Multnomah County Inverness Jail Overview
Multnomah County Inverness Jail, often shortened to MCIJ, is operated by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division. It is a county jail facility in Northeast Portland and works alongside the downtown Multnomah County Detention Center. People usually enter the county jail system at MCDC, then may be moved to Inverness after classification if their custody level, health needs, or housing assignment fits the Inverness layout.
County inspection materials say Inverness was built in 1990 and expanded in 1997. The facility has 1,037 physical beds and is described in county materials as a medium- and lower-security site with open dorm housing, some single-cell units, special management areas, disciplinary housing, medical and infirmary beds, video visitation booths, phones, TV areas, library shelving, exercise stations, outdoor recreation, individual sleeping areas, and tables. County classification material links open dorm housing and jail jobs to lower-risk adults at Inverness.
The Multnomah County classification explanation describes the risk and needs review that drives housing decisions after booking. The official screenshot below shows the county classification page because classification is the reason many people move from the downtown booking center to Inverness.
The public PAID roster may show the assigned facility as MCIJ, but it does not show dorm, pod, or bed-level placement.
Multnomah County Inverness Jail Capacity and Population
Inverness has 1,037 physical beds, making it the larger of the two Multnomah County adult jail facilities. Research materials also identify a FY2026 target average daily population of 595 for the MCIJ Dorms 16-18 program offer, which covers three single-cell housing units totaling 64 beds: Dorm 16 with 31 cells, Dorm 17 with 23 cells, and Dorm 18 with 10 negative-pressure medical infirmary cells. The countywide physical capacity of MCDC and Inverness together is 1,485 beds.
MCSO's May 2026 monthly reporting used a countywide funded jail capacity of 1,130 beds and listed a countywide average daily population of 972, or 86 percent of funded capacity. That report does not provide a standalone Inverness average daily population for the whole facility, so the safest facility-specific number is the sourced physical bed capacity.
How to Look Up an Inmate at Multnomah County Inverness Jail
Use MCSO Public Access Inmate Data for people in custody at Inverness Jail. PAID is the official Multnomah County jail roster for current custody, recent releases, emergency releases, and recent bookings. A profile may list MCIJ as the assigned facility, but the search does not provide a dorm or cell location. For a newly arrested person who is not yet listed, call the jail information line at (503) 988-3689.
- Open MCSO PAID.
- Search by first name, last name, or both, then choose the search type that fits the question.
- Open the linked booking profile and check whether the assigned facility is MCIJ.
- Use the SWIS ID from the profile for mail and TouchPay deposits, and verify release or visit questions by phone.
The PAID result list shows name and booking date. The profile can show SWIS ID, demographics, arresting agency, booking date and time, assigned facility, projected release date if any, court case number, DA case number, charge description, bail, and charge status. The roster does not show public booking photos because MCSO no longer posts them online under Oregon House Bill 3273.
Multnomah County Inverness Jail Address and Contact
Use the Inverness phone number for facility-specific questions and the 24-hour jail information line when a custody-status issue could involve either MCDC or Inverness. Inverness is also the mailing hub for all regular adult-in-custody mail in the Multnomah County jail system.
Multnomah County Inverness Jail
11540 NE Inverness Drive
Portland, OR 97220
(503) 988-5060
Facility contact for Inverness Jail
Jail Information Line
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Portland, OR
(503) 988-3689
Answered 24 hours a day, every day
Visiting Someone at Multnomah County Inverness Jail
Inverness Jail follows MCSO social and video visitation rules. Social visitors must be on the adult in custody's approved visitor list, and minors must be on the list too. Adults need current valid government photo ID. MCSO advises visitors to arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the visiting session and at least 30 minutes before sign-up. Weekend visiting can be affected by staffing, so visitors should call before coming. Video visits use Securus and may be completed remotely or through kiosks, including Inverness lobby kiosks.
| Visit Channel | Hours / Timing | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Social visit | Arrive 30-60 minutes early; sign up at least 30 minutes before the session | In-person under MCSO rules |
| Weekend social visit | Call before traveling because staffing can affect availability | In-person |
| Remote video visit | Schedule at least 24 hours in advance | Securus Video Visiting |
| Lobby kiosk visit | Arrive at least 15 minutes early, check in, and show government photo ID | Securus kiosk |
| Professional visit | Follow professional visit procedures | Attorney or approved professional |
The MCSO visitation page also notes that all video visits are recorded and electronically monitored. Visitor Guide materials report a conflict between 20-minute and 30-minute video visit references, so confirm the session length while scheduling.
Mail, Phone, and Money at Multnomah County Inverness Jail
All regular adult-in-custody mail for the county jail system is routed to Inverness Jail, even when the person is housed downtown. Mail must use USPS for personal correspondence, include Inmate Mail at the top, list the booked first and last name, include the SWIS ID, and show a return address. Publications must come directly from a publisher or approved commercial retailer and must meet size, binding, and possession limits. Incoming mail is opened and inspected, and legal mail must be marked LEGAL MAIL.
| Service | Provider / Detail |
|---|---|
| Mail Address | Inmate Mail; booked first and last name; SWIS ID; 11540 NE Inverness Drive, Portland, OR 97220 |
| Phone / Video | Securus Technologies for phone accounts; Securus Video Visiting for remote and kiosk visits |
| Money Deposit | TouchPay online, by phone at 1-866-232-1899, or at a kiosk; use Facility code 297204 and SWIS ID |
| Self-bail | TouchPay or Inverness Jail lobby daily 7 a.m.-3 p.m., according to MCSO jail information |
Adults in custody can make collect calls, but the public cannot call into the jail to speak with them. Personal calls are monitored and recorded, three-way calls are prohibited, and personal calls are capped at 15 minutes. Securus phone-account support is listed as 1-800-844-6591.
Booking, Classification, and Transfer to Inverness
Initial booking for Multnomah County arrestees happens at MCDC, not Inverness. After arrest, law enforcement brings the person downtown for intake, identification processing, warrant checks, health screening, classification, and a release or housing decision. People who are not released may remain at MCDC or transfer to Inverness depending on classification and operational needs. County classification materials connect low- and medium-risk open dorm housing, adults with certain mental-health needs, and lower-risk work assignments with Inverness.
Inverness is therefore usually a post-booking housing site within the county jail system. Some people at Inverness are awaiting trial, some are serving short local jail sentences, and some are in medical, special management, discipline, or work-program settings. Adults housed at Inverness return to the Justice Center for final release processing because MCDC is the sole intake and release point.
Records and Public Access for Inverness Custody
PAID is the first source for a current Inverness custody check, but public-records requests fill the gaps when a profile is missing details or a record is historical. MCSO accepts public-records requests through GovQA, by mail to the MCSO Communications Unit, and through service request forms for adults in custody. Requesters can ask for corrections records such as persons in custody, custody status, charges, booking photos subject to law, intake forms, property records, classification information, jail phone calls, and jail video calls.
The MCSO public records page says requesters are notified of estimated fees before production, and payment is required before records are provided. Oregon Public Records Law allows inspection of non-exempt public records, but criminal investigation, privacy, medical, and other protected information may be withheld or redacted. For court case documents after an arrest, use Multnomah Circuit Court or Oregon Judicial Department channels instead of MCSO.
About Multnomah County Inverness Jail
Inverness Jail is the county's larger dorm-oriented jail facility and an important part of Multnomah County's reentry and housing structure. County inspection reporting described open-concept dorms with private showers, video visitation booths, phones, TV areas, library shelving, exercise stations, outdoor recreation yard, individual sleeping areas, tables, and limited personal privacy. County program materials also identify single-cell units and infirmary cells for people who need different supervision or medical settings.
Programs and work assignments may include internal facility service work and external contract work. County materials say sentenced workers may receive custody credits and $1 per day pay, and the Programs unit focuses on reentry and restorative justice. Counselors and chaplains are available, with services that can include recovery support, cognitive behavioral therapy, life skills, goal setting, and employment planning.
Note: Verify the assigned facility and visiting status with MCSO before traveling to Inverness Jail.