Work Alternative Program
If you have been ordered by the court to serve a jail sentence of 40 days or less, you may apply to serve your sentence in the WORK ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM (WAP). This work program is an alternative to incarceration (jail).
(831) 759-7230, 759-7231, or 759-7262
Email: Sheriff.WAP@co.monterey.ca.us
Office hours: MON - FRI 8 AM – 5 PM
*Note: WAP is closed Saturday and Sunday, as well as on holidays.*
Closed for lunch hours: 12:00 PM– 1:00 PM
TO APPLY, YOU MUST CONTACT WAP OFFICE WITHIN 5 DAYS OF YOUR COURT DATE, at (831) 759-7230, 759-7231, or 759-7262 to schedule an appointment.
Please provide the following information: NAME, DAYS SENTENCED, SURRENDER DATE, and CASE NUMBER.
Note: Once you have confirmed WAP appointment, do not surrender to the jail.
Day of Court Sentencing for Out of County Transfers ONLY
If you live outside Monterey County and need to transfer your case to the county where you reside, you must enroll with WAP first.
WAP Location & Directions:
Monterey County Sheriff’s Office
1414 Natividad Road, Salinas, CA 9390
Turn right onto Chaparral Street and then turn left at the top of the hill before the County Jail. Turn right into the rehabilitation parking lot. The Work Alternative Program is located inside the the small building on the right.
Please visit and read the WAP Rules & Regulations that we require of all participants to abide by.
On your appointment date, please be sure to bring your court order. Acceptance in WAP is solely at the discretion of the Sheriff’s Office. Your eligibility will be based on the nature of your charges (some charges may disqualify you from participating), your prior criminal history and your previous performance in WAP. This program requires its participants to perform manual labor, general maintenance, road-side beautification and performing other such tasks. If you are not able (for reasons other than a physical disability) or unwilling to perform such work, you may not be eligible for the work program. If you are unable to work due to physical limitations, or medical restrictions that prevent you from performing the duties above, you may request, but are not guaranteed, an accommodation of your disability. Another option is to contact the Probation Department’s Supervised Home Confinement Program at 831-784-5799.
If you are accepted, you must abide by the following program rules and policies:
- Participants are required to work a minimum of 2 days per week (8 hours daily) unless medically documented restrictions limit your work hours.
- WAP is not a weekend program. WAP operates 7 days a week. If weekend work sites are all full, participants will be required to work weekdays (Monday-Friday).
- Participants must begin their program within 7 days of their enrollment with WAP.