San Francisco County Jail
Find messaging, video, and phone options for San Francisco County Jail. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial / Sentenced
- Inmate Capacity
- Not available
- Established
- Not available
- Operated By
- San Francisco Sheriff's Department
San Francisco County Jail Inmate Communication Overview
The San Francisco County jails, operated by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, include intake and housing facilities in the city and in San Bruno. The department has pursued a free-communications model: rather than charging families per call, the city pays the vendor a fixed rate so incarcerated people and their families are not charged for calls.
Global Tel Link (GTL), now ViaPath Technologies, was selected as the jail phone service provider under the city's contract, which also allows for free video calls. Families still set up accounts with the vendor for calling, but the per-call cost burden that existed before the contract is gone.
San Francisco has also moved toward free tablet services for incarcerated people, with the Sheriff's Office running a request-for-proposals process for a free tablet program. Because the communications setup here differs from most California jails, check the Sheriff's current pages before assuming any fee schedule you see on a vendor site applies.
Communication Options
Available communication services at San Francisco County Jail.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Two-way electronic messaging is not confirmed. The county has pursued a free tablet program, but the current messaging setup should be checked on the Sheriff's pages.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Free video calls under the city's GTL contract. Check the Sheriff's pages for scheduling details.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Photo sharing is not confirmed. Physical photos by mail follow standard jail mail rules.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Free phone calls under the city's GTL contract. Set up a vendor account so calls can connect.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Deposit options are not confirmed on the Sheriff's communication pages. Check the Sheriff's pages before sending funds.
Communication Providers at San Francisco County Jail
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
GTL
GTL (ViaPath) provides the jail phone service under the city's contract, with free phone and video calls for incarcerated people and families.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at San Francisco County Jail
- Phone and video calls are free under the city's GTL contract, a different model from most California jails.
- Set up a vendor account with GTL so calls from your loved one can connect to your number.
- Inmates cannot receive incoming calls. All calls are initiated from inside the jail.
- Confirm the current tablet and messaging setup on the Sheriff's pages before relying on it.
- All communications are subject to the Sheriff's monitoring policies, except approved attorney communications.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions — San Francisco County Jail
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- Are phone calls free at San Francisco County Jail?
- Yes. Under the city's contract with GTL (ViaPath), the city pays the vendor a fixed rate instead of charging families per call, and the contract also allows for free video calls.
- Which company provides the phone service?
- Global Tel Link (GTL), now ViaPath Technologies, was selected as the jail phone service provider. Families set up accounts with the vendor so calls can connect.
- Can I video visit someone in San Francisco County Jail?
- Free video calls are included under the city's GTL contract. Check the Sheriff's pages for the current scheduling process.
- Can I message an inmate?
- Two-way electronic messaging is not confirmed. The Sheriff's Office has pursued a free tablet program, but check the current Sheriff's pages for what messaging is actually available.
- How do I send money to an inmate?
- Deposit options are not confirmed on the Sheriff's communication pages. Check the San Francisco Sheriff's pages for the current approved deposit method.
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