View from tower window.

The Jail is 94 feet by 45 feet, and varies in height from 68 to 97 feet. The total usable space equals 23,600 square feet comprised within six floors, including a full basement. The basement provides support office and shower/locker space for the Sheriff operations.

The North elevation (Santa Barbara Street façade) contains a cornucopia of metaphorical castle detailing. The stone plinth that began at the Hall of Records appears once again here as it rises at the east corner in the form of a postern stair up to a metal studded heavy wood door. The scale of the plinth quickly rises to 19 feet above the ground to intersect with the vertical base0 of the stone arched entry. Contained within the stone plinth is a lancet. Above this lancet is the English translated version of the inscription over the main arch. The stone plinth finally comes to a conclusion at the northwest circular corner of the Jail. Above this section of the plinth are four over-scaled windows with plaster covered hoods and heavy wrought iron grilles. The stone archway is formed with sandstone quarried from the Refugio Canyon area of Santa Barbara. Many of the very large stones have seashell fossils throughout. At the base of each arch stilt is a carved granite buttress with this inscription on the stone archway: “DIS CITE JUSTITIAM MONITI”, or “Learn Justice From This Warning”.

Above and slightly off center of the arch is a large intricate cast stone breastplate shield. To the left of the arch is a lancet, and to the right an embrasure. Framing all of these elements is cast dripstone, projecting from the vertical wall surface 12 inches. The outside edge is smooth and slightly angled, while the inside edge is articulated with round berry shapes at a regular rhythm. The northeast corner of the building soars 95 feet above the walkway, transitioning into a 24-foot square tower. The terra cotta tiled hip roof is supported by a heavy dentil eave. A concrete and stone turret dangles at the northeast corner, with a copper capped roof reaching 95 feet with a weather vane extending another 4 feet. Heavy leafy corbels with a terminal base of a guards head hold the base of the turret; while a cast stone cornice hold the top. The cornice provides a strong base for the copper cap. The guard appears to be laughing. A lancet in line with the building corner and centered on the turret wall provides a defensive vantage point. A large heavily guarded window with strong plaster molding is centered on the tower wall. There are two such windows, one on the north and one on the west elevation.

The tower drops to intersect with the roof with its wood rafter tails, 67 feet above the walkway. Just below the eave line are six embrasures with light molded detail at the arch opening springer. The roofline drops again by six feet at the northeast corner as the eave line transitions from terra cotta tile to an intricate cast stone cornice detail wrapping the entire east elevation to return an equal distance on the south elevation. Just below this cornice are two large heavily guarded openings.

Between the stone plinth, first floor windows and the cornice are a number of lancets and embrasures. The original entry plaza was reconfigured to accommodate ADA accessibility, with a new pair of stairs toward the west and north. The building can be approached from the street through a pair of eighteen-century gateposts. A new access ramp, matched in material to the existing plaza stone terminates at the sidewalk between two eighteen-century gateposts.

The west elevation is dominated by three elements: the cast stone cornice, a large geometric tracery and finally a large cast stone heraldic breast plate held on two processional guards. Each corner of the building is a circular column rising to and through the cornice to terminate in a round terra cotta tiled cap. The stone cornice wraps in a circular shape as well as it travels around the building. Above the cornice, on the west elevation is a rafter-tailed eave “pop-up” in the main roof. The stone breastplate is blank. A lancet is just below the breastplate. A large wrought iron grilled window is just off center with the building at the first floor.

The southwest corner matches the northwest corner. The original first floor window was converted into a door opening with stairs down to the lawn as part of the 1991 ADA accessibility project. This door improved fire exiting from the jail. The widest varity of details is found on the south elevation of the Jail. On the first floor are three large window opening with multiple hinged wrought iron grilles. Toward the intersection of the Jail and the Figueroa Galley, are stairs to the jail postern and catwalk. Below this stair are two lancets. Another stair leads down from the garden to the north elevation and garage entry.

Above the three large first floor windows is a concrete half-circle balcony with wrought iron grille. Above the balcony is a heavily guarded round window. Along the second floor line are lancets with flat head details. At the third floor line are seven lancets with circular head detail. An over scaled window with heavy plaster molding, stone sill and head details dominant this section of the wall. The fourth floor line is punctuated with a heavy plaster molded, columned and wrought iron window openings. The fifth floor has three lancets. A machicolation projects from the main vertical wall with an unbalanced eave line perpendicular to the main Jail roof. Three large lancets are located on this wall. Just below the eastern edge of the machicolation is a small lancet. The east elevation of the Jail, like those of the Hall of Records and Service Annex, is difficult to view except by extreme angles. There are a number of embrasures and lancets. The Bridge of Sighs provides access to the Jail and a pedestrian passage (bridge) provides access to the Jails main entrance and the Administration/Court Building. The vertical height of this elevation is 101 feet, because the basement floor has an exterior wall forming one face of the garden postern.