Inmate Information

Attention: For those who wish to deposit money into an inmate's trust account, please navigate to the Smart Communications website, where there will be several options to deposit funds. (For assistance, please contact Smart Communications Customer Care Center at 727-349-1561, or toll-free at 888 253-5178 

You may still continue to drop off cash or money orders (no checks) to the Visitation area in the Main Jail. Please make sure the inmate's name and number are clearly written on the money order.

Note: These deposits are separate from those made for inmate phone calls and video visits. The funds that go into the trust account cannot be used for phone calls or tablet credits.

Bonds are set to ensure an individual's return to court for their next hearing/appearance. Fines and costs are penalties that must be paid as ordered by the court. Fines may be imposed in a variety of civil cases, such as traffic violations or drunk and disorderly citations. Fines can include court costs and other fees. A judge may order a fine as the whole or part of a sentence. For more information, visit the Courts page.

Fines & costs can be paid at the Oakland County Jail with cash, credit card or cashier's check (made out to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office). 

The Bonding Area is maintained and operational on a 24 hour basis. Regular, Surety, Interim, and Fines and Costs bonds are accepted continually at the bonding area. Cash bonds in the amount of $10,000 or more will be processed at the court of jurisdiction.

Bonds may be paid at the Jail with cash, credit card, cashiers check made out to the Oakland County Sheriff's Office or through a Bail Bondsman. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OAKLAND COUNTY JAIL DOES NOT ACCEPT BITCOIN OR ANY OTHER CRYPTOCURRENCY AS VALID PAYMENT FOR AN INMATE'S BOND

Yes. Inmate accounts can be used to pay the bond in whole or part with the inmate's approval. If you'd like to reserve a portion (or all) of the money you'll be depositing for bond only, please notify the Visitation or Bonding officer prior to making the deposit.

Oakland County Jail Inmate Visitation Information Page

The inmate phone system will be handled by Smart Communications. You can contact them at www.smartinmate.com or 1-888 253-5178 (24 hours, 7 days a week) to create an account and deposit funds, which will be converted into credits (one credit = 0.01) for both inmate phone calls and video visits. (See Inmate Visitation above for specific information regarding video visits.) Phone calls are 0.06 (6 credits) per minute (plus taxes and associated fees).

 Each inmate is allowed one (1) free 15-minute telephone call per day.

 (Note: The phone call completed by the inmate during his/her initial booking does not count as their free weekly phone call. This initial call must last no longer than 3 minutes.)

 Phone calls to/from the inmate's attorney are always free and of unlimited duration.

All outgoing calls made by inmates on the inmate phone system are recorded. Calls between an inmate and his or her criminal defense attorney will not be recorded if the inmate's attorney provides a letter (on attorney's letterhead) directed to the Executive Lieutenant of the Oakland County Jail at the following address:

1201 N. Telegraph Road
Pontiac, MI 48341

The letter shall indicate the inmate's name, the phone number(s) the attorney will receive inmate calls on, and the attorney's bar number. If the attorney's phone number(s) change, the obligation will be on the attorney to update the information with the Sheriff's Office.

• Inmate Mail Procedures

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office offers three ways to send mail to inmates that are incarcerated. You can send regular US postal mail, legal/business mail, and electronic messages (e-mail). Inmates will be granted access to a tablet on which they can view the mail and photos you send to them. Note: Mail and electronic messages are subject to monitoring at any time. There is no expectation of privacy.

Standard US Postal Mail

You can send letters, photos, postcards and greeting cards to the inmate through our mail vendor, Smart Communications. Do not send mail directly to the Oakland county jail! Please make sure the inmate's name and inmate's number are clearly printed on the envelope or postcard to ensure it will be readily available for him/her.

To send money orders (no cash) to an inmate, see "How Do I Send Money to an Inmate?" at the top of this webpage. For other standard US postal mail, send to the following address:

Oakland County Jail
Inmate Name – Inmate Number
PO Box 9103
Seminole, FL 33775-9103

Legal/Business Mail

Attorney correspondence, court documents, bank statements, magazines and newspapers can be sent directly to the jail at the following address:

Oakland County Jail
Inmate Name – Inmate Number
PO Box 436017
Pontiac, MI 48343

Electronic Messages (Email)

Instead of spending 75 cents (on average) for US postal mail, you can send up to 30,000 characters (equivalent to 6-7 pages) via a computer or Smartphone through SmartInmate Communications. Simply go to the website www.smartinmate.com, sign up for an account, and make a minimum deposit of $5.00 + a one-time $1.50 setup fee, and you can send messages to your inmate for 50 cents each, and $1.00 per photo. Every Saturday, each inmate is entitled to two (2) free messages (one incoming, one outgoing).

Upon release from Oakland County Jail, inmates will be able to log into www.smartinmate.com, enter their inmate number and password, and download a copy of all postal mail, messages and photos for free. For assistance or additional information regarding SmartInmate Communications, please call 727-349-1561. You can also sign up for an account on www.MailGuardTracker.com to receive notifications when your mail is received and read by the inmate. If any mail is rejected, you will be notified as to the reasons why.

Photos and plain cards/letters only. Nothing below allowed:

• Cards or photographs larger than 5x7
• Glues, tape, ink stamps, glitter, White Out, stains
• Lipstick or perfume
• Newspaper clippings or blank paper
• More than 10 pictures
• Crayons, markers, stickers
• Stamps or envelopes
• Instant photos
• Nude or sexually explicit photographs, drawings, etc.
• Large or overly heavy books (2lbs or greater)

Mail will be returned to sender if it contains any of the above items. Any mail containing contraband, including but not limited to the above list, will be returned to the sender, confiscated, or will result in prosecution of the sender.

No. Packages of any kind, including food, will not be accepted.

No. All mail must be sent via the SmartInmate Communication System. (See How Do I Send Mail to an Inmate? above.)

If you have set up an account for inmate phone calls and/or video visits through Smart Communications, these funds can also be used to leave voicemails for an inmate, through a system called VMX (Voicemail Exchange). Visit www.smartinmate.com or call Customer Care at 727-349-1561 or toll free at 888 253-5178 to set up an account or get more information.

You must check in at the Bonding window. A current LEIN check will be run on the inmate. If there are no holds, warrants or detainers, inmates will be released as close to 12:01 AM as possible. Once you have been advised that the inmate is clear to be released, you will be directed to return to your car and the inmate will be instructed to meet you there.