Mecosta County Jail

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The Mecosta County Jail is located at 225 South Stewart Street in Big Rapids, MI and is a medium security county jail operated by the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Department.

This site will tell you information about everything you might need to know about the Mecosta County Jail, like how to find an inmate at the Mecosta County Jail, the jail’s phone number and address, booking and intake procedures, court information, and everything else.

Top 10 Searches for Mecosta County Jail

1. Mecosta County Jail Information
2. Mecosta County Jail Inmate Search
3. Mecosta County Inmate Search in Big Rapids, MI
4. Mecosta County Jail Visitation Rules
5. Mecosta County Jail Visitation Hours
6. How To Save Money on Inmate Calls at Mecosta County Jail
7. Mecosta County Jail Care Packages
8. What is Inmate Commissary?
9. How to Send Money to an Inmate at Mecosta County Jail
10. How to Search Mecosta County Arrest Records

Introduction

The goal of this guide is to give you info that you’ll need to make helping someone get out of jail easier. If you have questions, just ask it in the comment section below, and please leave any feedback or comments that would be a benefit to other people in the same situation would be much appreciated.

Mecosta County Jail Inmate Search

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Who’s In Jail

The Mecosta County Jail Inmate Search is a roster of people who were arrested and are now in jail, which includes custody status, and visiting schedule. Also, you can get information on anybody who has been arrested or released within the past 24 hours. Jail inmates are listed in alphabetical order by their last name. You’ll be able to find the information fast if you enter their name, date of birth, or inmate ID Number.

Mecosta County Jail Policies and Procedures

Intake Procedures

The intake process at the Mecosta County Jail is made up of the following steps:

You will get put in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait, sometimes for many hours, before you get processed.

The first step is that you will have to answer some simple questions, such as what is your full legal name, home address, birth date and a contact person, and they’ll also ask you about your mental and medical history. Next, you will be issued an inmate number and you will be fingerprinted. Then, Any property you have will be taken from you and stored until you get discharged from jail.

You will be allowed to make a phone call so you can talk to family, friends, or loved one.

If you are expected to be released shortly, you might be able to wear your own clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you you will have to wear a jumpsuit.

Discharge Procedures

Once bail has been posted, you will get discharged from jail. The discharge process will take from 10 minutes to all day. In simple terms, the faster bail is posted, the quicker you will be released. It also depends on whether you have a cash bond or if the magistrate still needs to determine your bail amount. For minor offenses, you will be booked and released on your own recognizance. When you have served out your jail sentence and know the date of your release, expect to be discharged that morning.

Mecosta County Jail Visitation

In order to have visitors, inmates need to list each visitor’s full name to the Mecosta County Jail in advance. Your visitor’s information will be entered into the visitation log for the inmate that requested the visitor. Each and every visitor must provide acceptable photo identification. Visitors that gets to visitation or that does not have a visting order will not be allowed to visit the inmate.

The Mecosta County Jail visitation procedures change often, so make sure that you call the jail at (231) 592-0156 before you go.

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Visitation Rules

In order to visit someone at the Mecosta County Jail you must be on the inmate’s visitation list.

Be sure to take your up to date government issued ID or valid driver’s license with you to visitation or you will not be allowed to enter without it.

No cellphones are allowed at Mecosta County Jail, and you will be searched before visiting. No personal belongings. Anybody currently on must get the permission of both the superintendent and their individual supervising officer prior to a visit. Such visitation is not approved.

If a visitor is younger than 18 years of age and is a family member of the inmate, they must be accompanied by an adult family member or guardian to include a member of the inmate’s extended family. If a visitor is under the age of 18 and is not a family member of the inmate, this visitor must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Sending Mail to Inmates

This is what you need to know about sending letters, photos, postcards, greeting cards and even magazines to an inmate at the Mecosta County Jail. Incoming and outgoing inmate mail at the Mecosta County Jail is always searched and inspected for contraband that might threaten the security, safety or well-being of the facility, its staff, and inmates. Inmates can only receive metered, unstamped, plain white postcards no larger than 4″ x 6″ as mail. The writing on the postcard has to be in pencil or blue or black ink. If it has a stamp on it, it will get returned. If you write in green ink, then it will get returned. If you send any other kind of mail will be returned to the sender. If there is no return address on it, then the unauthorized mail will be stored in the inmate’s locker until the inmate gets release.

Do not include any of these things in the mail that you send to an inmate: any kind of threat to jail order, any description of the manufacture of weapons, bombs, incendiary devices, or tools for escape; do not encourage or advocate any kind of violence, hate speech, or racial or ethnic supremacy. Inmates are not allowed to write to other inmates.

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Sending Other Things to an Inmate

There are strict procedures that you must follow to send anything to an inmate at the Mecosta County Jail. This includes sending money for to spend in the commissary, sending regular mail or photos, sending money for phone calls, and even postcards.

This page covers everthing you need to know about the Mecosta County Jail to help you follow these procedures and guidelines. If you have questions, or there is something that you were looking for, but did not find, please contact us using the contact link in the site menu.

Public Records

Warrant Inquiry

If you believe you have a warrant out for your arrest, you can check arrest warrants inquiry on the website or call the court directly. You have to have their first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and inquire at the information desk. You should know that if there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken into custody immediately.

Arrest Record Search

If you know a person’s name, and the date of their arrest, contact the Mecosta County jail, either by phone, go there in person, or find out online. An arrest is in the public record and these records are accessible to anyone.

Court Records

Court Records are public, and are accessible by anyone. Court Records include a court case file containing a docket and any documents and filings filed in the court case. You can access court records via the internet, or at the Mecosta County Clerk of Court in the county where the case was filed.

Criminal Records

Each and every state keeps a record of someone’s criminal background. These online databases are connected so you can track criminal backgrounds from other states. You are able to go to county courthouse and check in person, or check online. It is helpful to know the county the crime was committed in, and if it was in a different state, you may have to pay for a more complete search.

A criminal records search you can get a report detailing any arrests, charges, or convictions that may be on a person’s record for any crimes, which can include, drug crimes, kidnapping, rape or other sexual assault, violent crimes, or breaking and entering, theft, larceny.

Money & Commissary

The procedure to send money to someone in jail change frequently, so you should visit the Mecosta County Jail site before you send any funds.

How To Send Money to an Inmate at Mecosta County Jail

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

Guidelines For Sending Money To An Inmate

Before you send any money you should find out what online money transfer companies the jail your inmate is incarcerated in uses. The exact method that the Mecosta County Jail uses changes frequently, so it is best to call them at (231) 592-0156 to get the current payment method.

You may be required to be on the inmate’s visitation list in order to send them money, and be aware that they may have a limit on how much you deposit at one time, like $200-300 at a time, or a limit on how much money may be in the inmate’s account at one time.

Some of the money transfer firms being used by various facilities include JPay, MoneyGram, AccessCorrections, OffenderConnect, Touchpayonline, JailATM, WU, smartdeposit, and tigercommissary.

If an inmate has fines or are required to pay restitution then they will be subject to garnishment of their commissary/trust account. If the inmate has a garnishment, then money to pay them will be taken from the inmate’s bank account. In some cases it may be a percentage or the entire amount of the obligation, but the actual percentage depends on the circumstances. We recommend that inmates talk to the counselor at their facility and try to find out. You can also try to make an arrangement so that only a percentage of your commissary funds are taken, instead of all your funds take at one time.

Commissary

The commissary is the Mecosta County Jail store. Inmates can buy several different things here, like toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will most likely want to use the commissary every day, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

The Commissary will sell an assortment of different products that the inmate can buy if they have money in their commissary account. These items include clothes, shoes, small snacks and other food items, in addition to hygiene products including soap, shampoo, and disposable razors for shaving. The commissary also sells other things like books and magazines, televisions and radios, playing cards, headphones, MP3 players, and electronic tablets. They also sell everything need to write home to family, friends, and loved ones: paper, envelopes, and stamps. If an inmate is indigent and cannot afford paper and stamps, the jail will provide these things to an inmate who has not had any money in their commissary account for at least 30 days.

Phone Calls & Phone Usage Policy

The only phone calls that Mecosta County Jail inmates are allowed to make are with a pre-paid phone card or account, or are collect calls . Jail phone calls are usually pricier than regular phone calls. Phone calls are restricted on when you can make phone calls, how long you can talk, and how often you can make calls, but bear in mind that you are just one of many people who want to talk to their loved ones. If you break the jail rules, your ability to use the phone could be reduced or totally denied.

The Mecosta County Jail phone number is: (231) 592-0156

How To Save Money on Inmate Calls

Correctional facility phone service providers have a monopoly at each facility that they are the exclusive phone provider for, which means that they they control the prices. The profits these phone service providers make off of all of the inmate phone calls are split with the facility, so there is no incentive for the jail or the counselors at the facility to show inmates or their family how to save money on inmate phone calls at the Mecosta County Jail. The prices are posted and there are at least two pricing tiers based on where the inmate is calling. These three factors will determine how much an inmate phone call will cost: Where you are located; Where your inmate is located, What type of phone number you have.

For example, if your inmate is in federal prison, if you get a new local number then this will decrease your inmate’s phone call rate from $.21 per minute to only $.06 per minute.

For state prisons and local jails learning how to lower your inmates phone charges can be more difficult. ArrestedResources.com keeps up to date with all of the changes that affect your inmate’s calling rate and in most cases is able to offer you an inmate calling number that will save you a lot of money on calling your inmate. In some cases, we won’t be able to save you any money, and therefore we will not offer you an inmate calling number. In these cases, the facility has set their phone call rates in a way that nobody will be able to save you money.

For more detailed information on how to save on inmate calls at Mecosta County Jail, click the link below.

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