West Valley Detention Center - San Bernardino County
Jail Address: 9500 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
West Valley Detention Center Inmate Information and Questions: (909) 350-2476
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Southern California Criminal Defense
205 South Broadway, Suite 606
Los Angeles, CA 90012

About the West Valley Detention Center (Rancho Cucamonga Jail

Opened in 1991, the West Valley Detention Center (WVDC) has a capacity of 3,347 inmates and is one of the largest county jails in the great state of California. The San Bernardino County Jail processes around 55,000 bookings and releases every year. The staff of 600 includes medics, maintenance workers, kitchen staff, security and a range of support staff.

The majority of the inmates at the WVDC are pre-trial inmates for the courts of San Bernardino, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Barstow and Victorville. Transportation to courthouses is provided by the Transportation Division, which moves over 120,000 inmates per year. Many court assignments are conducted / processed via remote video for various courts including those in Fontana, San Bernardino, Chino, Victorville, Rancho Cucamonga and Barstow.

Inmate Information - San Bernardino County Jail (West Valley Detention Center

Information about inmates at the San Bernardino County Jail (West Valley Detention Center)  is available via the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Inmate Locator System. You may also call the Detention Center in West Valley directly at (909) 350-2476. You will be asked for the first, last and middle name of the defendant as well as his or her date of birth, so please have this information handy. Please note that this information will not be available until the booking process is completed, which may take several hours (see below).

The system will provide you with an inmate's bail information, arrest date, booking number, charges and next scheduled court date. If you want more information, you can look-up criminal case information by county here. Expect more information to be posted about a defendant after his or her arraignment, which happens around two (2) days after being arrested on criminal charges. The case information system will allow you to see upcoming court appearance dates or general case information such as charges and date of arrest.

You should schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles Defense attorney as soon as possible to being preparing your defense and ensure the best outcome for you and your family.

What happens when an inmate is booked at the West Valley Jail?

Upon arrival at the West Valley Detention Center, the arrestee will undergo the following steps. This process may take one to five hours depending on how busy the Jail is at the time of an inmate's arrival to the facility.

1. Recording of Information - An offer will record the arrestee's basic information and criminal charges into the computer system at the jail. The arrestee may be questioned by the desk clerk.

2. Mugshot - The arrestee will be photographed (mug shot). The photograph will be used for a variety of purposes including witness identification, recording the physical state of the arrestee, and/or locating an inmate who has 'skipped' bail and missed out on his or her court appearance.

3. Collection of Property - All of the arrestee's property will be collected and placed in official police custody. It will normally be returned to the inmate (or a designated recipient) upon his or her release. 

4. Fingerprinting and Warrant Check - The arrestee will be fingerprinted and a statewide search will be conducted to determine if there are any other state or city warrants for the arrest of the arrestee.

5. Full Body Search and Health Screening - The arrestee may receive a standard pat-down search or a full body search to help locate any contraband such as drugs and weapons. The jail retains the right to conduct any level of screening deemed appropriate. The arrestee may also undergo a health screening.

How do I Post Bail for an Inmate at the West Valley Detention Center?

An inmate's bail is set as soon as he has been booked into the West Valley Detention Center. You can learn more about this in the previous section (see above). Bail  is based off of the San Bernardino County Bail Schedule and varies based on the nature and severity of the criminal charges.

What is bail? 'Bail' is the amount of money which must be paid by a defendant or friend / family member / third party on his or her behalf to allow him or her to be released from jail. Bail is designed to give assurance to the court and relevant government agencies that the defendant will appear in court when obligated to. If a defendant does not attend his mandatory court hearings, the bail money will be forfeited and not returned. If a defendant does fulfill all of his obligations to appear in court, the bail will be returned at the conclusion of the defendant's case.

How do I pay bail?  - You may pay bail with cash, cashier's checks, property bonds and bail bonds. For cash or cashier's checks, the full amount (100%) of bail must be posted. 

How do I pay with a cashier's check? - Posting bail with a cashier's check is just like posting with cash - you need to pay 100% of the bail amount. Please make all cashier's checks payable to the San Bernardino Trial Courts. Ensure that they are bank-drawn. Take note that an inmate will not be released until the cashier's check clears. This may take additional time after hours or on a weekend.

What are Bail Bonds? - You can use a bail bond if you are unable to post the full bail amount. Generally you only need to pay 10% of the bail amount if you use a bail bond. But remember that you do not get the 10% back, even if the defendant appears at all of his mandatory court appearances. Furthermore, if the the inmate doesn't show up for his court appearances, then you must repay the FULL bail amount to the bail bondsman / agent. After posting bail, you should schedule a consultation with a Los Angeles Defense attorney. He or she can attempt to reduce or eliminate the bail by requesting a bail hearing in front of a judge.

What are Property Bonds? - A property bond authorizes the court to place a lien on your property. In the event that the defendant fails to make his court appearances, the court may initiate a foreclosure proceeding against the property you posted for bail. This type of bail bond is not commonly used.

Can I pay bail at the West Valley Detention Center? - Yes, you may post bail directly at the West Valley Jail in San Bernardino County 24 hours a day / 7 days per week.

How do I find out how much the bail is? - Please visit our help center to view a bail schedule for felony or misdemeanor by County or you can directly access the San Bernardino Bail Schedule.

Will I get the bail money back? If the inmate makes all his court appearances, the bail will be returned to you. If you use a bail bond, the 10% you put up will not be refunded - it is the fee charged by the bail bondsman.

What should I do after I post bail? - After posting bail, you should schedule a consultation with a Los Angeles Defense attorney. He or she can attempt to reduce or eliminate the bail by requesting a bail hearing in front of a judge.

Can an inmate be released without posting bail? - Yes, in some cases an arrestee may be released on his own recognizance (O.R. release). Otherwise, if no bail is posted the inmate will be released following the conclusion of his criminal case (if acquitted) or his sentence (if found guilty).

Can I Call an Inmate at the West Valley Detention Center

No, inmates cannot receive incoming calls at the San Bernardino Jail, but they are permitted to make outgoing calls with a calling card or collect. Inmates are also permitted to make one free outgoing call at the time of their booking at the West Valley Detention Center.

To help a loved one make outgoing phone calls from the West Valley Jail, you can send an inmate a calling card by: a) sending an inmate money so he can purchase one at the Jail, b) sending an inmate the calling card in a commissary care package (see below), or c) setting up a calling card online for the inmate. You can also visit an inmate (see below) or send mail to him or her.

Inmate telephones at the San Bernardino Jail are located in all housing areas (prepaid or collect calls only). Remember that ALL inmate telephone calls are
recorded and may be monitored at any time. You can also contact an inmate by sending mail or visiting them (see below).

Sending Mail to an Inmate at the West Valley Jail / San Bernardino County Jai

Inmates may receive an unlimited amount of correspondence. Please address all mail to:

[Inmate's Full Name AND Booking Number]
West Valley Detention Center
9500 Etiwanda Ave
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 
91739

Mail is delivered to each housing unit daily. All outgoing mail must have the inmate's name, booking number, housing location and the return address of the facility [9500 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739] written on the front of the envelope.

Any money received by the facility will not be processed until the following business day. Please note that you should not seal the envelope. It's highly likely that both outgoing and incoming mail will be scanned, read and inspected. Legal mail will be inspected for contraband but not read. Do not send any contraband to the jail or it may be held and used as evidence against you in a criminal investigation.

What am I allowed to send to an Inmate?
  • Books, publications and periodicals are allowed, however the jail will only accept paperback books and magazines which come DIRECTLY from the publisher or bookstore

What items are prohibited?
  • Blank paper, stamps and or envelopes
  • Cologne, Perfume or powder
  • 'Kissing' the mail
  • Stained, dirty or damaged letters
  • More than 10 photographs
  • Gang related materials
  • Nude or suggestive photos or drawings
  • Anything with white out, crayons, tape, glue markets, labels
  • Metal or plastic is prohibited 
  • Mail larger than 5" x 7", unless it is a book, publication or periodical sent directly from the publisher or bookstore

Sending a Care Package to an Inmate at the West Valley Detention Cente

You can send a care package to an inmate at the West Valley Jail via Access SecurePak. Please visit their site to view and purchase available inmate care packages online. Available items range from food & snacks, health & beauty items, kit packages, shoes (running shoes and sandals) as well as miscellaneous items like towels/linens, stationary, greeting cards and games. Care packages will be delivered directly to the inmate at the San Bernardino Jail. You can also use this site to track the status of existing care package orders.

Sending Money 'On The Books' to an Inmate at the San Bernardino County Jail

Anyone can send money to someone housed at the San Bernardino Jail by placing it 'On The Books'  to an inmate in one of two ways:

Mail Money to an Inmate - Mail cashier’s check or money order to the facility where the inmate is housed. Please note that inmates are not permitted to possess physical cash while in custody at the West Valley Detention Center. The money you send will be credited to an inmate's jail 'bank account'.

[Inmate's Full Name AND Booking Number]
West Valley Detention Center
9500 Etiwanda Ave
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 
91739

Deposit Money at the West Valley Detention Center - Deposit cash, cashier’s check, or money order at the facility where the inmate is housed.

Make a Deposit Online - Visit ICS Deposits or call (888) 218-7444. 

Send Money via Western Union - call (800) 634-3422

West Valley Detention Center Commissary

West Valley Detention Center Commissary:

Money deposited in an inmate's account can be used to purchase items at the West Valley Detention Center's commissary and also make co-payments for medication. The commissary is available a minimum of once per week. A care bag containing basic hygiene items and writing materials may be ordered from commissary for a fee (free to indigent inmates). Some examples of items available for purchase are food, magazines, games, toiletries (hygiene items), and mail stationary.

How do I visit someone at the West Valley Detention Center / West Valley Jail?

Before You Visit:
  1. How do I Make an Appointment to Visit ? - Visitors must call (909) 887-0364 at least 24 hours in advance to schedule a visit. Call the Jail anytime Tuesday through Saturday during business hours of 8:00am through 5:30pm.
  2. When Can I Visit an Inmate?  - Visits to the West Valley Detention Center are permitted Wednesday through Sunday, 8:30am to 9:00pm. The jail is closed on Monday and Tuesday. Inmates under protective custody or in high security incarceration have special visiting hours. You must call the jail to confirm the available visiting days and times. Attorneys and religious figures are permitted more flexible visitation access to prisoners.
  3. How Many People can Visit an Inmate? - A maximum of 5 visitors are permitted to visit an inmate at any given time at the West Valley Jail. Minors under 12 years of age must be escorted by a parent or guardian.
  4. Who Cannot Visit an Inmate? - Convicted felons and persons on parole have special instructions for inmate visitation (see below):
  • Convicted Felons - California Penal Code Section 4571 prohibits convicted felons who have served time in any California state prison from entering jail grounds without the written permission of the Facility Commander or his designated representative. You may be arrested or prosecuted if you fail to adhere to this Penal Code regulation. If you are a convicted felon, you may request permission to visit an inmate at the jail by completing a Request for a Convicted Felon to Visit an Inmate Form. You may either submit the form to a visiting deputy or mail the form directly to the jail (addressed to the Facility Commander). IF your visit is approved, you will receive a written communication. This notice must be brought with you to the facility. You can print the Request for a Convicted Felon to Visit an Inmate Form Here
  • Persons on Parole - Any person on parole must have approval of Facility Commander or Watch Commander before visiting an inmate at the West Valley Jail.


Preparing For Your Visit:
  1. Are There Prohibited Items? - You are prohibited from bringing cell phones, photographic or recording devices, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, weapons and chemical agents to the West Valley Detention Center.
  2. What Should I Wear? - Do not wear hats, gang attire, clothing with offensive, lewd or obscene images or language, revealing tops or clothing revealing any sensitive bodily areas, short dresses, shorts or skirts. Shoes are required at all times.
  3. Do I Need to Bring ID? - YES, all visitors over the age of 18 must bring a valid ID issued by a Municipality, State or Federal Agency, or the consulate of another country. Examples include but aren't limited to a Driver's License, DMV ID Card, Department of Defense Identification Card, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Identification Card, Consulate Identification Card or Passport.


During Your Visit:
  1. What Time Should I Arrive to the West Valley Jail ? - You must arrive to the West Valley Detention Center 30 minutes prior to any visit.
  2. How Long are Visits? - Visits at the West Valley Detention Center generally last 20 minutes.
  3. Where Do I Park and How Much Is Parking ? - Free parking is available. You may park only in designated visitor parking or you will be cited.
  4. Where Do I Store My Personal Belongings ? - Lockers are available to store personal items.
  5. Can I Be Searched ? YES, all visitors at the West Valley Jail are subject to search at anytime. Your car may even be searched at any time. Random security checks are common.

Property Release Information for Inmates at the West Valley Jai

An inmate's personal belongings are collected upon being booked into the West Valley Detention Center. They are normally returned to the inmate upon his or her release. An inmate may also appoint another person to claim the property on his or her behalf. Visitors must obtain a Property Release Form (blue slip) from the check-in window at the West Valley Jail visiting window. All inmate property pickup requests are processed and generally take 24-48 hours.

Inmate Services and Instruction Programs at the Rancho Cucamonga Jail

The West Valley Detention Center offers worship services, medical, dental and mental health services. The jail also offers inmate instruction programs in the fields of landscape maintenance, laundry services and culinary arts.

Health - The West Valley Jail offers full medical and mental health services to all inmates from their arrival to their release from the Jail. The Jail actually has two special units for mental and medical health housing areas which are staffed by medical professionals 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

Recreation - Outside recreation and sports is scheduled for three hours per week, weather permitting. Each housing area also includes TVs, newspapers and board games.

Culinary Instruction - The Jail offers a culinary instructional program open to inmates. Upon completion of the program, inmates may be eligible for a Food Safety Management Certificate. Over 3 million meals annually are produced by the Food Services Division at the Rancho Cucamonga Jail.

Religious Services - Information about religious worship services are posted in the housing units. An inmate may request to see the chaplain by completing a Religious Request Slip. 

Library - Inmates may be granted access by completing a Library Request Slip.

Inmate Voting - Inmate voting guides, registration forms, and ballots are available at the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters. All Inmates are encouraged to contact the Registrar directly for information regarding a specific election. Inmates can also speak to their housing staff for voting information. The Registrar-Recorder will make the final determination regarding an inmates’ right to vote at the West Valley Detention Center.

Registrar of Voters
777 East Rialto Ave.
San Bernardino, Ca. 92415

West Valley Detention Center Resources

Official West Valley Detention Center Website - Homepage for the West Valley Jail in San Bernardino
County of San Bernardino Inmate Locator - Official Inmate Locator Website for the county of San Bernardino

​Map of the West Valley Detention Center / San Bernardino County Jail

West Valley Detention Center: 9500 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739

Request A Free and Confidential Consultation Today:

Do you have a loved one currently at the West Valley Detention Center - San Bernardino Jail awaiting trial? Arrested on criminal charges in San Bernardino County? Criminal Defense Lawyer Vincent Oliver has been defending the accused for over 30 years in San Bernardino and Los Angeles and has defended clients in over 300 criminal jury trials. Attorney Vincent Oliver has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Post, LA Weekly, ABC News, The Burbank Leader, and The Bulletin Weekly. 
Call for a Free Criminal Defense Consultation
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Vincent Oliver Law
Criminal Defense Lawyers
205 South Broadway, Suite 606
Los Angeles, CA 90012

    Request A Free and Confidential Consultation:

Vincent Oliver Law
Los Angeles Criminal Defense
205 South Broadway, Suite 606
Los Angeles, CA 90012
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