Incarcerated Persons Release Procedures

Any incarcerated person scheduled for release and not being transported to another jurisdiction will be allowed to make 3 free telephone calls to plan for a safe and successful release.

Any incarcerated person may complete paperwork to voluntarily stay in custody for up to 16 additional hours or until normal business hours, whichever is shorter, to offer the incarcerated person, the ability to be discharged to a treatment center or during daytime hours. The incarcerated person may revoke his or her consent and be discharged as soon as possible and practicable.

Upon request, a person who has suffered an arrest that did not result in a conviction and is released from custody shall be provided with the appropriate Judicial Council forms to petition the court to have the arrest and related records sealed.

Release Processing:

Verify incarcerated person’s identity
Verify that all release paperwork is present, correct, and complete
Verify no outstanding warrants, detainers, or DL 310 were issued
Clearance by a qualified health care professional and, if needed, an evaluation by a qualified health care professional (WBCF only)
Cell inspection to determine if any damage is present
Release of personal property/funds
Incarcerated person is to sign all required release forms
If applicable, notification of future courts date
Dress out in civilian clothing
Make up to 3 free phone calls
Release from facility/transport to hospital

Types of releases:

Served Sentence:

After the sentence terms are entered into the computer for a sentenced incarcerated person, it calculates a release date. The release date is provided to the incarcerated person. When a sentenced incarcerated person is due for release from custody, they are processed out of the facility between 8:00 and 10:00 am of the morning they are due to be released.

Court Release:

Incarcerated persons held for further court proceedings and duly released by the courts from arraignment or pre-trial confinement are returned to the jail from the courthouse at varied times. Incarcerated persons who have been released by the courts are processed as quickly as possible. Delays in obtaining paperwork from the courts will slow the release process. Normally Incarcerated persons will be released two to four hours after their return from court.

Own Recognizance, Bail Bond, or Cite Release:

If a person is being released on his/her own recognizance or a cite release, they will be typically released between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.

Bail bond or cash bail is accepted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Bonded incarcerated persons are typically released between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm.

Individuals who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of arrest and are eligible for release on their own recognizance, cite release, or are bonded out will remain in custody until they can be safely released.

Individuals will not be released between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am without a verified ride.

Medical Release:

Incarcerated persons who require specific release plans for medical, mental health, or structured living arrangements can be released at any time of the day, and on a case-by-case basis.

If it is recommended by a qualified health care professional that the incarcerated person be transported to the hospital for further medical care due to alcohol withdrawal, upon the approval of the person being released, arrangements will be made by jail staff for a courtesy ride to the hospital. An incarcerated person may refuse the courtesy ride to the hospital; however, they will be required to sign a Discharge Instructions form and check the refusal box.

48-hour/825 PC releases or charges dropped by the District Attorney:

48-hr: Incarcerated persons without a Probable Cause Declaration will typically be released before 8 pm Sunday through Saturday.

825 PC: Incarcerated persons not seen in court by the 825 PC limits will typically be released before 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Incarcerated persons whose charges have been dropped by the District Attorney will typically be released before 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Incarcerated persons housed in Wayne Brown Correctional Facility for other jurisdictions:

Without a verified ride, incarcerated persons under the jurisdiction of Sierra County will only be released to a Sierra County Deputy, Sierra County Probation officer or a court ordered authorized person.

Incarcerated persons housed in the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility (WBCF) as a courtesy for or under contract with another jurisdiction other than Sierra County will only be released to a representative of that jurisdiction.

Transports to other jurisdictions for warrants or transport to state or federal prison:

Transports to other jurisdictions or the state prison typically will be during morning hours. For safety and security reason, incarcerated persons will not be told the date or time of transport. Phone calls prior to transport will not be allowed.

Property Release:

All property held for an incarcerated person at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility or Truckee Jail will be returned to the incarcerated person when they are released from custody. The person being released will be handed their property so they may do a complete inventory of their property and then will be required to initial next to each item listed on the Property Inventory Sheet and sign at the bottom of the sheet acknowledging that all their property is present. Any discrepancies shall be promptly reported to the Sergeant or Officer in Charge. Any property that may be used as a weapon will be handed to the incarcerated person at the release door.

If the incarcerated person has a remaining balance on their fund account, the releasing officer will issue a debit card from the incarcerated person's fund account upon release minus any funds spent on commissary purchases, postage, funds released to other parties, etc.

Items left over 90 days after an incarcerated person’s release will be destroyed or otherwise disposed of.

An incarcerated person is allowed to release their personal property while in custody, 1 time during their current incarceration. Funds may only be released to other parties once a month. Personal property will only be released on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 9 am to 7 pm.

The incarcerated person is required to complete a Release of Property Request form which shall include the name of the person the property is being released to and a description of all items being released.

Incarcerated persons will not be allowed to release shoes or clothing items deemed necessary for transportation to another facility or necessary for release.

If the property of an incarcerated person committed to state or federal prison is not released prior to transportation, said property will accompany the incarcerated person to prison unless other arrangements are made. No incarcerated person's property is intentionally held after an incarcerated person is released.

Upon receipt of the Release of Property Request form, signed by an incarcerated person and verified by jail staff, the personal property shall be retrieved from the incarcerated person’s property and released to the designated person only. The incarcerated person's property inventory will be updated on the computer, with the name of whom the property was released to and the date of release. The yellow copy will be given to the incarcerated person and the white copy will be retained in the person’s booking file.

The designee must produce a valid photo ID to receive the property. All items except for money can be picked up at the Bondman’s/Release door at WBCF or the Lobby at the Truckee Jail. Any funds being released can be picked up in the Lobby at WBCF. Funds will be issued in the form of a check. No funds will be released at the Truckee Jail.