Whatcom County Juvenile Detention

Search for an Inmate in Whatcom County

Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Information

Within Whatcom County the Juvenile Detention Facility is under the Juvenile Court Administration and is tasked with protecting the safety of the community and providing accountability to the juvenile offenders. Included in this are some surrounding areas including Lummi Indian Tribe, and San Juan County. This is a secure building that houses at risk youth and those who are a danger to the community or members of that community. Residents will be held in the facility while they are waiting for their court date, if they have violated any conditions of the court, or if they are sentenced to a term of detention. Direct supervision is used, which has staff and officers throughout the spaces of the building and interacting with residents throughout the day rather than from a central control room. Medical staff provide both at the moment and ongoing medical care, while teachers attend the onsite classrooms to continue academic education following the local schoolboard. Physical education and recreation time are both provided, and each resident will attend classes and programs that are aimed to improve social skills, life skills, vocational skills, and promote mental health. Counseling is provided as needed and there are sessions to address conflict, stress management, emotional regulation, healing trauma, and other related topics. Mail: Residents may send and receive mail through the US Postal Service only, and it must have a full return address. All mail is checked for contraband. Phone: Phone calls are permitted to parents and guardians only, and residents are not able to accept outside calls into the facility. Visitation: Only parents and guardians are approved for visitation with residents and depending upon the behavior level of the youth in the behavioral levels program, the visits may be 20-40 minutes long with one visit permitted each day. Visiting days and times are as follows; Monday, Thursday, and Friday 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 360-676-6780

Physical Address:
311 Grand Avenue
6th Floor
Bellingham, WA 98225

Mailing Address (personal mail):
Youth's Name
Whatcom County Juvenile Detention
311 Grand Avenue
6th Floor
Bellingham, WA 98225

Other Jails and Prisons

How Do You Find Someone in the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention?

To search for an inmate in the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention, 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 360-676-6780 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 Juvenile Detention Inmate Search

The Whatcom County Juvenile Detention maintains an average of 30 offenders in custody on any given day. The Whatcom County Juvenile Detention 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.

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Recent Bookings & Arrests

What is the booking process for the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention?

After being arrested, the offender is brought to the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention 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 Juvenile Detention:

  • Personal identification.
  • Mugshot(s).
  • Questions about medical history, mental health, drug and alcohol use, and gang affiliations.
  • Possible DNA.
  • Full body search.
  • Property forfeiture.
  • Free phone call.

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 360-676-6780.

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Directions / Map to the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention
Inmate Bail and Bonding

How do you pay bail for someone who has been arrested in [county_extended}?

When an offender is arrested and brought to the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention 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 360-676-6780 to get the exact amount.

The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.

  • If can be paid by cash, money order or credit card.
  • It can be paid using a bail company, licensed to do business in Whatcom County.
  • It can be paid by using a residential property in the county as collateral. 

For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Whatcom County Washington, check out the Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Bail Page.

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Inmate Visitation

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

Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Visitation Schedule

Monday and Thursday:       
6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday and Wednesday:   
3:00 - 4:00 p.m. and  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Friday:                                 
No visitation

Saturday and Sunday:         
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Remote Video Visitation

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

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Inmate Money Accounts

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

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Inmate Phone Contact

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

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Mailing an Inmate

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

Whatcom County Juvenile Detention Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Whatcom County Juvenile Detention 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 Juvenile Detention 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:
Youth's Name
Whatcom County Juvenile Detention
311 Grand Avenue
6th Floor
Bellingham, WA 98225



Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
311 Grand Avenue
6th Floor
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 Juvenile Detention allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as AmazonBarnes & 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 Juvenile Detention 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:
311 Grand Avenue
6th Floor
Bellingham, WA 98225

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Inmate Commissary

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

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Texting and Emailing an Inmate

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

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Inmate Tablets

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

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Whatcom County Juvenile Detention’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 360-676-6780 for further assistance.

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Other Jails in Whatcom County

What are the other City and County Jails in Whatcom County?

Whatcom County County Jails
Whatcom County Juvenile Facilities
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Other Jails Nearby

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

Whatcom Okanogan Skagit
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Search for an Inmate in Whatcom County