Find Ventura County Jail inmates...

Want to learn about the Ventura County Jail?

Are you planning to serve some time in Ventura County Jail? Know somebody who is? If so, you may be wondering what life inside this jail is really like.

Going to jail can cause a lot of anxiety, but with the right information, you can feel better prepared for the experience. We have interviewed former inmates of Ventura County Jail, and compiled the following information based on those interviews. You can also click on links to the left to read all the interview questions and answers.

Court
When you go to court, you should expect that you will be in a courtroom full of other people waiting for their cases to be heard. Don't expect any privacy regarding your situation. Public defenders in this area are reported to have very high caseloads, and therefore cannot always give your case the attention it deserves.

If there is any way you can hire a private attorney, you might want to consider it for the best possible outcome in your case.

Inmates
You will have no control over who you share living quarters with, but former inmates have shared advice about how to avoid conflict and stay out of trouble with other people while you serve your time. One major source of discord among inmates is when they gamble and buy and sell canteen items. Stay out of these activities and you will avoid many potential problems.

Racial issues have also caused some problems in the past, but it seems that the jail currently has a policy about bunking people with their own race to avoid some of these clashes.

Food
Ex-inmates of Ventura County give mixed reviews about the food. Some reported that it was pretty good, while another stated it was "not for human consumption." One inmate advises if you know you are going to be booked in, to take cash in your pockets. That way you will have money on your books immediately, and if you don't like the meals, or just want some snacks on hand, you can order them right away.

Continue to the interview