Whatcom County Jail

To search for an inmate in the Whatcom County Jail, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 360-778-6500 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up Criminal Court cases for people who have been arrested in Whatcom County or any county in the state of Washington. You can either look up the case by the person's name or the case number. Go here if you want to look up an offender's Court Date at any of the courts in Whatcom County or any court in Washington.

Whatcom County Jail Inmate Search

The Whatcom County Jail maintains an average of 500 offenders in custody on any given day. The Whatcom County Jail has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Whatcom County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 14,600 offenders.

The following charts of Whatcom County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.

The information is compiled from the Whatcom County Corrections Department, the state of Washington Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Whatcom County.

For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Whatcom County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.

We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail? What is the Schedule?

Whatcom County Jail ON-SITE (at the jail) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-778-6500

Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout

• Due to ongoing facility maintenance on-site visits may be temporarily suspended. Call 360-778-6500 before coming to the facility.
• Refer to the Jail Roster for an Inmate's Housing Assignments.
• On-site Visits are free.
• Visits are 30-60 minutes.
• Visitation schedule subject to change.
• Each inmate at the Jail is allowed one, 1-hour visit per week.
• A maximum of 3 guests are allowed per inmate visit.
• All visits must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Whatcom County Jail REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.

IN-PERSON Visitation - Refer to the Jail Roster for an inmate's Housing Assignment

• In person visits may be temporarily suspended. Call 360-778-6500 to confirm.
• You must be signed in 10 minutes early

Whatcom County Jail uses GettingOut for their Remote Video Visitation and/or Visit Scheduling. 

There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate:
1.  Using the GettingOut/GTL Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut or GTL apps.

How it Works with GettingOut
1.  Register an account.
2. Select Whatcom County Jail
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.   

• **NOTE** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Whatcom County Jail.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
Frequently Asked Questions
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in Whatcom County Jail?

To visit an inmate in Whatcom County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:

Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, Whatcom County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of GettingOut. 

There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate in Whatcom County Jail:
1.  Using the GettingOut Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut apps.

To remotely visit an inmate in Whatcom County follow these steps:
1.  Start by confirming that Whatcom County Jail's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up Whatcom County here.
2.  The next step is to create an account here for GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account.
4. Last, select Whatcom County Jail, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.

Other Whatcom County Services provided by GettingOut:
 - Phone Calls & Voicemail 
 - Email, Photo & Video Sharing
-  Inmate Tablet Rental
-  Deposits

Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Whatcom County Jail Visitation Services you can call them at 866-516-0115.
Frequently Asked Questions

* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Whatcom County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.

Whatcom County Jail Phone: 360-778-6500

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail?

Whatcom County Jail ON-SITE (at the jail) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-778-6500

Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout

• Due to ongoing facility maintenance on-site visits may be temporarily suspended. Call 360-778-6500 before coming to the facility.
• Refer to the Jail Roster for an Inmate's Housing Assignments.
• On-site Visits are free.
• Visits are 30-60 minutes.
• Visitation schedule subject to change.
• Each inmate at the Jail is allowed one, 1-hour visit per week.
• A maximum of 3 guests are allowed per inmate visit.
• All visits must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Whatcom County Jail REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.

IN-PERSON Visitation - Refer to the Jail Roster for an inmate's Housing Assignment

• In person visits may be temporarily suspended. Call 360-778-6500 to confirm.
• You must be signed in 10 minutes early

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail?

There are FOUR options for putting money on an inmate's books:

Option 1 - Dropping Money at the Jail
Bring money to the jail in person. 
Either the jail personnel will process the Inmate Account payment or you will use a Jail ATM self-serve kiosk in the lobbies that accepts cash, debit or credit cards.

Option 2 - Deposit Inmate Money Online
Whatcom County Jail uses Jail ATM to process all online deposits to an inmate's account. The company charges you a small fee for doing so, but the fee probably isn't as much as gas and parking would cost to take it to the jail in person.

Option 3 - Mail the Inmate Deposit to the Jail
Mailing a deposit takes more time to process than the other methods but can be done if you live too far away to bring it in person and you don't have a debit/credit card for online deposits. Never send cash. Always send a Money Order from the US Post Office, a reputable bank or Western Union. Call the Whatcom County Jail first as they may want you to do this online or at the jail kiosk instead.
Make the Money Order out to the inmate's name and put their Inmate ID# in memo section of the Money Order.
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

Option 4 - Make an Inmate Deposit with Jail ATM over the Phone by calling 877-810-0914
To do this you will need the inmate's offender # (inmate ID #) and full legal name.

How to Deposit Money Online for an Inmate in Whatcom County

To deposit money online for an inmate in Whatcom County Jail follow these steps:

• 
• Register to open an account, or Sign In to JailATM, a service that acts as a bank for inmates in Whatcom County.
• After registering and signing in, select 'Send Money Now'.
• Choose Washington, then choose Whatcom County Jail
• Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
• Select your inmate.
• Input an amount to deposit to your inmate in Whatcom County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
• NOTE: There may be a limit on how much money you can send your inmate in Whatcom County at any one time.
• If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914.

For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Whatcom County Jail, or depositing money at the jail, over the phone or by mail, check out our Send Money Page for Whatcom County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail?

How Do Inmates in Whatcom County Jail Make Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Whatcom County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

• Whatcom County Jail uses the services of IC Solutions.
• 
• Register with them online or call them at 888-506-8407. 
• Agents are available 24 hours a day, and speak both English & Spanish.
• Services for Whatcom County inmates and their families and friends include Collect Calling, PIN Debits, Purchasing Calling Cards, Voicemail & Prepaid calls.  In addition, IC Solutions provides secure messaging, sending photos, video phone calls and online deposits for inmates and their families in Whatcom County.
• Although rates are subject to change, they generally run about $0.21 per minute for phone calls.

Note: All your calls with an inmate are recorded, stored and shared with law enforcement if the conversation deals with your case or any criminal activity. Anything communicated can be used against you or your inmate in court.

For all the information regarding phone calls with Whatcom County inmates; rules, policies, phone calling times, limits and more visit our Inmate Phone Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail, and what can I send them?

Whatcom County Jail Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Whatcom County Jail allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Whatcom County Jail also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Whatcom County Jail allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Whatcom County Jail standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

Whatcom County Jail Inmate Mail Policies and Address - What Can You Send, and Where?

For inmates receiving mail in the Whatcom County Jail there are different addresses and policies depending on the inmate's status, as well as what type of mail they are receiving; personal mail, legal mail, subscriptions or books sent from a third-party such as Amazon.

All mail is to be shipped to the Whatcom County Jail:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate ID #
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225

For complete information on mail policies, what you can send an inmate and what address to send them, check out our Inmate Mail page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail, and what can I purchase?

JailATM – Send Money or Send Commissary Gift Packs to Whatcom County Jail

Search for JailATM services for Whatcom County Jail.

Make an inmate deposit with JailATM for Whatcom County Jail. 

Note: While JailATM offers the following inmate services, Whatcom County Jail may not allow all of them. Check on the JailATM website to confirm. Services available through JailATM are subject to change with no notice.

Send Gift Packs

Whatcom County Jail has an agreement with JailATM, which ships predetermined Gift Packs of candy, snacks and hygiene products to the inmate. Check the JailATM website to see if they allow Gift Packs.

These can be ordered by you online and are delivered directly to the inmate.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Whatcom County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Whatcom County Jail follow these steps:

• 
• Go to JailATM, choose Washington, then choose Whatcom County Jail
• Type in your inmate's last name or their Inmate ID.
• Select your inmate, and then you will be prompted to Register with them to open an account.
• Select the products you want shipped to them at Whatcom County Jail, and then input your payment method. 
• NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Whatcom County at any one time.
• If you need to phone customer support, call 877-810-0914

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages or sending money to an inmate in Whatcom County Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Whatcom County.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail using an Online Messaging Service?

Emailing and Texting Messages, Photos & Videograms

Whatcom County Jail contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.


If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Whatcom County Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works
Watch this video on how to send a message.
1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works
Watch this video on how to upload a photo.
1.  Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call   866-516-0115

How to Communicate with an Whatcom County Jail Inmate by Mail and by Email

To mail or email an inmate in Whatcom County follow these steps:

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:

• All mail sent to an inmate at the Whatcom County Jail must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
• All mail must include the facility's address, as well as the inmate's name and assigned number.
• Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
• The Whatcom County Jail has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations. 
• All the information you need to understand mail and email policies can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} contracts with GTL GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
 
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Whatcom County Jail,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

• Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
• After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
• You can also send your Whatcom County inmate photos and videos.

Customer Service Questions
'Online' Contact Form, or
Call   866-516-0115

Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.

All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Whatcom County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Whatcom County Jail have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Whatcom County Jail allows inmates access to tablets to use for the services provided by 'gettingout'.

The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Whatcom County Jail, such as:

• Music
• Books
• Games
• Education
• News
• Radio
• Television
• Read mail and messages
• Video visits

-  Free services are already available for use on the device at Whatcom County Jail.
-  Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
-  Whatcom County Jail Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.

What Does a Tablet Cost?

To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page), but the following gives you a general idea.

Game Center:

30-Day Subscription: $4.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($5.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($3.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($2.49)

Unlimited eBooks:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($2.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($1.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.49, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

Streaming Music:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $8.99, with an additional $16.00 service infrastructure charge ($24.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $5.99, with an additional $9.00 service infrastructure charge ($14.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($7.99)

Newsfeed

Thirty-Day Subscription: $3.99, with an additional $6.00 service infrastructure charge ($9.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($6.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $3.00 service infrastructure charge ($3.99)

Same Day Subscription Services

Game Center: $0.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($1.49)

Unlimited eBooks: $0.25, (Total = 0.25)

Newsfeed: $0.24, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

FM Radio: $0.24, with an additional $0.25 service infrastructure charge ($0.49)

All Subscription and message credit pricing is subject to state and local taxes. 

Replacement Components - should your inmate break it...

Tablet: $249.99 per each

Charger: $8.99 per each

Earbuds: $2.99 per each

How Inmates Can Use a Tablet to Access Services at Whatcom County Jail

To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:

1.  First, Register or Sign In to GettingOut/GTL

2.  Purchase the services you want for your Whatcom County Jail inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6500 for further assistance.

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Whatcom County?