Sheriff's Department

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Programs & Services

Inmate Support Services

Our medical department is staffed around the clock by registered nurses responsible for the physical well-being of the inmate population. Mental health assessments are provided by trained clinicians that work directly with jail staff in providing intervention and treatment to inmates.

Court Services provides pretrial screening to obtain social and criminal histories to aid in bond recommendations to the courts of Kent County. Other agencies provide necessary services to support the needs of the inmate population. Teachers and health officials offer educational opportunities while other agencies and volunteers work with individuals and groups to overcome substance abuse.

The Inmate Trustee program provides work opportunities for eligible sentenced inmates in housekeeping, maintenance, kitchen, library, laundry, animal shelter and yard crew.

Accounting Office

Our Inmate Accounting office operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and maintains day-to-day inmate court and financial records.

Religious Services / Chaplain's Programs

The Kent County Correctional Facility will provide its inmates access to religious services, religious materials and religious counseling. The Religious Coordinator, working with the Jail Administration and Inmate Services will establish a schedule of religious services and counseling which will be made available to the inmates on a voluntary basis. The religious programs will be provided through volunteers from local churches and religious organizations. Religious programs will not be restricted or denied to any inmate due to race, national origin, color, creed or sex.

Area church volunteers come in to the Kent County Jail to provide a variety of religious and spiritual enrichment opportunities such as Bible studies and life skills for the inmates. Jail Chaplains also provide literature and counseling upon request.

The religious coordinator will be the liaison with the local churches and religious organizations. They may be contacted by calling (616) 632-6377. The religious coordinator will schedule dates and times for approved clergy, counselors and volunteers to visit inmates and conduct religious services. All volunteers will complete an application and go through a screening process. All volunteers will also be responsible for watching a video explaining procedures and guidelines for volunteer services within the Kent County Correctional Facility prior to beginning their voluntary services. All volunteers must be at least seventeen (17) years of age.

Pastor Authorization

An authorized Pastor will be listed on the Jail Management System list. A Pastor, whose name appears on the list may visit with any inmate seven (7) days a week.

If an authorized pastor wishes to see an inmate he/she must come to the visiting/information desk at the Kent County Correctional Facility and register.

If a pastor wishes to see an inmate and his/her name does not appear on the list, he/she must produce ordination papers and a valid picture, government issued identification card. The visiting/info Officer will make every effort to ascertain that the subject is a qualified Pastor. Once the Officer is reasonably sure that the subject is a Pastor, he/she will be allowed to visit the inmate. However, the visit will take place in a personal visiting booth. The Pastor will be informed that he/she will not be allowed access to the facility again until his/her name appears on the approved list. The visiting/info Officer will inform him/her to contact the inmate services secretary about being placed on the list. You may contact the secretary at (616) 632-6360 or the jail chaplain at (616) 632-6377. If the visiting/info Officer is unable to verify that the subject is an ordained Minister, he/she will advise him/her that he/she will have to visit the inmate during the regular inmate visiting hours, according to the personal visiting procedures.

Guidelines for Pastors

Every Pastor entering this facility is under the authority and control of the officers on duty. Pastors are permitted to bring into this facility printed religious literature for an inmate i.e. pamphlets, paperback books of a religious nature. These items will be checked by the visiting/info Officer prior to being allowed into the facility. Tape players, cell phones or other recording devices will not be allowed into this facility without prior permission from a Corrections Lieutenant. Pastors will not carry in/out or pass mail, notes or packages for any inmate. All inmate correspondence must go through the proper channels within this facility. Pens, paper, envelopes, food items, gum, tobacco products etc., will not be given to any inmate. The Inmate Services Director must approve any religious materials and/or artifacts utilized in a religious service.

Guidelines for Church Workers

Area churches will be provided volunteer verification forms from the religious coordinator. The churches will have to turn the completed volunteer verification forms into the religious coordinator a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the churches scheduled services in this facility. The religious coordinator will forward the forms to the Inmate Services Secretary. The names will be checked and approved or denied for participation in any of the facility religious programming. The forms will be returned to the religious coordinator. Once a volunteer has been approved, and his/her name is placed on the approved church worker list, he/she will not be required to fill out a new verification form each time their church or group is scheduled for services.

The following persons will not be allowed to participate in any facility religious programs: Anyone who has ever been charged or convicted of a felony or high misdemeanor. Anyone who has ever been an inmate in the Kent County Correctional Facility.

If a person is restricted due to any of the above reasons but would still like to be considered, he/she can do so by appealing the decision to the Jail Administration. The Kent County Correctional facility will allow a maximum of eight (8) church workers (including the Leader) for Sunday services. Any group larger than eight (8) must have prior approval from the Jail Administration and/or the Inmate Services Director. The Kent County Correctional Facility will allow a maximum of three (3) instructors for each Bible study class. Church workers are not permitted to bring in and distribute Bibles to the inmates. The inmates can obtain Bibles through the religious coordinator.

Entrance to the Facility

The visiting/info Officer in “A” building will check the approved list. The volunteer must present a valid, picture, Government Issue identification card to the Officer. Once the Officer has verified that the volunteer’s ID coincides with the name on the list, he/she will have the volunteer sign in and issue him/her a visitor’s pass.

If the volunteer is not on the approved list, or does not have a valid, picture, Government issue identification he/she will not be allowed into the facility.

Educational Programs

The Kent County Correctional Facility will provide an educational program. The educational program is designed to prepare and assist inmates in improving their basic academic skills, taking the G.E.D. test or completing their high school education. Certified teachers from the Grand Rapids Public School System will conduct the educational programs.

When an inmate is initially booked into the facility, he/she will be asked questions regarding his/her educational background and history. At this time, the inmate will have the opportunity to state an interest in attending educational classes while in this facility. If the inmate states an interest, a referral will be forwarded to the Education Office. The request will be evaluated and the inmate services education office will determine the inmate’s eligibility. Inmates without a G.E.D. or high school diploma will have higher priority when determining the class list. Any inmate who has already obtained his G.E.D. or high school diploma will be considered, but will only be eligible if class size allows for additions. Inmates, who did not initially state an interest during the booking process, may send a kite to the education office at any time requesting to be included in the facility education program.

Inmate Recreation Policy

The Kent County Correctional Facility will provide the inmate population with the opportunity for exercise and recreation to promote good health through organized physical activity.

All inmates will have the opportunity to attend indoor/outdoor recreation. The following restrictions may apply: Those inmates who are restricted for disciplinary and/or security reasons. Inmates who are medically restricted, unless cleared through the Medical office.

Inmate Library policy

The Kent County Correctional Facility will provide educational, recreational and religious reading materials for inmates who are incarcerated in this facility. The library will maintain a variety of fiction, non-fiction and reference materials to serve a diverse group of reading levels, ethnic and foreign language readers. The major sources of reading materials will be from, but not limited to, the following: the facility book budget, donations from churches, citizens, local business, other organizations, and from the publishers.

The selection process of materials for the library will primarily be the responsibility of the Inmate Services Administrator. In order to maintain the safety, security and good order of this facility, certain materials will not be allowed. These will include the following: Books and magazines that are overly sexually explicit, books or magazines that promote racial, ethnic or religious prejudice.

Paperback books will be used in all the housing units. Any hardcover publications will have to be approved by a Corrections Lieutenant by submitting a written request. Inmates may receive paperback books and magazines that come directly from the publishers, or book store with the understanding that the following will occur:

  • All books and magazines will be donated after their use, to the Kent County Correctional Facility.
  • Inmates will be allowed to receive up to but not to exceed five (5) books and/or magazines per order form any publisher.
  • The Lieutenant has the right to hold all publications for 48 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) to inspect the publications for contraband and suitability.
  • If it is determined that the publication is not suitable, the Lieutenant will notify the inmate in writing within 48 hours. The books or magazines will be held for five (5) days in order for the inmate to have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Jail Administrator or Inmate Services Administrator.

If after the appeal the publication is still denied, the Lieutenant will either destroy the publication or return it to the publisher (If the publisher provides for return).

Inmate Access to Law Library

The Kent County Correctional Facility provides legal materials for those inmates who do not have legal assistance. Inmates requesting to use the law library must do so by writing a “kite” to the Law Librarian or Inmate Services.

The law library may only be used by the following:

  • Any inmate awaiting trial who wants to research the law applicable to his/her upcoming appeal, but only if the inmate is not represented by an attorney and is not eligible for a court appointed attorney to handle the trial.
  • Any inmate sentenced to this facility and appealing his/her conviction and who wants to research the laws that are applicable to his/her upcoming trial, but only if an attorney does not represent the inmate and is not eligible for a court appointed attorney to handle his/her case.
  • Any inmate who wants to research a Civil Rights or Habeas Corpus actions, but only if he/she is not represented by an attorney for such action.

The following restrictions apply to the use of the law library:

  • Any inmate who has been offered the opportunity to be represented by a court appointed attorney but refused the assistance will not be allowed to have access to the law library.
  • The law library will be made available for use by inmates writing a “kite” to the inmate Services Administrator and/or the Law Librarian. The Law Librarian will determine a date and time for eligible inmates to use the law library.
  • Any inmate eligible to use the law library may be restricted to the time and amount of use per week if the demand for the library warrants such.
  • Law Librarian (C2-123) will supervise eligible inmates one at a time. Books and reference materials will not be removed from the law library at any time.
  • Paper and pencil for note taking will be made available for the inmates use.
  • Eligible inmates may forward a “kite” to the Law Librarian requesting copies of certain case laws applicable to their own case. The prevailing costs of such will be deducted from the inmate’s commissary account.

Inmate Newspaper Policy

The Kent County Correctional Facility shall provide its inmate population with the opportunity to subscribe and receive the newspaper. Order forms for the Grand Rapids Press will be made available to all inmates. The Press must be ordered through the Kent County Correctional Facility. Newspaper subscription forms will be available upon request from the housing unit Officer. Inmates will send their completed forms to the Property/Mail room Clerk. Newspaper subscriptions will be for a minimum of one (1) month (28 days). If the inmate does not have the necessary funds, the form will be returned to the inmate marked, “non-sufficient funds”. If the inmate has the funds, the cost of the Press will be deducted from the inmates commissary account. Inmates will not be permitted to have outsiders order the Press for them. Grand Rapids Press subscription forms will be sent in on Tuesday and the inmate’s newspaper will begin the following Sunday, if they are to receive both the Sunday and daily newspapers. It will begin on Monday if they are only to receive the daily paper. Cancellation of a newspaper subscription is the responsibility of the inmate. If an inmate is released or transferred from this facility, it will be the inmate’s responsibility to notify the news agency that he/she either wants to cancel his subscription or advises them of a forwarding address. Inmates will not be allowed to transfer newspaper subscriptions to other inmates. In order for the inmate to receive his/her newspaper the inmate must surrender the previous newspaper.

Inmate Television

Inmates in the Kent County Correctional Facility shall have the privilege to view facility television programming as their housing and custody level allows. The facility television will have a master control panel, which will be used to select the programming, which can be viewed in the inmate housing units. The programming will be selected from a predetermined scheduled published by the Jail Administration. The master control panel will be set on a daily basis to follow the predetermined schedule. No exceptions will be made without prior written authorization from the Jail Administration. The Jail Administration will review the programming selections and hours of operation quarterly. The television can be turned on for the viewing of general programming from 1800 hours to 2200 hours Monday through Friday. The viewing hours for general programming on the weekends will be from 1300 hours to 1600 hours and the evening hours. The television can be used for special announcements and educational tapes at other times as directed by the Jail Administration. Video movies can periodically be made available to the inmate population as a reward for good behavior. Regular programming will sometimes include movies of an educational or self-improvement nature.

Inmate Commissary Policy

Inmates in the Kent County Correctional Facility shall have the ability to purchase sundries and food items for their personal use. Inmates will be permitted to purchase a limit of fifty-five (55) dollars worth of commissary items per scheduled commissary day. Inmates will only draw from their own accounts. Inmates will not be allowed to transfer funds from their accounts to other inmate’s accounts. Inmates who are in an AOT unit, or who have lost their commissary for disciplinary reasons, will only be allowed to order hygiene items, paper, envelopes, stamps and writing utensils while in that unit. This includes all inmates living in D1A. All inmates who are pre-arraigned or housed in D1 and B3 classification areas will not be allowed to order commissary until assigned to a housing unit. Commissary will be made available to each housing unit a minimum of one (1) time each week.

Upon entrance to this facility commissary admission kits will be issued to the inmates. The admission kits contain the following:

  1. One (1) toothbrush
  2. Toothpaste
  3. One (1) bar of soap
  4. One (1) comb
  5. One (1) golf pencil

Commissary for Indigent Inmates

Inmates who have less than two (2) dollars in their accounts will have the opportunity to request a welfare package once every two weeks. They will order on the scheduled ordering day for their housing area. They will check the box on the commissary form indicating their request. Upon verification of lack of funds, the commissary clerk will issue the following items:

  1. One (1) toothbrush
  2. One (1) toothpaste
  3. Two (2) bars of soap
  4. Four (4) sheets of paper
  5. Four (4) stamped envelopes
  6. One (1) golf pencil
  7. One (1) mini deodorant
  8. One (1) shampoo