Inmate Visitation

In-Person Visitation

Visitor Guidelines & Procedures

• No contact visitation will be allowed.
• Visitations will be restricted if a visitor has a no-contact order with an inmate.
• Visitations need to be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and can be scheduled up to three weeks from the visitation date.
• Inmate visitation reservations can be scheduled or cancelled by calling (616) 738-4650 during normal business hours.
• Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your scheduled visitation time. Late arrivals may result in a reduction or forfeiture of visitation privileges.
• Inmates may receive one 45-minute face-to-face visit per week.
• A maximum of two adults and two children will be permitted to visit an inmate at any one time.
• Children visiting inmates must be deemed age appropriate by the parent or guardian accompanying the child. A minor child under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult. The minor must have ID such as a birth certificate, Social Security Card, or photo ID described above.
• A valid identification or a state issued picture ID is required for all adults. A valid photo driver’s license, state ID, or passport is required.
• Inmates as a general rule are not eligible for visitation until they have been placed into the general housing areas.
• Please stay home if you have any symptoms of illness.
• All visitation days and times are subject to cancellation without notice.

​Visitation Code of Conduct

• Visitation is a privilege and both visitor and inmate are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion at all times during a visit.
• Professional visitors are expected to be professionally dressed. No revealing or suggestive clothing will be permitted. Clothing with obscene gestures and or words shall not be worn. Additional clothing and accessory items should be minimal and no item that conceals or obstructs facial recognition may be worn. Whether or not clothing is appropriate will be determined by the Sheriff’s Office personnel.
• Visitors are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner, no disorderly, disruptive, or vulgar behavior will be tolerated.
• If during your visit you are observed communicating using any other method than the phone system, your visit may be terminated.
• Only keys and identification are allowed in the visitation area. No cell phones, food, beverages, or other personal property is allowed. Lockers are available or you may leave property in your vehicle.
• Weapons of any sort will not be permitted into the visitation rooms.
• Violations of visitation rules by either inmate or visitor may be suspended or permanently revoked by the Jail Administration.

In-Person Professional Visitation

Guidelines & Procedures

Professional visitors wishing to schedule a visitation, provided they have the proper credentials:

• Attorneys
  • Attorneys of record may request to accompany a non-attorney professional representing their law office, for a contact visitation for official business. Non-attorney professionals are required to complete a security clearance request prior to scheduling contact-visitations.
  • Appointments must be made a minimum of 24 hours in advanced for attorney/non- attorney professional contact visitations, by contacting us at (616) 738-4650. Contact visitations will be available Monday 8:00am-10:00am or Friday 3:00pm-5:00pm.
  • The attorney of record may visit their client in-person without scheduling in advance. The Ottawa County Jail is not available for visitors during the following hours: 11:00am- 1:00pm, 4:00pm-6:00pm, 10:00pm-6:00am.
  • Attorneys shall provide government issued identification and the State Bar of Michigan card for validation.
• Clergy
  • You must be pre-approved prior to scheduling a visit by submitting proof of clergy status to the Jail Administrator.
  • One Clergy allowed per inmate.
  • Clergy may not be related to the inmate they are requesting to visit.
  • You will be allowed one visit per week, per inmate. Any additional visits scheduled must be made through the normal visiting process and will count as one of the inmate’s allotted visits for the week.
  • Approved visitors will not be allowed facility access.
  • Clergy visitation must be scheduled at least 1 day prior to the visitation by calling the jail front desk at 616-738-4650
• Law enforcement officers
• Parole and probation officers
• Psychologists and psychiatrists
• Social workers

Professional Services Requirements

• All professional visitors must provide proper identification
  • Bar Card & State issued identification card (Attorney)
  • County issued identification card (Probation/Parole/CPS/CMH)
  • Business card and state issued identification card (Counselor or Private Investigator)
    • Security clearance requests forms may be required prior to visitations.
  • Police agency issue identification card (Law Enforcement Agency)
  • Other professional services (business card & Government issued ID card)
    • Security clearance requests forms may be required prior to visitations.
• Professional visitors without any of the listed approved ID’s must get prior approval to visit an inmate from the Jail Administrator.
• Professional visitors that do not present the approved ID or gain prior approval from the Jail Administrator will be denied a visit.
• Attorney visits will take precedence over all other professional visits.

Visitation Code of Conduct

All visitors to the Ottawa County Jail are required to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Visitation is a privilege and both visitor and inmate are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion at all times during a visit. Professional attire is required, suggestive clothing will not be permitted. Whether or not clothing is appropriate will be determined by the Sheriff’s Office personnel.
• Professional visitors are not permitted to give and or receive gifts of money or Property, including food, to or from an inmate.
• It is a felony to bring prescription drugs, controlled substances, alcoholic liquors, weapons, or any items item into the facility which may be used to assist in the escape or an inmate.
• Personal items such as: keys, cell phones, purses, wallets, money, hats, computers are prohibited. These items may be left in your personal vehicle, or lockers are provided in the front lobby for storage. All items must have authorization from the Jail Administrator prior to the visit.
• Additional items may be identified during the screening process which may not be allowed into the facility by Corrections personnel.
• All Professional visitors are required to sign in and out (no exceptions).
• Professional visitors are expected to conduct themselves in a proper manner, no disorderly, disruptive, or vulgar behavior will be tolerated.
• Clergy/professional visitation access may be suspended or permanently revoked by the Jail Administrator for any reason deemed necessary. A written request may be submitted to the Sheriff for reconsideration.
• Weapons of any sort will not be permitted into the visitation rooms.
• Visitors requesting a contact visit are subject to search upon entry into or exit from the facility.
• The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office has a strict “No Hostage” policy, which means that no inmate will be allowed to leave the jail because of taking a hostage.
• Visiting is a privilege and can be suspended or terminated if inmates or visitors violate the rules and regulations. Visitors who violate Department rules may be prohibited from future visits.
• All visitation days and times are subject to cancellation without notice.

Video Visitation

Guidelines & Procedures

How Video On-Demand Works

SmartJailMail.com provides a two-way, real-time, on-demand video visitation system which can be used to speak to your loved ones directly in their housing location within the jail. Video on-demand visits are billed per minute and are scheduled in 15-minute increments. To receive a video on- demand visit you MUST open a SmartJailMail.com account. This process is quick and easy, just follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Sign Up

Creating an account is fast, simple, and completely free. SmartJailMail will ask you to choose a username and password to identify your account along with some basic contact information. SmartJailMail will send you an e-mail or text message to verify and activate your account. There is no cost to create an account and search for inmates, prisoners, or detainees to connect with. You will need your phone to receive the activation code through text message or e-mail to activate your account.

Step 2: Make Connections

• The public user will select the inmate(s) to connect with under the “Contacts” then “Find an Inmate”
• Once an inmate is selected, the public user will then choose connection “Friends/Family” and send a connection request
• The inmate will then accept or decline the connection request.
• Once connected, the public user will receive an email notifying them they are connected to the inmate
• The public user will then go to their smartjailmail.com account and upload the required documentation to apply for visitation.

Pre-Approval Requirements

You must be pre-approved prior to receiving video on-demand communications with inmates. For approval, you are required to submit a proof of identification and one photo of yourself.

• A copy or photo of valid State Identification card, Driver’s license card, U.S. Military Identification card, valid passport/visa, or Alien Registration card can be used.
• A current self-photo, a picture can be uploaded right from your phone or PC (provided it has a camera) in a pdf or jpg file format. The photo should be cropped to include the upper body only, with a natural background (no digital generated backgrounds or filters allowed).
• These images will be added to your online account and will be submitted to the correctional facility for approval by the county. You will be notified via email when your request has been approved.
• If any proof of identification or photo is rejected you will be notified what is needed. Delete the rejected item and upload a new picture. Then resubmit your application.

Once the application is approved, the inmate can now send out a video on- demand request on the tablet.

Visitation Code of Conduct

• Visitation is a privilege and both visitor and inmate are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion at all times during a visit.

• If any court of record imposes a no contact order or temporary restraining order between the inmate and a potential visitor, no visitation will occur.

• Ottawa County reserves the right to deny, cancel, or terminate a video visit prior to or during a session based on visitor or inmate misconduct.
• The Sheriff’s Office reserves the right to restrict visitors from participating in all future video visitations.
• All video visits are recorded and subject to electronic monitoring by personnel. Your participation in video visitation constitutes consent to recording and monitoring.
• No nudity, suggestive, provocative, or tight-fitting clothing will be allowed during video visits.
• Visitors appearing to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, displaying items that may be considered contraband (drugs, drug paraphernalia, weapons, displaying gang signs, symbols, etc.) will not be permitted.
• Violations of video visitation rules of either inmate or visitor may result temporary or permanently barred from remote visitation.