Sheriff's Office

Programs & Services

Inmate Support Services

Our medical department is contracted through Vitalcore Correctional Healthcare. Nursing staff is on duty 24/7.

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, laundry, animal shelter and yard crew.

Processing Office

Our Inmate Processing 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 Correctional Facility 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 Jail Administrative Secretary about being placed on the list. The jail chaplain can be reached 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 Jail Administrative 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. Participation is on a voluntary basis and only after a review of eligibility and class size. Certified teachers from the Grand Rapids Public School System will conduct the educational programs.

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.

Inmate Book Policy

The Kent County Correctional Facility will provide educational, recreational and religious reading materials for inmates who are incarcerated in this facility. The major sources of reading materials comes 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 is 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 are 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, book store or distribution entity 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 three (3) books and/or magazines per order from any publisher.
  • If there is concern regarding the appropriateness, authenticity or origin of the materials, the Jail Administration will review the material and determine if the book will be authorized.

Inmate Access to Law Library

The Kent County Correctional Facility provides free access to the law library on the inmate tablets.

Inmate Television

Inmates in the Kent County Correctional Facility will have the privilege to view facility television programming as their housing and custody level allows. Any television programming with a rating TV-14 or higher is restricted from all televisions in the facility.

Inmate Commissary Policy

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. One (1) toothpaste
  3. One (1) bar of soap
  4. One (1) golf pencil

In addition, 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 up to eighty-five (85) 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 housed in a disciplinary segregation unit will only be allowed to order hygiene items, paper, envelopes, stamps, and writing utensils while in that unit. All inmates who are pre-arraigned or housed in L1 or B3 classification areas will not be allowed to order commissary until assigned to a regular housing unit. Commissary will be made available to each housing unit a minimum of one (1) time each week.

Commissary for Indigent Inmates

Inmates who have ninety-eight (98) cents or less in their accounts will have the opportunity to request an indigent (welfare) package once every two weeks. There will be two different indigent kits available to qualifying inmates. First, and then every eighth week following, a full indigent kit will be available. Secondly, every other week there will be a smaller indigent kit available. These may be ordered on the scheduled ordering day for their housing area using the same ordering process used for normal commissary. When inmates have money deposited into their accounts, they will be charged for any previous indigent kits.

Upon verification of lack of funds, the commissary clerk will issue the following items for the full indigent kit:

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

The smaller indigent kit will contain the following items:

  1. One (1) bar of soap
  2. One (1) toothpaste
  3. One (1) mini deodorant
  4. One (1) shampoo

Care Package for Inmates

Family and friends are able to order care packages for inmates. Up to $35 a week can be spent on these packages. Items available have been identified by the Correctional Facility as basic needs. The money spent on the care packages is above and beyond the $85 inmates are able to spend on commissary. Orders must be submitted no later than 6:00 A.M on Thursday for delivery that week.

Inmate Account Deposits

A cashiers check or money order can be mailed to an inmate. Checks are removed by staff and the funds are placed in the inmate's account. Funds may also be brought to the jail in person, and placed into the respective account via electronic kiosks located in both the visitor's and accounting lobby. Up to one thousand five hundred (1,500) dollars can be deposited.  Funds may also be deposited over the phone by calling (866) 345-1884, or electronically deposited online by visiting www.AccessCorrections.com, creating a user profile, and selecting Secure Deposits.