San Diego Central Jail

Located in downtown San Diego, the San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) is a maximum security facility. It has a Corrections Standards Authority rated capacity of 940 inmates and is not under a court ordered population cap. The facility actually has 990 beds for inmates, which includes the medical and acute psychological treatment units. The facility provides a full spectrum of inmate education programs, counseling services, medical and psychological services.

The San Diego Central Jail is the central receiving point for adult males arrested in the greater San Diego metropolitan area. Male adults arrested in the north county area would generally be taken to the Vista Detention Facility in Vista. Adult female arrestees are generally taken to the Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee.

This facility (SDCJ) replaced the old Central Detention Facility in May 1998. It receives approximately 77,000 new bookings per year.

After these male inmates are booked they are classified into one of several categories. This classification is based on their individual background and as a result of this we attempt to place them with other similarly classified inmates. This may mean that they are not kept at SDCJ for very long. It is very possible that they will be moved to one of our other detention facilities such as the South Bay Detention or George Bailey Detention facilities. Here is a list of all our other facilities (you can click on the name to go to their web page):

The San Diego Central Jail is located in downtown San Diego. If you are planning on driving a vehicle to the facility you need to know that there is NO public parking at the jail. There are, however, numerous pay parking sites around the jail. (Click here for a map from Mapquest.)

The public entrance and information area to the jail can be found on the east side of Front Street between "B" and "C" Streets. All public transactions occur here. This includes the inmate social visit sign-up, posting of bail and other important processes.

Besides driving to SDCJ, there are several other options. You can take either the Trolley or a bus to SDCJ from most everywhere within the greater San Diego area. Both the trolley and the bus system are managed as part of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. If you click on the link the Metropolitan Transit System web site will assist you in planning your trip to SDCJ. The closest Trolley stop is the Civic Center, which is stop #29 for both the Blue Line and the Orange Line.

For those coming from northern San Diego County, there is also the possibility of using the Coaster train. For the train schedule, click on "Coaster". The Coaster arrives at the (San Diego) Santa Fe Depot, which is only a couple of blocks west of the jail.

As the central receiving point for adult male arrestees/bookings in San Diego, SDCJ accounts for about 65% of all the new bookings into our detention system. The remaining 35% come from the other two booking jails (Vista Detention Facility and Las Colinas Detention Facility).

We have some other good sources of information about both SDCJ and our detentions system as a whole. Here is a short list and description:

TITLE (Click on title to view)	DESCRIPTION
Inmate Population	This is a regularly updated table of the inmate population throughout our system.
Public Information Plan	A handbook for families and friends of persons in custody.

An online search can be done from this web site. By clicking on the search indicator below you can either search by the inmate's last name or if you know his booking number, you can search on that number. These queries will give you a list of persons in our custody matching, or similar to, the one you submitted.

You will need to look at the list and click on the name you want. That action will give you another page with the general information on the individual you selected. This information should include the name, booking number, jail facility and cell location he is in, as well as other information such as his charges, bail, court destinations etc.

You are warned that this information is not "live" information. The information is captured from our jail booking system once a hour. Depending on the timing of that data extract, a person could be in our custody but not show on the list provided you. Therefore, you are encouraged to call our Jail Information telephone number if you have any doubts.

You can call our Information Line at (619) 615-2700. Our information clerks will be able to assist you in the most up-to-date information.

You are not permitted to call inmates, however, they can call you collect from most places within SDCJ. Inmates have access to telephones from the time they first enter San Diego Central Jail. They may, however, wait to contact family members until after they have completed the booking process, and are assigned to a housing floor. In each housing module, inmates have access to telephones. To telephone friends/family, inmates must call collect. Again, no incoming calls are accepted.

Inmates can receive and send correspondence via the U. S. Postal Service. Please do not send envelopes or stamps. Such items will be placed into the inmate’s property and will not be accessible to the inmate. Inmates have the opportunity to purchase stamped envelopes. When inmates are without funds, they will be provided a limited number of envelopes. Address envelopes as follows:

                                     Inmate’s name, Booking #
                                     P.O. Box 122952
                                     San Diego, CA 92112-2952

If an inmate is moved to one of our other facilities before receiving your letter, we will forward it within our system to him. If he is no longer within our system we will have the letter returned to the sender.

Critical messages, such as the death of a child or parent, may be called in to the watch commander via our information lines. It is extremely rare that we would pass a message in to one of our inmates. The watch commander will decide what messages will be delivered and what level of support services will be provided to the inmate as a result of that message. The decision of the watch commander is final.

SDCJ provides daily newspapers for inmates. Additionally, inmates who would like other reading material, can chose from a variety of books from our jail library. The only reading material accepted through the mail are books/magazines, mailed directly from a publisher or bookstore to the inmate.

When an officer arrives at SDCJ, the officer will inventory the prisoner’s property, place it into a plastic bag, and heat-seal the bag. The prisoner next talks with a nurse prior to admission into the jail. The nurse will determine if the prisoner has any recent injuries or medical conditions, which require immediate treatment. If the prisoner is suitable for intake, he is taken inside of the jail. A deputy explains what the inmate’s charges and bail are, and places an identification band on his wrist. The inmate is placed into a holding cell where he has access to telephones.

From the holding cell, the inmate is moved to an area where he will be fingerprinted. This is accomplished through a computerized, no-ink process called Livescan. Photographs are taken through photo-imaging, which is also computerized. Once these processes are complete, an inmate is generally provided with jail clothing. The exception to this would be where an inmate qualifies for the Book and Release program. Charges which may qualify an inmate for this program are Penal Code Section 647(f), Drunk in Public, Health and Safety Code Section 11550(a), and Vehicle Code Section 23152(a). If an inmate meets the criteria for this program, he will be released from custody on his own recognizance (OR).

All inmates must go through a medical screening interview. During this interview, medical staff will gather a complete medical history, as well as current weight and blood pressure. The next step is to talk with a Detention Processing Technician, who will verify personal information and collect other pertinent data. The Detention Processing Technician will advise the inmate of his charges, total amount of bail, and court date(s). The final step will be to talk with a Classification deputy. This deputy will ask the inmate questions to determine appropriate housing. After completion of this interview, the inmate is moved to a housing floor, where he is provided with bedding and a hygiene kit. Floor deputies will assign the inmate to a bed within a housing module.

Every step of the booking process is designed to gather vital information about each inmate who enters San Diego Central Jail.

Answer: You can contact any bail bond company listed in the yellow pages of the telephone directory to assist you. You can also post the entire amount of cash bail at any of the Sheriff’s detention facilities, except Descanso Detention Facility and East Mesa Detention Facility.

Question: After I post bail, how long will it take before someone is released?

Answer: It depends on where the inmate is in the booking process. Detention Processing Technicians make every effort to expedite those individuals who have had their bail posted.

Inmates are served three meals per day. The meals meet nutritional guidelines established by the Corrections Standards Authority.

SDCJ maintains a qualified staff of registered nurses, medical doctors and psychiatrists. Sworn staff have been trained in first aid and the use of CPR. To insure their medical needs are met, inmates are provided with a broad range of medical services consistent with those offered in the community.

To place money on an inmate’s account, detention facilities accept cash or cashier’s checks from United States banks and money orders for $200 or less. When cashier’s checks and money orders are received through the mail in excess of $200, they will be placed into the inmate’s property. To place cash on an inmate’s account in person, all San Diego County detention facilities accept and place money on any inmate’s account, except at the Descanso Detention Facility and the East Mesa Detention Facility.

While at San Diego Central Jail, inmates have a variety of programs and services available to them. Correctional Counselors provide individual and group counseling, as well as group facilitators from Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous. Weekly religious services are offered. Inmates have access to an on-site law library. Those inmates who have sufficient funds are allowed to purchase certain personal items from the Jail Commissary. Exercise and recreation opportunities are made available to all inmates. Weekly video tapes of recently released movies are shown.

For other Sheriff's Department frequently asked questions click on the link below: