The Whatcom County Jail Work Center is a 200 bed jail in the city of Bellingham, Whatcom County, Washington. You can call them 24 hours a day for inmate information at 360-778-6450.
Offenders arrested for misdemeanors and felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing, and if their crime requires it, are incarcerated until they are either bonded out, are released from custody on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody until the disposition of their trial.
You can also use the inmate search tool to see this facility's roster of those who have been arrested and are still in custody.
Those who are found guilty and sentenced to a term of less than one year, will do their time in this county. Those sentenced to longer terms will be sent to either the Washington State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page provides information on how to search for an inmate in the official jail roster, or by calling the facility at 360-778-6450, directions to the facility, and inmate services such as the visitation schedule and policies, funding an inmate's account, mailing them a letter, receiving phone calls from an inmate, voicemail, emailing and texting, tablet rentals, bail bond instructions, and commissary purchases.
It's always a good idea to find out and save the inmate's jail ID number or booking number as you may need this for sending mail or other communication needs. If you can't locate it online, you can call the Whatcom County Jail Work Center at 360-778-6450 to get it.
Phone: 360-778-6450
Physical Address:
2030 Division Street
Bellingham, WA 98226
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Name
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Name
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center, 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 360-778-6450 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 Work Center Inmate Search
The Whatcom County Jail Work Center maintains an average of 200 offenders in custody on any given day. The Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessAfter being arrested, the offender is brought to the Whatcom County Jail Work Center for booking, which is the detailed process of identifying, classifying, deciding on charges, and whether the person will either be released on their own recognizance, allowed to be released on bail, or moved into the jail until their court date.
The first thing every newly arrested person must do is close their mouth. Everything an offender says may be used against them, so the best thing to do is remain silent when questioned about the arrest and what led to it.
These are the steps of booking someone into the Whatcom County Jail Work Center:
Booking can take as little as an hour, or up to 48 hours on a busy weekend or holiday evening, or if the offender is violent, wasted or generally uncooperative. If you have any questions about when you can pay an offender's bond and what the cost will be, call the facility at 360-778-6450.
When an offender is arrested and brought to the Whatcom County Jail Work Center in Bellingham for booking, there are several outcomes after being processed.
1. The offender will be released with no bail, promising to return on a specific date to appear before a judge in either Municipal or Whatcom County Court.
2. The offender is ordered to remain in jail until their court date.
3. The offender is allowed to be released after paying a specified bond or bail. Call 360-778-6450 to get the exact amount.
The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.
For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Whatcom County Washington, check out the Whatcom County Jail Work Center Bail Page.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Visit an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center? What is the Schedule?
Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout
DAY | TIME |
SUNDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
MONDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
TUESDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
WEDNESDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
THURSDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
FRIDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
SATURDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
DAY | TIME |
SUNDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
MONDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
TUESDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
WEDNESDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
THURSDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
FRIDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
SATURDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
DAY | UNIT | TIME |
SAT | 1st & 3rd Floor (all women) |
8:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM |
SAT | ALL INMATES | 1:00PM 2:00PM 3:00PM |
SUN | 2nd Floor Units 2A, 2B, & 2C |
8:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM |
SUN | 2nd Floor Units 2D, 2E, & 2F |
1:00PM 2:00PM 3:00PM |
How it Works with GettingOut
1. Register an account.
2. Select Whatcom County Jail Work Center
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.
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.
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 Work Center:
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 Work Center'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 Work Center, 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 Work Center 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 Work Center Phone: 360-778-6450
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail Work Center’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center?
Schedule Video Visits online with gettingout
DAY | TIME |
SUNDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
MONDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
TUESDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
WEDNESDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
THURSDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
FRIDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
SATURDAY | 8:00AM - 4:00PM |
DAY | TIME |
SUNDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
MONDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
TUESDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
WEDNESDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
THURSDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
FRIDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
SATURDAY | 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
DAY | UNIT | TIME |
SAT | 1st & 3rd Floor (all women) |
8:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM |
SAT | ALL INMATES | 1:00PM 2:00PM 3:00PM |
SUN | 2nd Floor Units 2A, 2B, & 2C |
8:00AM 9:00AM 10:00AM |
SUN | 2nd Floor Units 2D, 2E, & 2F |
1:00PM 2:00PM 3:00PM |
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Jail Work Center’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center?
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 Work Center 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 Work Center 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 Name
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.
To deposit money online for an inmate in Whatcom County Jail Work Center follow these steps:
For all information, tips and procedures for sending money to an inmate in Whatcom County Jail Work Center, 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 Work Center’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center?
To receive phone calls from inmates in Whatcom County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:
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 Work Center’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow do I Mail an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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 Work Center 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 Name
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Name
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 Work Center 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 Work Center 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 Name
Whatcom County Jail
311 Grand Avenue
Bellingham, WA 98225
For inmates receiving mail in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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 Work Center:
Inmate's Name
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 Work Center’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center, and what can I purchase?
Search for JailATM services for Whatcom County Jail Work Center.
Make an inmate deposit with JailATM for Whatcom County Jail Work Center.
Note: While JailATM offers the following inmate services, Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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 Work Center 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.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Whatcom County Jail Work Center follow these steps:
For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages or sending money to an inmate in Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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 Work Center’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center using an Online Messaging Service?
Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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 Work Center,
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
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:
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 Work Center,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.
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 Work Center’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessDo Inmates in the Whatcom County Jail Work Center have Access to Tablets or Computers?
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 Work Center, such as:
- Free services are already available for use on the device at Whatcom County Jail Work Center.
- Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
- Whatcom County Jail Work Center 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
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 Work Center 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 Work Center’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-778-6450 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessWhat are the other City and County Jails in Whatcom County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Whatcom County?
This facility, known as "Whatcom County Jail Work Center" is also known as Jail Work Center.