If during a phone call or video visit with your friend or loved one, they express being angry, depressed or they speak of suicide, contact our facility immediately at 541-967-3901.
The Sheriff’s Office works with ViaPath to provide Adult in Custody (AIC) telephone calls, video visits and messaging services. Please refer to the information below for further instructions and details.
Policy Overview
The Linn County Jail provides telephone and tablet usage to unrestricted AICs to help them maintain personal communications and ties with friends and family. This can also help facilitate their future transition from jail life to community life. Our policy is ensure the jail’s safety, security, order, and efficient operation while using the least restrictive means possible to regulate general AIC telephone and tablet use.
Within a reasonable time frame following the admission process, AICs shall be allowed to use the phone to contact family/friends or their attorney — unless the intake forms have not been completed due to the AICs disruptive behavior.
Availability of Phones & Tablets
- Telephones and tablets are available in all housing units at the Jail.
- Telephone calls, tablet calls, video visits and messaging, may be monitored or recorded to prevent introduction of contraband and to prevent violations of law and/or facility rules.
- Unrestricted AICs may use these telephones to call collect locally or anywhere in the United States as long as the call recipient will accept the collect charges. Tablets are also available to the same AICs for making tablet calls, receiving and sending messages and conducting video visits.
- The telephones are for outgoing calls only; they will not accept incoming calls. .
- ViaPath customer service representatives are available 24/7 to help answer your telephone and tablet questions.
AIC Voicemail
You can leave a voicemail message for about the price of a local phone call. Call (866) 516-0115 and follow the automated instructions.
Hours of Telephone and Tablet Access
Telephones and tablets are generally available every day.
AICs may use both in their housing area during their scheduled time out in the dayroom. The exact times authorized by the supervisor on-duty are dependent on security issues. Calls automatically “time out” and disconnect after 20 minutes.
Telephone and Tablet Rules
These rules will be posted for AICs to see in their cell blocks. They are also listed in the facility handbook. In addition, AICs may ask deputies to explain any of the rules the do not understand. Telephone calls, tablet calls, video visits and messages may be monitored or recorded to prevent introduction of contraband and to prevent violations of law and/or facility rules.
- AICs must not damage the telephone equipment or the tablets.
- AIC calls are limited to 20 minutes.
- Profanity and yelling on the telephone are prohibited.
- Harassment, intimidation, or threats over the telephone or tablet is prohibited.
- AICs may never contact the victims/witnesses of crimes they are accused of committing.
- The monitoring/recording of any call or tablet session may be used in AIC disciplinary hearing or court proceeding as evidence.
Violation of Telephone or Tablet Rules
Telephones and tablets are a privilege — therefore, they must be used in a manner that complies with the state laws, county ordinances, and facility rules.
AICs who misuse the telephone system or the facility tablets may be warned, informally disciplined, lose their privileges, or subject themselves to disciplinary sanctions and/or criminal action, if and when appropriate.
Blocking AIC Telephone Calls
A citizen, upon request, may have his or her telephone number blocked from being called by the jail AIC telephone system. If you want your phone blocked, call (866) 516-0115.
Blocking a telephone number can take up to 24 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.