Mendocino County Sheriff's Office

Volunteers & Program Providers

A Jail Program Provider is someone who has been granted a security clearance to come into the jail and provide services to inmates. This work may or may not involve direct inmate contact. A Jail Program Provider may be a paid employee or an unpaid volunteer, an individual working alone, or a representative of a private or public organization.

Jail program providers must meet the following minimum qualifications:

Be 18 years of age or older;
Be of good character (Evidenced by professional, occupational, or scholastic achievements/references. Absence of good character and past or present poor behavior is deemed to be sufficient for disqualification as a jail program provider);
Show a potential for or a history of competent performance in the program to be offered;
Have a valid license or credentials to provide a program which requires a license or credentials;
Ex-offenders must be out of custody and clear of probation or parole for a period of at least 18 months before their application will be considered.

Each prospective program provider will be interviewed by the Inmate Services Coordinator to determine his or her suitability and eligibility. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office will then conduct a background check using your name, date of birth, social security number and driver's license number. All traffic tickets should be taken care of before you apply to become a jail program provider. Any outstanding warrants or recent incarcerations will result in refusal by the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office to grant you a security clearance.