Allegan County Jail


The Allegan County Jail, situated on 13 acres in metropolitan Allegan, is the largest correctional facility in Allegan County, Michigan. Constructed in 1927, it can accommodate up to 67 inmates who are awaiting trial. The jail’s official website can be accessed by clicking here. Apart from its primary role as a prison, the Allegan County Jail offers reintegration programs specifically designed for male convicted offenders.


Located in Allegan, Allegan County, Michigan, the facility maintains a medium level of security. Its address is 640 River Street, Allegan, MI, 49010. The monthly average of total bookings at the Allegan County Jail stands at 201, with a staff consisting of 94 dedicated members.


On an annual basis, the Allegan County Jail employs over 33 prisoners in various in-house work lines, providing support services for the kitchen, laundry, and other activities. Additionally, the jail staff operates and oversees the Allegan County Work Leave Center (WFC), which is conveniently located near the jail, just a traffic light away.


Rules of Visitation

Upon entering the Allegan County Jail, all visitors are subject to a thorough search. Visitation at this Allegan, MI location is limited to once per week, Monday through Saturday. To ensure a visit, visitors must sign in at least 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visitation time. Failure to show up or arriving late for a scheduled visit will result in a visitor being unable to visit for the remainder of the week, including Saturday. If a Saturday visit is missed or delayed, the next opportunity to visit will be the following Saturday. Repeated violations of lateness or no-shows may lead to an extended suspension of visiting privileges.


Inmates are permitted one visit per day, and visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, unless they are visiting their own parent. Unaccompanied minors visiting a parent must provide a copy of their birth certificate. Throughout the visit, children must remain with their parent at all times. Acceptable identification is required for all visitors, such as a driver’s license with photo identification, military ID, or other valid photo ID. In the absence of photo ID, three pieces of non-photo identification may serve as substitutes.


The jail does not accept mail or messages for inmates; all communication must be sent through the U.S. Mail. Visitors are only allowed to visit the specific inmate they have signed up for. Visitors appearing to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be permitted to visit, and inappropriate behavior, including the use of profanity, is strictly prohibited. Weapons and all other prohibited items listed in the jail lobby are not allowed inside the facility. Each booth in the visiting area can accommodate a maximum of four visitors, including children, and the door must remain closed.


Visitors must adhere to appropriate clothing guidelines, including wearing shoes and shirts. Attire or appearance that violates the following restrictions is not permitted: miniskirts or similar attire, low-cut or revealing necklines, clothing with offensive or obscene language, and bare midriffs. Bringing items into the visiting area, such as weapons, purses, backpacks, food, drinks, gum, baby bottles, pictures, books, toys, writing utensils, strollers or carriers, cell phones, cameras, or any electronic devices, is prohibited.

Failure to comply with the above restrictions may lead to the cancellation or termination of a visit, and visiting privileges may be suspended by the Allegan Sheriff’s Department. Visits may also be canceled without notice by the on-duty supervisor due to circumstances within the jail.


Visitation hours at the Allegan County Jail, located at 640 River St, Allegan, MI, are as follows:


  • Monday: 9am – 6pm
  • Tuesday: 9am – 6pm
  • Wednesday: 9am – 6pm
  • Thursday: 9am – 6pm
  • Friday: 9am – 6pm


All visits are non-contact and take place through a glass partition. Additionally, there may be a video visitation option available; for further information and updates on the current rules and regulations, individuals can contact 269-673-0446. Inmates are allowed a maximum of two visitors per day.


Depositing Money for Inmates

The process of sending money to an inmate’s trust account or commissary account can vary depending on the facility, institution, or jail. These guidelines are not specific to a particular location but provide general information applicable to various institutions. Inmates require money to access privileges such as weekly commissary shopping, phone calls, email services (where available), use of electronic tablets (where available), and payment for medical or dental services, including co-pays. Some county jails may even require inmates to make per-night payments for the jail’s expenses.


The methods for sending money to an inmate differ from state to state, depending on whether it is a county, state, or federal facility and the money transfer company they have partnered with. Federal prisons and certain state-level prisons have centralized banking systems, where you may not need to know the specific location but only that they are part of the state system, such as California, Texas, Florida DOC, or the FBOP (Federal Bureau of Prisons). Some facilities allow cash deposits through a window in the lobby or at standalone kiosks in the lobby or visitation area. Most facilities also accept postal money orders, which can be mailed to the institution’s inmate mailing address and made payable to the full name of the inmate.

Regardless of the method chosen, there are some essential details to be aware of:


  1. Inmate’s full committed name
  2. Inmate’s ID number
  3. Inmate’s location or system (e.g., FBOP)


Before sending funds, it is important to determine which online transfer companies are used by the institution where the inmate is incarcerated. This information can be found on relevant websites by visiting the facility’s page and clicking on the Money Transfer button located under the address and phone number. It is crucial to pay attention to the facility’s specific rules, as some may require money senders to be on the inmate’s visitation list. Additionally, certain correctional facilities may have deposit limits, such as a maximum of $200-300 per transaction, while federal institutions may not impose any limits.

Various money transfer firms can facilitate sending money to inmates, including:


  1. MoneyGram
  2. Western Union
  3. JPay
  4. OffenderConnect
  5. Access Corrections
  6. JailATM
  7. CommissaryDeposit
  8. Touchpayonline
  9. Tigercommissary
  10. Smartdeposit


It is advisable to consult the specific rules and regulations of the facility and utilize the services of authorized money transfer companies to ensure a smooth and compliant transaction.


Mailing a Package/Letter

At Allegan County MI Jail, inmates have the opportunity to receive letters from their loved ones and friends, as well as approved packages from home. However, prior written approval from the inmate’s unit team or authorized staff member is required for sending packages.


To ensure that your mail or package complies with the facility’s approved item list and to seek further clarification, it is recommended to contact the administration of Allegan County MI Jail at 269-673-0500. Additionally, you can reach out to them via email at Sheriff@allegancounty.org. For alternative means of communication, the facility may also have a presence on social media platforms.

Contacting the jail administration directly will provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the guidelines and procedures for sending mail and packages to inmates at Allegan County MI Jail.


Inmate Phone Call Services

Beginning November 1, 2018, the Allegan County Jail implemented a new Detainee Telephone System, which introduced the option for friends and family members to purchase prepaid phone services to receive calls from detainees. Through ICSolutions, individuals can create a Charge Phone Record to fund a detainee phone account for prepaid calling. There are three methods available to create this free account.


Allegan County Sheriff Department

County Sheriff:  Frank Baker

Address:  112 North Walnut Street, Allegan, Michigan, 49010

Telephone:  269-673-0500


Overview of Allegan County

Allegan County, located in the state of Michigan, is home to a population of 120,502 people as of the 2020 United States Census. The county seat is Allegan, and its name was given by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft to resemble a Native American word. Allegan County is part of the Holland, MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the larger Grand Rapids–Kentwood–Muskegon, MI Combined Statistical Area. While primarily an agricultural region, Allegan County is experiencing rapid urbanization as the nearby population centers of Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo expand into its territory.


The county has long been a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors to events such as the Tulip Time Festival in Holland and the scenic Lake Michigan shoreline. The area around Saugatuck and Douglas is known for its vacation homes, and Allegan State Game Area, a 45,000-acre forest, draws campers, snowmobilers, cross-country skiers, and hunters. Saugatuck Dunes State Park offers trails through picturesque dunes and a swimming beach along Lake Michigan, while Pier Cove Park provides public access to the lake. Lake Allegan is also a popular recreational spot.


Historically, the Michigan peninsula was inhabited by the Potowatomi and Ojibwe tribes of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa Indians. These tribes were eventually coerced by the United States government to relinquish their lands in exchange for annuities and small reservations. The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, a federally recognized tribe, has a reservation within Allegan County.


The boundaries of Allegan County were established by the Territorial legislature in 1831, and the county itself was officially organized in 1835. During that time, there were only a few European-American families residing in the area, including notable settlers Giles Scott and Turner Aldrich.


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