Maricopa County Jail
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Maricopa County Jail. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial
- Inmate Capacity
- 8,000 approx.
- Established
- 1994
- Operated By
- Maricopa County Sheriff's Office
Maricopa County Jail Inmate Communication Overview
Maricopa County Jail is the detention system operated by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in the Phoenix metropolitan area, the fourth-largest county by population in the United States. The system encompasses multiple facilities including the downtown Phoenix intake complex and several satellite jails spread across the Valley. With a total capacity exceeding 8,000 and a daily population that routinely approaches that number, Maricopa County's jail system is one of the largest in the country. The vast majority of people held in the system are pretrial detainees awaiting court proceedings in the Maricopa County court system.
Communication across Maricopa County jail facilities is managed through GTL, which provides phone calls, video visitation, and electronic messaging services under the sheriff's office contract. Families can create a single GTL account to access all available services. For phone calls, setting up a GTL prepaid account linked to your phone number allows you to receive inmate-initiated calls. Remote video visits are available and can be scheduled through the GTL platform. Electronic messaging through GTL delivers messages digitally within the system. Commissary deposits can also be processed through GTL or AccessCorrections.
One thing to know about the Maricopa County system is that it operates several distinct jails, and your loved one may be housed at any of them, the downtown 4th Avenue Jail, Towers Jail, Madison Street Jail, or one of the other facilities. The GTL platform and account setup are the same across all Maricopa County Sheriff's Office facilities, but confirming the specific facility and booking number is important when scheduling video visits or making deposits. After a conviction and sentencing, inmates transferred to the Arizona Department of Corrections state system will require a switch from GTL to JPay and Securus.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
100 W. Madison Street, Phoenix, AZ 85003
Main Phone
(602) 876-1000
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Communication Options
Available communication services at Maricopa County Jail.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: GTL
Electronic messaging via GTL. Delivered digitally within the facility.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available. Schedule in advance. Confirm specific facility location before booking.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photo mail accepted subject to MCSO content restrictions. No digital photo service.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Fund a GTL prepaid account to receive inmate-initiated calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: GTL
Commissary deposits via GTL or AccessCorrections.
Communication Providers at Maricopa County Jail
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
GTL
All Maricopa County jail communication, phone, video, messaging, and money, runs through GTL.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Maricopa County Jail
- GTL serves all Maricopa County Sheriff's Office jail facilities. One account covers all services.
- Confirm the specific facility (4th Avenue, Towers, Madison, etc.) before scheduling visits.
- After sentencing and transfer to Arizona DOC state prison, switch to JPay and Securus.
- Phone and commissary accounts are funded separately within the GTL system.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Maricopa County Jail
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I contact someone in Maricopa County Jail?
- All communication services, phone, video, messaging, and money, are through GTL. Create a single GTL account at telmate.com or through the GTL Connect app. One account covers all Maricopa County Sheriff's Office jail facilities.
- Which specific jail is my loved one in?
- Maricopa County operates several jails including the 4th Avenue Jail, Towers Jail, and Madison Street Jail among others. Use the MCSO inmate search at mcso.org to find the current facility and booking number. Confirming the specific location is important when scheduling video visits through GTL.
- Can I do a video visit with someone in Maricopa County Jail?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through GTL. Log into your GTL account, navigate to video visitation, and select the specific Maricopa County facility. Schedule in advance. You will need a device with a working camera.
- What changes if my loved one is transferred to an Arizona state prison?
- If sentenced and transferred to ADCRR, you will need to switch to JPay for messaging and money, and Securus for phone and video. GTL serves the county jail system, not the Arizona state prison system. Your GTL account balance does not transfer. Contact GTL about refund options for remaining funds.
- How do I send money to a Maricopa County jail inmate?
- Commissary deposits can be made through GTL at telmate.com or through AccessCorrections. Add funds via debit or credit card, or cash at participating retail locations. Processing typically takes one business day.
Troubleshooting at Maricopa County Jail
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
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