygiene items are available for purchase through commissary.

7. When can an inmate release property to the public?

Keys can be released up to 72 hours after incarceration. Other property will not be released. If an inmate has been sentenced to prison, property may be picked up the day after they leave our facility. Unclaimed property is held for 60 days from the date the inmate leaves the jail. If property is not claimed during the 60 day hold, it is considered abandoned and is destroyed.

8. When can inmates buy items from the commissary?

Inmates can order commissary using the kiosk system.
Orders can be placed throughout the week, and are recieved by the inmates every Wednesday.

**Orders placed Sunday will be recieved THAT Wednesday.
**Orders placed on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday will be recieved THE FOLLOWING Wednesday.

9. When can inmates release money from their accounts to the public?

One time only and with the Sergeant's approval, inmates may release money from their accounts at their visiting time.

10. When an inmate is released, in what form will his/her account be returned?

All inmates receive a debit card for the balance of their account.

11. Where will an individual be booked after his/her arrest?

The Cowlitz County Jail
1935 First Ave.
Longview, WA
98632

12. How can someone that has just been arrested be released without first appearing in court?

An inmate can be released without first appearing in district or municipal court by posting cash bail or bail bond, provided the offense is not a warrant or charge that has had bond revoked prior to a first appearance.
All felony offenses will be required to be seen by a judge prior to having bail set.

13. How do I post an inmate's bail or fine?

Bail can be posted at any time day or night.
During business hours, cash bail can be posted on the 2nd floor of the Hall of Justice with the respective Court Clerk.

Misdemeanor Court Clerk: (360) 577-3073
Felony Court Clerk: (360) 577-3017

After hours the jail will take cash bail.

The jail does not take checks and will need the exact amount of bail.
We have no mechanism to make change and cannot do so under any circumstance.

14. Who determines if an individual can be released on bond prior to appearing in court?

For new felony charges there is NO INITIAL BAIL/BOND set. Detainees MUST be seen before a Superior Court Judge prior to any ability to bail or bond from jail. There is no weekend or night court in Cowlitz County, so anyone charged with a felony on a Friday after 7am, will not be seen until the following Monday. *Unless that Monday is a Holiday, in which case it would be Tuesday.

As a general rule, Misdemeanor crimes are set at $500 bail, and Gross misdemeanors are $1,000 bail.

15. What forms of payment will the Jail accept?

The Corrections Department will only accept: Cash Tax Refund Check SSI Check (Jail will check eligibility) Unemployment Checks (Jail will check eligibility) Checks from other Jails Misc. Government Checks We will NOT accept personal checks. Sorry for the inconvenience.

16. What is the deadline to post a bond for someone who has not appeared in court yet during a court day?

Bond must be posted prior to the docket starting on the day of court for someone who has not appeared in court.
Misdemeanor Court Days: 8am

Felony Court Days:
Mondays & Fridays - Noon
Tuesdays & Thursdays - 8am
Wednesdays - 11:30am
Weekends: No Court occurs on the Weekends, so bonds are able to be posted at any time.

17. After an inmate is sentenced, who calculates the release date?

The Court Officers determine release dates pursuant to the guidelines set forth by the Superior, District, and Municipal Court Judges. "Good time" is calculated at 1/6 of the total time sentenced. ALL Good Time is pre-calculated into an inmate's release date with the assumption that they will not have any serious institutional behavior issues.
"Extra Good Time" can be earned by signing up and being selected for "Inmate Worker" jobs at the discretion of jail staff. If an inmate is selected for Inmate Worker, that inmate will receive a NEW release date with the Extra Good Time calculated into the release date. If the inmate self-removes, or is punitively removed from Extra Good Time status, that inmate will give up any Extra Good Time from that point forward. They will then again receive a new and updated release date.

18. What time of day are inmates released after they are finished with their sentence?

Typically, inmates with completed sentences will begin processing out of jail at 5am on the morning of their release date, unless a judge has ordered otherwise.
For instance, if an inmate is sentenced to 24 hours and they report for jail at 7pm, they will be released at 7pm on the following day.

19. How are Inmate Meals prepared?

Summett manages the Cowlitz County Jail kitchen operations. The County retains three cooks who are responsible for supervising inmate workers, and preparation and service of all meals served at the jail and juvenile detention center. 

20. Who is contracted for Inmate Medical Care?

Medical Co-Pay Program A $10.00 Medical Co-Pay is an Administrative fee charged to all inmates seen by medical staff and for each prescription written or refilled. This fee was implemented to help defray the overall rising cost of the Jail medical care program. A computerized system allows the Jail to maintain a history of balances due on medical/dental visits, and prescriptions written or refilled for each offender. This history allows the County to collect for those services rendered as money is received on an offender's account or if they are released from custody and return at a future date. As per the National Standards, any inmate needing medical or dental care is not denied this attention due to lack of funds.

21. Are Inmates allowed to buy items from a commissary service?

Inmates may easily purchase hygiene items, snacks, writing materials, soft beverages and many other items that do not jeopardize the safety and security of the Jail. Profits from this program are used toward inmate programs or items that specifically benefit the offender population. 

22. Can I volunteer to help inmates that are currently detained?

The Corrections Department has a family of dedicated volunteers who are instrumental in maintaining the successful operation of several in house programs available to the Jail population.

Programs range from weekly bible study, Sunday worship services, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Narcotics Anonymous meetings and crisis counseling.

These volunteers provide an invaluable service to the Jail and the community. They freely provide spiritual as well as emotional counseling on a weekly basis. Currently there are over 100 active dedicated volunteers.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Cowlitz County Jail, please fill out and return our Contract Employee & Volunteer Background Statement.

23. How can an inmate (or soon to be inmate) be assigned to Work Crew, or Electronic Home Monitoring?

Offender Services must qualify each person individually for these programs. Contact Offender Services for more information.

More Information...

24. Can inmates get haircuts while in jail?

Yes. Inmates are able cut their own hair once a week using provided hair cutting equipment.

25. Prison Information

The Guidelines are as follows:
1. If an inmate that has a single sentence for longer than 365 days, they will be sent to prison.
2. If an inmate has a sentence (or sentences) equaling less than 365 days that are not served concurrently, but consecutively, they will stay in the Cowlitz County Jail.
3. If an inmate has both 1. & 2. above, they will serve the full amount of Jail time sentenced, then will be sent to prison to serve the portion equaling more than 365 days. Washington State Sentencing Guidelines

26. Is there a question that wasn't answered, or did you find an error?

Please tell us here...

27. How do I request Work Crew to clean up an area?

Please fill out this form to request a work crew:
Work crew request form

28. When and how can I serve an inmate Civil Legal papers?

Civil Service times are by appointment during the following times:
Tuesdays from 1:30pm until 3:30pm
Thursdays from 1:30pm until 3:30pm
Thursdays from 6:30pm until 10:30pm
Please call 24 hours prior to ensure a time slot is available.