Sheriff's Office

Programs & Services

Inmate Support Services

  • Medical Services 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.
  • 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, and yard crew.

Processing Office

The 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 provides 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 is available to the inmates on a voluntary basis. The religious programs are provided through volunteers from local churches and religious organizations. The Religious Coordinator schedules dates and times for approved clergy, counselors and volunteers to visit inmates and conduct religious services.

The Religious Coordinator is the liaison between local churches and religious organizations and the Correctional Facility. The Religious Coordinator can be contacted by calling (616) 632-6377.

Religious programs are not restricted or denied to any inmate due to race, national origin, color, creed or sex.

Pastor Authorization

All Pastors must compete a Professional Visitor Application as part of the facility approval process to visit. If approved, an authorized Pastor can visit with inmates (7) days a week during the established visitation times.

If a Pastor has not been previously approved to visit in a professional capacity and it is outside of business hours, they must produce the following:

  • Valid Ordination Papers
  • Valid picture, government issued identification card.

Corrections staff will review the documentation to ascertain that the individual is a qualified Pastor. If this can be determined, the Pastor will be permitted to visit the inmate but in a personal visitation capacity. The Pastor will be directed to contact the Religious Coordinator to facilitate professional visitation approval prior to additional visitation being permitted.

If during business hours, the Pastor should be directed to contact the Religious Coordinator to go through the approval process.

If Corrections Staff is unable to verify that the individual is a Pastor, they 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 Corrections Staff prior to being allowed into the facility.
  • The Religious Coordinator and Corrections Administration must approve any religious materials and/or artifacts utilized in a religious service.
  • Tape players, cell phones or other recording devices will not be permitted without prior permission from the Corrections Administration.
  • Pastors will not carry in/out or pass mail, notes or packages for any inmate. Pens, paper, envelopes, food items, gum, tobacco products etc., will not be given to any inmate.
    • All inmate correspondence must go through the proper channels within this facility.

Guidelines for Volunteer Church Workers

All volunteers must 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.

An individual with the following criteria will not be permitted to participate in any facility religious programming:

  • Criminally charged or convicted of a felony or high misdemeanor
  • Has previously been incarcerated in the Kent County Correctional Facility

If restricted due to the above listed reasons and would like to still be considered, the individual can appear the decision to the Corrections Administration.

Volunteer church workers must turn in a completed volunteer verification form at a minimum of two (2) weeks prior to the scheduled church service in the Correctional Facility. If the application is approved, the volunteer church worker is approved to participate/conduct scheduled church services. This schedule will be maintained by the Religious Coordinator.

  • There is a maximum of eight (8) volunteer church workers permitted for Sunday Services. Any group larger than this must have prior approval from the Religious Coordinator and Corrections Administration.
  • There is a maximum of three (3) instructors permitted for each Bible Study class.
  • No volunteer will carry in/out or pass mail, notes or packages for any inmate. Pens, paper, envelopes, food items, gum, tobacco products etc., will not be given to any inmate.
  • Bibles are not permitted to be brought in or distributed to any inmate. Bibles are available to the Inmates through the Religious Coordinator, upon their request.
    • All inmate correspondence must go through the proper channels within this facility.

Entrance to the Facility

  • The Religious Coordinator maintains an approved volunteer visitation list.
  • Volunteer Church Workers must present a valid, picture Government Issued identification to Corrections Staff prior to being permitted into the facility.
    • A visitor pass will be issued and it must be in full view and above the waistband at all times.
  • If a volunteer is not on the approved volunteer list or does not have a valid ID, they will not be permitted access to the facility.
  • All personal items must be secured prior to entrance into the facility. This includes but is not limited to, purses, bags, cell phones, or any item that could be deemed contraband.

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 Book Policy

The Kent County Correctional Facility provides educational, recreational and religious reading materials to inmates. 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 Corrections Administration. 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 Corrections Administration by submitting a written request. Inmates can 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, Corrections Administration will review the material and determine if the material 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 Commissary Policy

Upon entrance to this facility commissary admission kits will be issued to the inmates. In addition, inmates in the Kent County Correctional Facility have the ability to purchase sundries and food items for their personal use.

  • Inmates will be permitted to purchase up to $85 of commissary items per week.
  • Inmates who are housed in a disciplinary segregation unit will only be permitted to order hygiene items, paper, envelopes, stamps, and writing utensils while in that unit.
  • All inmates who are pre-arraigned or housed in pre-arraigned housing 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 $5.00 or less in their accounts have the opportunity to request an indigent (welfare) package once every two weeks.

  • There will be two different indigent kits available to qualifying inmates.
    • Kit One: first receipt and then every eighth week following, a full indigent kit containing toiletries, paper and envelopes.
    • Kit Two: every other week there will be a smaller indigent kit containing toiletries only.
  • If inmates have money deposited into their accounts, they will be charged for any previous indigent kits received.

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

There is a maximum deposit amount of $1,500 per transaction.

Funds can be received at the Correctional Facility in the following ways:

  • Cashier’s check or money order can be mailed to an inmate. Checks are removed from the mail by Corrections staff and the funds are deposited in the inmate's account.
  • In person and placed into the respective account via electronic kiosks located in both the visitor's and processing lobby.
  • By phone: (866) 345-1884
  • Electronic Deposit: AccessCorrections.com creating a user profile, and selecting Secure Deposits.