Metro-west-jail sits at 13850 NW 41st Street in Miami, Florida. This large building holds men who wait for court dates or serve short times. People call this place the Metro West Detention Center. It has room for 3,098 people at one time. Right now, about 1,200 people live there on a normal day. The Miami-Dade Police Department runs the site. They keep it safe with fences and cameras. You can reach the jail by calling 786-263-5101 any hour of the day. This place has 27 areas for adults and small areas for younger people. The staff works hard to keep everything clean and quiet. Every person who stays here gets a bed and food. They also get medical care if they feel sick.
Metro-west-jail mailing rules for letters
Letters must go through the United States Postal Service. If you use FedEx or UPS, the staff will send the package back. Every envelope must have the right address and the right inmate name. You must write the legal name clearly. You must include the booking number. The staff calls this the jail number. This number helps the mail room put the letter in the right cell. The address to use is 13850 NW 41st Street, Miami, FL 33178. Do not use stickers on the envelope. Do not use glitter or tape. The mail room staff looks at every letter to make sure no bad items enter the jail. They search for drugs or weapons. This search takes about 48 hours. Most people get their mail two or three days after it arrives.
Photos can go inside the envelope. You must print photos on plain white paper. Use paper that is 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Do not send polaroid photos. Do not send photos that show bad things. Each inmate can only have a few photos at a time. If the letter weighs more than one pound, the jail will not take it. You can send postcards too. Postcards must be plain. They cannot have extra things glued to them. If you want to send a book, it must come from a store like Amazon. The store must ship the book directly to the jail. Inmates can only get softcover books. Hardcover books are not allowed because they can be used as weapons. Inmates can get two magazines each month. These must also come from the publisher.
Locating someone in the metro-west-jail roster
The county keeps a list of people in custody. They update this list often. You can look at the list on the Miami-Dade Sheriff website. The list has names, ages, and photos. It shows why the person is in jail. It shows the money needed for bond. The system gets new data every six hours. To search the list, use a last name. You can use a birth date too. If you cannot use the website, call 786-263-5101. The workers can tell you if someone is there. They can tell you the booking date. They can tell you the release date if they know it. The roster helps family stay in touch. It helps lawyers see where clients live. The building has many units. Each unit has a name like Cell B-12. Knowing the cell name makes it easier to visit.
The roster shows the race and sex of each person. It lists the time they entered the jail. If a person leaves, their name stays on the list for a short time. Then the system removes it. If you see a bond amount, you can pay that money to let the person go home. Some people have no bond. This means a judge said they must stay until court. The website works on phones and computers. It is free to use. You do not need to sign up for an account. Just type the name and hit search. If the name is common, look at the photo to pick the right person. The photos are clear. They show the person from the front.
Metro-west-jail visiting hours and rules
Visitors can come to the jail from Monday to Saturday. Visiting happens between 9 AM and 5 PM. You cannot just show up. You must ask for a visit 24 hours before you come. Use the jail website to fill out a form. Or call 786-263-5156 to set a time. Visits last for two hours. You must bring a card that proves who you are. A driver’s license or a passport works well. If you are under 12 years old, you must come with an adult. The jail lets children visit if they behave. You cannot touch the inmate. There is a thick glass wall between you. You talk through a phone or a speaker. The staff listens to the talk to keep everyone safe.
Wear plain clothes when you visit. Do not wear short skirts or shirts that show too much skin. Do not wear clothes that look like jail uniforms. If you wear bad clothes, the staff will tell you to leave. Do not bring a cell phone into the visiting room. Leave your bags and keys in your car. Or put them in a locker at the front. If you try to bring a phone inside, you might get in trouble. The jail has a metal detector. You must walk through it. If it beeps, the staff will search you. This is to make sure no one brings in guns or knives. They want the building to stay quiet and safe for all people.
Putting money on an inmate account at metro-west-jail
Inmates need money to buy extra food and soap. This is called commissary money. You can put money on an account in three ways. First, you can use the kiosk in the jail lobby. It takes cash or credit cards. Second, you can use the internet. Go to the jail website and look for the money link. Third, you can call a special phone number to pay by card. The jail uses a company to handle this money. They charge a small fee for each payment. The money shows up on the inmate’s account fast. Most of the time, they can spend it the next day. Inmates use the money to buy snacks, warm socks, and stamps. They can also pay for phone calls.
The jail sets a limit on how much money an inmate can have. If they have too much, they cannot get more. Every week, the inmate fills out a list of what they want. The staff brings the items to their cell. If an inmate gets in trouble, the jail might stop them from buying things for a while. If an inmate leaves the jail, they get their left-over money back. Usually, they get it on a debit card. You can check how much money is in an account by calling the jail. You will need the inmate booking number. This keeps the data private. Only people who know the inmate should have this number.
Medical care and health services at metro-west-jail
The jail has doctors and nurses on staff every day. When a person first arrives, they get a health check. The nurse asks about heart problems or breathing issues. They check for drugs in the body. If an inmate takes medicine, the jail will give it to them. You can call 786-263-5155 to talk to the medical office. If your friend or family member needs special pills, tell the nurse. The jail must keep inmates healthy. If someone gets very sick, the jail sends them to a hospital nearby. There are guards who go to the hospital too. This keeps the sick person from running away.
Inmates can ask to see a doctor at any time. they write a note called a sick call slip. A nurse looks at the note and picks a time for the visit. There is also a dentist for tooth pain. If an inmate feels sad or scared, they can talk to a mental health worker. The jail tries to help people feel better. They do not want anyone to hurt themselves. The medical area is very clean. It looks like a small clinic. They have tools to check blood and bones. The staff keeps medical records private. They only tell the inmate and the doctors about health facts. This follows the laws about health privacy.
Daily life inside metro-west-jail
Life in the jail follows a strict plan. The lights go on early in the morning. Every inmate must get out of bed and clean their area. They eat breakfast in a large room or in their cells. Then they have free time. During free time, they can watch TV or walk in a small yard. Some people play cards. Others read books. Lunch happens at noon. The food is simple but it fills the stomach. After lunch, some inmates go to work. They might clean the floors or help in the kitchen. Working helps the time pass faster. It also lets them earn a little bit of credit.
In the evening, they eat dinner and have more free time. They can use the phones to call home. These calls cost money. The jail uses a system where the family pays for the minutes. Calls can last for 15 minutes. Then the phone shuts off. This lets everyone have a turn. At night, the staff counts all the people. They do this many times a day to make sure no one is missing. When the count is done, the lights go out. Inmates must stay in their beds. The guards walk the halls with flashlights. They look into the cells to see that everyone is sleeping. This keeps the night peaceful.
Court dates and legal help at metro-west-jail
Most people at the jail have a lawyer. If they cannot pay for one, the state gives them a public defender. Inmates can talk to their lawyers in private rooms. These rooms do not have glass walls. The lawyer can bring papers for the inmate to sign. Inmates also go to court to see a judge. Sometimes they go in a bus to the courthouse. Other times, they use a TV screen in the jail. This is called a video court date. The judge talks to them through the screen. This is faster than driving to the court. It also costs less money for the county.
The jail records office keeps track of court dates. You can call 786-263-5154 to ask when a court date is. If a judge says an inmate can go home, the records office gets the paperwork. They check it twice to be sure. Then they let the person out. This can take a few hours. The jail must make sure there are no other warrants. A warrant is a paper that says a person must stay in jail for a different crime. If there are no warrants, the person gets their street clothes back. They walk out the front door. Family can wait in the parking lot to pick them up.
Bail and bond basics for metro-west-jail
Bail is money you pay to the court. It acts as a promise. The promise is that the inmate will show up for court. If they show up, you might get the money back. If they do not show up, the court keeps the money. Bond is different. You pay a bond seller a small part of the money. Usually, it is ten percent. The bond seller then pays the rest for you. You do not get this money back. The bond seller keeps it as their pay. This is a good way to get someone out if you do not have all the money. You can find bond sellers near the jail. They have signs that say “Bail Bonds.”
To pay bail, go to the jail window. You can pay with cash or a cashier’s check. They do not take personal checks. You must have the full amount. The jail staff will give you a receipt. Keep this paper in a safe place. You will need it later. If the inmate misses court, a judge will issue a warrant. The bond seller will then try to find the inmate. They want their money back. If the inmate follows all the rules, the bond ends when the case is over. This can take months or years. The jail helps you know the bond amount by looking at the roster. Each crime has a set bond amount in Miami-Dade County.
Programs and classes at metro-west-jail
The jail offers classes to help people learn. Some classes teach how to read better. Others help people get a high school diploma. This is called a GED. There are also classes for drug problems. These classes show people how to live without using drugs. Some inmates take religious classes. Priests and pastors come to the jail to talk. They hold services on Sundays. These programs help inmates stay busy. They also help them become better people. When they leave jail, they might find a job easier because of what they learned. The jail wants people to stay out of trouble in the future.
There are also hobby programs. Inmates can learn to paint or draw. They can use the library to find books on many topics. The library has books in English and Spanish. If an inmate wants a certain book, they can ask the librarian. Some inmates participate in exercise groups. They do push-ups and sit-ups in the yard. Staying strong helps their mood. The staff watches these programs closely. If people fight, the programs stop. Good behavior is required to join any class. Inmates who follow rules get more chances to learn new things. This is a reward for being good.
The intake process at metro-west-jail
When the police arrest a person, they bring them to intake. This is the first stop. A guard takes the person’s name and age. They take photos of the person’s face. They also take fingerprints. These prints go into a computer. The computer checks for other crimes. Then, the person must give up their clothes and phone. The jail puts these items in a bag. They store the bag in a safe room. The person gets a jail uniform. Most uniforms are orange or brown. They also get a bed roll. This has a blanket, a sheet, and a towel. They get a toothbrush and soap too.
Intake can take a long time. Sometimes it takes six hours. The jail is busy with many new people. A person stays in a holding cell while they wait. This cell has a bench and a toilet. There is no bed in the holding cell. Once the paperwork is done, the person moves to a housing unit. A guard shows them their bed. The guard explains the rules of the unit. They tell the person when to eat and when to sleep. The person can then use the phone to tell their family where they are. This is the first time they can call out after being arrested.
Security and safety at metro-west-jail
Safety is the top goal at the jail. The building has many locked doors. Each door needs a key or a badge to open. There are cameras in every hallway. The guards watch these cameras from a control room. If they see a fight, they send help fast. The jail also has a tall fence with wire on top. This keeps people from climbing over. Guards walk around the outside of the fence too. They check for holes or broken parts. Inside the jail, guards do random searches. They look for things that should not be there. They check under beds and in lockers.
The jail has a team for emergencies. If there is a fire or a big fight, this team acts quickly. They wear special gear to stay safe. They train every month for these problems. The jail also has rules for tools and kitchen knives. Every knife is tied to a table or kept in a locked box. The staff counts the tools every day. If one tool is missing, no one can leave their cell until it is found. This keeps the staff and the inmates safe from harm. Most days are quiet because of these rules. People know that the guards are watching all the time.
Staff and management at metro-west-jail
Many people work at the jail to keep it running. Correctional officers are the main workers. They wear uniforms and carry radios. They do not carry guns inside the jail. This is to make sure an inmate cannot take a gun. Instead, they carry pepper spray or a taser. There are also supervisors called Sergeants and Lieutenants. They make the big decisions. The jail also has office workers. They handle the money and the mail. Maintenance workers fix the lights and the toilets. Every worker must go through a background check. They must be honest and strong.
The jail director leads the whole building. They talk to the county leaders about money and rules. The staff works in shifts. Some work in the day. Some work at night. There is always someone on duty. If you have a problem, you can ask to speak to a supervisor. They will listen to your concerns. The jail tries to be fair to everyone. They follow laws that protect inmate rights. If a guard is mean, they can lose their job. The jail wants to be a professional place. They treat everyone with respect as long as they follow the rules.
Metro-west-jail contact details
Address: 13850 NW 41st Street, Miami, FL 33178
Main Phone: 786-263-5101
Inmate Services: 786-263-5110
Records Office: 786-263-5154
Medical Services: 786-263-5155
Visitation Scheduling: 786-263-5156
Visiting Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9 AM to 5 PM (By appointment only)
Common questions about metro-west-jail
Many people have questions about how to help their loved ones in jail. These questions often focus on how to send things or when someone can come home. It is best to know the rules so you do not make a mistake. Mistakes can cause a person to stay in jail longer or lose their visiting rights. The following section answers the most frequent questions people ask the jail staff every day.
How do I find an inmate’s booking number at metro-west-jail?
To find the booking number, you must use the official search tool. Go to the Miami-Dade County website and look for the In-Custody Search page. Type the last name of the person you are looking for. If you know their first name, type that too. The system will show a list of people. Click on the name that matches your friend or family member. The booking number is a long string of digits. It is often near the top of the page. You can also call the jail at 786-263-5101. Tell the worker the person’s name and date of birth. They will look it up for you. This number is very important. You need it to send mail, put money on an account, or schedule a visit. It is a good idea to write this number down and keep it in your wallet. The jail staff uses this number to track everything the inmate does. It never changes as long as they are in the jail for that specific arrest. If they leave and come back later, they might get a new number.
What items can I bring to an inmate at metro-west-jail?
You cannot bring items directly to the jail. You cannot drop off clothes, food, or medicine at the front desk. The jail only takes items sent through the mail or bought through the commissary. If an inmate needs a suit for court, their lawyer must handle that. For daily needs, the inmate must buy them using the money you put on their account. This includes things like toothbrushes, snacks, and extra blankets. The only exception is for official legal papers. These must be delivered by a lawyer or sent through the mail. If you try to bring a bag of items to the jail, the guards will tell you to take it back to your car. This rule exists to keep the building safe. It stops people from trying to hide bad items inside normal things like soap or shoes. Everything an inmate has must be checked by the staff first. This is why the commissary system is used. The items in the commissary are already checked and safe for use inside the jail walls.
Can inmates receive phone calls from home?
Inmates cannot take phone calls that come to the jail. You cannot call the main jail number and ask to speak to an inmate. If you have an emergency, you can call the chaplain or a supervisor. They might give the message to the inmate. However, the inmate is the one who must call you. They use phones located in the housing units. These phones are available during free time. To get a call, you must set up an account with the jail’s phone company. This company is usually GTL or Viapath. You can put money on your phone number so the inmate can call you. Or the inmate can use money from their commissary account. Calls are monitored and recorded. Do not talk about illegal things or the details of a court case. The police can listen to these tapes later. Each call has a time limit of 15 minutes. When the time is up, the call ends. You can then wait for the inmate to call you back if they still have minutes left.
How long does it take to get released from metro-west-jail?
Release time depends on several factors. If a judge says an inmate can go, the court sends a paper to the jail. This paper is called a release order. The jail records office must get this paper first. Then they check the inmate’s file. They look for any other reasons the person should stay. This includes warrants from other counties or states. This check can take two to six hours. Once the check is done, the inmate moves to the release area. They get their personal clothes and belongings back. They sign some papers and then they can leave. Usually, the whole thing takes about four to eight hours from the time the judge speaks. If the jail is very busy, it might take longer. The jail releases people at all hours of the day and night. If the release happens at 2 AM, the person is still allowed to walk out. Family members should stay in contact with the jail records office to know when to wait outside.
What happens if an inmate gets sick at metro-west-jail?
If an inmate feels ill, they must tell a guard right away. The guard will call a nurse. The inmate might go to the medical clinic inside the jail. The clinic can handle small problems like colds, cuts, or stomach aches. They have beds where an inmate can stay if they need to be watched. If the problem is serious, like a heart attack or a broken bone, the jail calls an ambulance. The inmate goes to a local hospital. A guard stays with them at the hospital the whole time. The jail pays for the medical care while the person is in custody. If the inmate has their own doctor, they cannot see them unless the court says so. The jail doctors are the ones who make the choices about medicine and treatment. Family members can call the medical line at 786-263-5155 to give the jail facts about the inmate’s health history. This helps the doctors give the right care.
Can I send a care package to an inmate at metro-west-jail?
You cannot make your own care package and mail it. The jail will send it back or throw it away. You must use an approved vendor. These are companies that the jail trusts. You go to the company’s website and pick out a pre-made package. These packages have snacks, hygiene items, and sometimes clothes. You pay the company, and they ship the box directly to the jail. Because the box comes from a store, the jail knows it is safe. They still open it and look inside, but it is much easier for the inmate to get. There is usually a limit on how many packages an inmate can get each month. Most people get one package every 30 days. This is a great way to show someone you care about them. It gives them better food than what the jail serves. You can find the link to the approved vendor on the Miami-Dade County Corrections website. Make sure you have the inmate’s full name and booking number before you order.
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