The Elkhart County Jail (also known as the Elkhart County Correctional Complex) is located south of the city of Elkhart, Indiana. The jail has a total bedding capacity of 1000 adult inmates and is managed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. The current Jail Commander is Captain John Perry.
Elkhart County was initially found by immigrants from New England, and was formally established in April 1830. The 2010 census recorded the population of the county as 190,559 people. The county is 468 square miles, and is located in the northern area of the state. The area is referred to by locals as the recreation vehicle (RV) capital of the world, and is known for its sizable Amish and Old Order Mennonite population. The county seat is located in the city of Goshen, which is located about 10 miles southeast of Elkhart City.
Elkhart city is located 15 miles east of South Bend, Indiana, 110 miles east of Chicago, Illinois, and 150 miles north of the state capital, Indianapolis. The city had a reported 2010 census population of 50,949 people. Elkhart has a long history of recreational vehicle and musical instrument manufacturers.
The former county jail was located in the county seat of Goshen, but due to overcrowding, a new jail complex, which also houses the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office, was built and opened in November 2007. The Elkhart County Jail holds both pre-trial detainees and post-conviction inmates sentenced within the county’s jurisdiction and for contracted cities.
The Crossing Educational Center began in the Correctional Facility in January 2014 and great progress is being made to change lives through education with an actual high school diploma, job training and faith-based mentoring. If the offender leaves the facility before completing the program, they can continue at one of the many Crossing Educational Centers in the area.
If you are concerned about an inmate’s health or mental status, call the Elkhart County Jail’s main number (574-891-2100) and ask to speak with a member of the medical staff.
If you feel that your family member or friend has been the victim of sexual abuse at the hands of another inmate or if you have information concerning suspected incidents of employee sexual misconduct involving Elkhart County Correctional Complex personnel, contact the Corrections Investigator at 574-891-2161. You may also call the South Bend Family Justice Center, S-O-S program at 574-289-4357. Inmates can call the tip line directly at 555-1234 or the South Bend Family Justice Center, S-O-S program 24-hour crisis hotline at 574-289-4357 from any jail inmate phone. Both are free calls.
The Elkhart County Correctional Complex investigates all allegations of inmate–on–inmate sexual assaults and staff sexual misconduct. The department will discipline and, when appropriate, refer for prosecution individuals determined to be perpetrators of such conduct.
If you have concerns about jail staff that include any allegations of criminal activity or employee misconduct, call 574-891-2100, and ask to speak with Lieutenant Edwards.
Elkhart County Correctional Complex
26861 County Road 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department
26861 County Road 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Elkhart County Corrections Center
26861 C.R. 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Elkhart County Clerk’s Office
315 S. Second Street
Elkhart, IN 46516
Elkhart County Jail and Sheriff’s Office: 574-891-2100
Elkhart County Clerk’s Office: 574-523-2233
Inmates cannot receive incoming phone calls. Inmates have access to phones in their housing areas for outgoing phone calls. These phone calls must be collect calls, debit or pre-paid phone calls. Jail phone calls are monitored and may be recorded. Any attempt to call transfer or conference call will result in the call being disconnected.
Inmates have access to telephones from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day. Interruptions in this service may be occur during essential facility operations such as inmate head counts, meal service, institutional emergencies or other general incidents. Telephone services are considered a privilege for the inmates, and may be suspended due to disciplinary actions or security concerns. Inmates housed in restrictive housing are provided phone services under controlled movement and their access to telephone service will vary.
Friends and family of inmates can set up prepaid telephone accounts to receive calls from inmates by calling Securus Technologies at 1-800-844-6591 or by visiting the Securus website. Multiple phone numbers can be added to an account to help limit missed calls, and calls will connect to cell phones (subject to facility restrictions). The receiving party still has to accept the call. Accounts can be funded through a credit, debit or prepaid card with the Visa or MasterCard logo, through deposits at MoneyGram or Western Union locations, and though payment by personal check, money order or cashier’s check. Two different account types are available—AdvanceConnect and Direct Bill:
-An AdvanceConnect account automatically deducts the cost of the call from the prepaid account.
-A Direct Bill account allows the receiving party to have the calls billed to them on a monthly basis. A credit check is required to qualify for this service.
To set up an AdvanceConnect or a Direct Bill account through Securus, call them at 1-800-844-6591 or create an account online at https://securustech.net/enroll.
If you want to block calls from inmates of the Elkhart County Jail, contact Securus Technologies at 1-800-844-6591.
The Elkhart County Jail also offers voicemail service for inmates through Securus Technologies. You can leave up to a 45 second voicemail for an inmate by calling 1-866-949-4574. The charge for this service is $1.99 per message, which can be paid for with a credit, debit or prepaid card with the Visa or MasterCard logo. The inmate is notified that they have a voicemail message when they enter their telephone PIN number into the telephone system.
The Elkhart County Jail offers email service for inmates through JailATM.com. An account must be established and funded to use this service. Fees (usually $0.50/message) are charged to send emails. Mobile devices are not supported, so a computer or laptop should be used to send and receive messages. Note, that the system will “time-out” after 10 mins of inactivity so if you are writing a lengthy email, it is recommend that you write your message in a word processor, such as Notepad, and that you then copy/paste your message into the JailATM website.
Review the vendor’s Email Support page for more details on this service. JailATM’s customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Central time) by calling 870-627-5476.
Inmates may receive mail through the U.S. Postal Service and through private delivery services. All personal mail is opened and checked for contraband prior to being delivered to the inmate. All outgoing mail may be inspected.
All mail must have the full name and address of the sender written clearly on the outside of the envelope. Mail that is missing the sender’s information or has illegible sender information will not be forwarded to inmates. Mail with address labels or stickers will be returned to the sender.
Mail with the following items will NOT be delivered to inmates:
-Items containing nudity
-Polaroid pictures
-Greeting cards
-Items containing security issues and criminal conduct
-Items that have glitter, glue, or tape on them
-Books not sent by a publisher
-Items that contain tattooing instructions or designs
-Prohibited property and/or contraband
-Any other item not mentioned that poses a risk to the safety and security of the facility
Inmates may receive magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and new paperback books if these are sent directly to the inmate by the publisher, clearing house or book distributor. Used books may be purchased in person at the approved reseller—The Bookworm, 128 South Main Street, Elkhart, IN 46514. This vendor will send the books directly to the inmate.
Inmates may purchase envelopes and writing materials through the inmate commissary service; indigent inmates may order these materials on a routine schedule, with costs being debited from the inmate’s account.
Mail can be sent to the following address and must include the inmate’s full name (if the inmate has a common name you may want to include their Inmate ID as well):
Elkhart County Corrections Center
26861 C.R. 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Inmates cannot release their property in person or through the mail. Instead, if an inmate wishes to release their property to a designee, the inmate can make a request through the kiosk in their housing unit. The designee can pick up the inmate’s property (photo ID is required) from the jail lobby Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please note that the designee must collect ALL of the inmate’s property currently in possession, with the exception of clothing items, which are not released.
The Elkhart County Jail establishes an Inmate Account for each person when they are incarcerated. This account is used by the inmate to purchase commissary items, barber and medical services, and pay court-imposed fines and restitution fees. The schedule for ordering and delivery of items from the commissary is dependent on the inmate’s assigned housing. Medical Services might prohibit inmates from making certain purchases because of health concerns.
Deposits can be made to the Inmate Account in the following ways:
Deposit machines are located in the lobby of the jail, located at 26861 C.R. 26
Elkhart, IN 46517. The machine accepts all cash denominations (but no coins), credit and debit card transactions. A $2.75 convenience fee is charged per transaction. There is not a maximum deposit amount, however, $2.75 is charged for every $100 deposited.
An inmate’s friends or family can create an account and deposit funds for the inmate at JailATM.com. This site does not support mobile devices so a computer should be used for transactions. The accepted methods of payment for this service are Visa and Mastercard; prepaid cards are not generally supported but may be processed if a card allows cash advance transactions. Fees are associated with making deposits and vary by facility. Account deposits are limited to $300.00 a week per inmate. If you have any questions about deposits, review the topic-specific information in the Contact link at the bottom left of the screen. JailATM’s customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Central time) by calling 870-627-5476.
Money orders and cashier’s checks, made payable to the inmate’s full name, can be mailed to the jail through the U.S. mail for deposit into the Inmate’s Account. The money order/check should include the inmate’s ID number on the memo line for Inmate Account verification. Orders of $100 or more will be subject to a 20-day hold. Any incomplete money orders also will be subject to the 20-day hold. Funds are mailed to:
Elkhart County Corrections Center
26861 C.R. 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Personal checks and cash received by mail will NOT be deposited into an Inmate’s Account; these will be returned to the sender.
Commissary items (such as snacks, hygiene products, clothing, etc.) can be ordered by inmates through the kiosks in their housing units. Commissary orders can be placed at any time and are delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Medical personnel might prohibit inmates from making certain purchases because of health concerns.
Family and friends of inmates may purchase “Gift Packs” for inmates through JailATM.com. These are commissary items (small meals, snacks, hygiene products, clothing, etc.) that can be delivered directly to inmates. An account must be created to place orders and fees are associated with transactions. Accepted payments are via a credit or debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo; prepaid cards are not generally supported but may be processed if a card allows cash advance transactions.
If an inmate wishes to release money from their Inmate Account to friends or family, they can submit a request through a kiosk in their housing unit. Provided sufficient funds are available in the inmate’s account, a release pay card will be issued for the designated person. This card can be picked up by the designated person, with photo ID, in the jail lobby between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
The Elkhart County Jail allows both on-site and remote (off-site or home) visits with inmates. For both visit types, visitors must be registered and approved to visit an inmate. To register as a visitor for an Elkhart County Jail inmate, you can complete the registration form in the jail lobby at one of the kiosks, or you can complete your registration through the Securus website. Once registered, visitors can set a visitation appointment either through the Securus website or at the jail by calling 574-891-2100. All appointments need to be scheduled at least 24 hours prior to the visit.
The number of visits an inmate is allowed each week depends on the inmate’s classification. Call 574-891-2100 to verify an inmate’s visitation privileges.
On-Site Visits:
Visitors 18 years of age and older must be able to produce a valid, government-issued, photo ID. Matricula consular IDs, passports and identification without photos for religious reasons also are acceptable. Children under age 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. No child is to be left unsupervised at any time within the facility.
Visitors must be dressed appropriately for the facility. Unacceptable clothing includes spandex, shorts, and shirts with logos endorsing alcohol, drugs, weapons or gangs. Some sports logos, names and designs have been associated with gang activity, and will not be allowed in the facility. Head coverings will be allowed only for medical and religious reasons.
On-site visits can be scheduled Thursday through Sunday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for all inmates. Visitor needs to report to the jail and be in the assigned booth number at the start time of the scheduled visit. Visitation is done through video terminal. Officers do NOT assign booths or call inmates for their visits. The visitation system in the wards displays all scheduled visits for the day, and it is the inmate’s responsibility to be at the visitation booth at their assigned time.
Inmates may participate in visitation only once a day, though visitors may share time during the visit. Only one adult and one child at a time will be allowed in the visitation booth.
All visitors and their personal effects are subject to search. Visitors should limit items brought into the jail during visitation. This facility has storage lockers for visitors. The following items are not permitted in the visitation area, or any part of the jail, and should be left in your vehicle:
-Cigarettes, vapors, tobacco products, lighters, and/or matches
-Any items considered to be a weapon, such as knives, Kubatons, etc.
-Photo/video cameras and/or recording devices
-Cell phones and pagers
-Letters, pictures, magazines, or books for the inmate
-Hats
Note, this is not all-inclusive list. Other items may be deemed inappropriate by the Watch Commander, at his/her discretion.
If prior approval has been obtained through the court, clothing for court appearances will be accepted at the lobby desk between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Remote (Off-site or Home) Visits:
The Elkhart County Jail offers a video visitation service that allows you to visit with an inmate from the comfort of your home or a remote location. Visitors must have access to a device (computer, tablet or smartphone) with a camera, microphone and high-speed internet access to visit remotely. Visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, and can be conducted Monday through Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The inmate and visitor will need to be logged into their respective terminals at the scheduled start time for the visit to occur. Failure to sign on at the scheduled time or signing on late will not extend the session time period for which you paid. The fee for remote visits is $20 for 20 minutes of visitation time, which can be paid through a credit, debit or prepaid card with the Visa or MasterCard logo. Visits are prepaid and nonrefundable.
To schedule a remote visit, you must create a Securus account and be signed up for Securus Video Visitation. To enroll visit https://securustech.net/schedule-an-at-home-visit.
Securus also offers an unlimited video visitation subscription service. When scheduling a visit, you will be given an option to subscribe to Unlimited Visitation for $19.99/month. You will be required to agree to the new terms and conditions which include storing credit card information and auto renewal of the subscription. Your credit card will be automatically charged for another month of Unlimited Visitation on the same day of the following month, in order to maintain your subscription and the ability to participate in remote visitation as often as you would like. You must cancel the subscription in order to stop the monthly auto renewal.
With the unlimited subscription, you will be able to schedule as many visits as you would like without needing to pay for each visit. Friends and family can have up to three concurrent visits schedule at any time.
Unfortunately, Elkhart County Jail does not provide inmate mugshots online, but you can view charges and bail information by conducting an inmate search.
Inmates are provided with copies of their court records at the time of sentencing. Inmates who need to obtain additional copies of their records, can submit a request to the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department Records Division through a kiosk in their housing unit.
You can see an inmate’s charges and bail information by reviewing the inmate’s General Inmate Information page on the InmateInfo.com website – see the Elkhart County Jail Inmate Search article for details on how to access this site.
To request a copy of an inmate’s public record information, complete this form and bringing it to Elkhart County Sheriff's Department Records Division. The Records Division is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Information about records fees and payment can be found on the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department Criminal History Report website. Questions about the availability of records or ways to obtain information should be directed to Capt. Jim Bradberry at [email protected].
Bail allows an arrested person (defendant) to be released from jail until his or her case is completed.
Bail bonds or surety bonds are written agreements entered into by the individual and his/her sureties (most commonly a bail bondsman) that guarantees the individual will appear in court at an appointed date and time. Cash bonds and surety bonds are the acceptable forms of bond payment for Elkhart County Jail inmates.
Cash Bond:
Cash bond payments can be made in person with cash for the exact amount of the bond (dollar bills, checks are not accepted) or with a credit card (a 10% fee will be added to credit card payments) in the lobby of the Elkhart County Jail. Due to high demand for cash bonds, it is highly recommended that you schedule an appointment to pay the bond by calling the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department at 574-891-2131. People who have not made an appointment for bonding will not be turned away, but unscheduled bonds are likely to have a significant wait time as scheduled bonds will be processed first.
Certain times of the day are unavailable for bonding due to inmate movement. These times include formal inmate counts that occur at shift change and feeding times. Bonds will not be scheduled during formal counts.
Bonding Company:
Bonding companies provide bonds for incarcerated persons and typically charge a negotiable percentage fee (10%) of the total amount of the bond. Bonding companies must be pre-approved by the county. You can find a list of Approved Bondsman on the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department Bond Information website.
Revoking a Bond:
If a person who posted a bond for an inmate wishes to revoke it, they must submit paperwork to the relevant court in which the inmate was sentenced.
Bond Refund:
The Elkhart County Jail does not process bond refunds. For a bond refund, the person who posted the bond will need to request a refund through the relevant court in which the inmate was sentenced.
Now that you have read our article on the Elkhart County Jail, we hope we have made it much easier to schedule visits, send mail, fund inmate accounts for commissary purchases and telephone use, leave voicemails for inmates, send inmates email, and contact the prison. We understand how difficult it can be when a family or friend is incarcerated, and we try our absolute best to provide the most updated information on each facility, to make your life easier.
Year Built or Opened: 2007 Warden or Supervisor: Captain John Perry Daily Inmate Count: 765 Total Capacity: 1000 Security Level(s): medium
26861 County Road 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Phone Number(s):
574-891-2100
Fax Number:
574-533-3547
26861 County Road 26
Elkhart, IN 46517
Other Prisons in Indiana:
United States Penitentiary Terre Haute | Adams County IN Jail | Allen County IN Confinement Center | Amo Town Marshal's Lockup | Ball State University Police Jail | Bartholomew County Jail | Bartholomew County Youth Center (coed) | Battle Ground Police Jail | Benton County IN Jail | Blackford County Jail