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Rock Mountain Detention Facility information for families.

Sheriff Rock Mountain jail at 446 Alta Road, Suite 5400 — not RJD Donovan at 480 Alta. Visiting (60-minute check-in, no Tuesday/Wednesday), Santee mail, commissary, Who’s in Jail, (619) 409-5000. Includes how to get to San Diego Central Courthouse at 1100 Union Street by trolley or bus.

All states and facilities Facility information, not live custody records.

San Diego / Sheriff jail — not Donovan

This is the Sheriff’s Rock Mountain jail on Alta Road in Otay Mesa. People often say Donovan for this whole road — Donovan is the state prison next door at 480 Alta. Confirm Who’s in Jail, reserve a visit (60-minute check-in), and send mail to Santee.

Visiting information Call the jail (619) 409-5000

San Diego County · California

Custody lookup

Rock Mountain Detention Facility inmate search.

Confirm the person is in this jail before you drive, mail a letter, or send money.

Public roster

Who’s In Jail (SD Sheriff)

Official San Diego County Sheriff custody lookup. Confirm the exact booked name, booking number, and current facility before visiting, mailing, or depositing money.

Open inmate search ↗

Before you leave home

Three things to confirm before the trip.

Confirm the person is at Rock Mountain, not Donovan (RJD). Rock Mountain check-in is 60 minutes early — not the 30-minute downtown Central Jail rule.

  1. 01Confirm custody

    Search Who’s in Jail first.

    Copy the booked name, booking number, and current facility. Rock Mountain is a Sheriff jail. Donovan / RJD is CDCR at 480 Alta Road and uses a different locator and visiting system.

  2. 02Reserve ahead

    Schedule at least 24 hours out.

    Use eVisit through Who’s in Jail, or call (619) 409-5000 Wednesday–Sunday 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and choose Rock Mountain. No same-day visits. No in-person visits Tuesday or Wednesday.

  3. 03Arrive early

    Check in 60 minutes before the visit.

    Sheriff rules for Rock Mountain, George Bailey, and East Mesa: check in 60 minutes early. Bring valid photo ID. At most three visitors, including children.

01 / Visiting

Rock Mountain Detention Facility visiting hours.

In-person social visits follow the Sheriff’s Rock Mountain housing schedule. Times are on the official facility visitation page — Jail411 is not inventing module clocks until that table is captured from the live Sheriff page. No in-person visits Tuesday or Wednesday. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours ahead. Visits are first-come, first-served and can change without notice.

Call about visiting / housing (619) 409-5000
Where to go

446 Alta Road, Suite 5400

Rock Mountain Detention Facility, 446 Alta Road, Suite 5400, San Diego, CA 92158, on the Otay Mesa / Alta Road complex. Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (Donovan) is at 480 Alta Road — different agency, different visiting rules.

Call (619) 409-5000 and select Rock Mountain if you need an accommodation. Service animals as defined by the ADA are generally allowed during Sheriff visitation, with limited federal exceptions.

Published visit rules

Frequency and group size

  • In-person social visits five days a week (not Tuesday or Wednesday). Registration windows Wednesday–Sunday 6:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. at (619) 409-5000.
  • Published in-person social visits are generally 30 minutes unless the official Rock Mountain schedule lists a different length for a housing unit.
  • Maximum three visitors including children. Valid photo ID required for visitors 18 and older.
  • Check in 60 minutes before the scheduled visit at Rock Mountain Detention Facility, 446 Alta Road, Suite 5400. Do not use Central Jail’s 30-minute check-in rule here.

Do not assume

These details are not published.

Ask the jail before setting out. Jail411 will not guess at a rule that could cause a missed visit.

  • Housing-module clock times until captured from the live Sheriff Rock Mountain schedule page
  • Visitor parking lot, fees, and vehicle-height limits
  • Exact visitor entrance / lobby map at 446 Alta Road, Suite 5400
  • Lockers for phones and bags
  • Complete dress-code list beyond valid photo ID for adults
  • Whether housing is contact or non-contact
  • Facility-specific property-release desk hours beyond the custody line
Ask the visiting desk

Inmate mail

Rock Mountain Detention Facility inmate mail address.

Use the inmate-mail address below. Include the person’s name and booking number, and add your full return address.

Use this exact inmate-mail route

Mailing address

[Inmate Full Name][Booking Number]Rock Mountain Detention FacilityMail Processing Center451 Riverview Parkway, Building CSantee, CA 92071

Do not mail ordinary letters to 446 Alta Road (Rock Mountain) or 480 Alta Road (Donovan). Sheriff jail mail goes to the Santee Mail Processing Center.

Generally allowed
  • Letters in blue or black ink only
  • Envelope with sender name and return address
  • Booked name, booking number, and Rock Mountain Detention Facility on the address block
Do not send
  • Ordinary mail addressed to 446 Alta Road or 480 Alta Road (rejected / wrong facility)
  • Mail that omits the booking number or facility when required

All San Diego County jail mail is processed at the Santee Mail Processing Center. Do not send ordinary mail to the jail physical address. Use blue or black ink only. Include sender name and return address.

Postage when someone has no money: Follow the Sheriff’s current mail and package rules on the official sending-mail page. Legal mail has separate handling—check the live instructions.

Money and commissary

How to send money to Rock Mountain Detention Facility.

The published deposit route is SD Sheriff Commissary. Confirm the person is still housed here and keep the booking number ready before depositing.

  1. 01

    Online: use https://sdsheriffcommissary.com (linked from the Sheriff commissary page). Confirm the booked name and booking number from Who’s in Jail before paying.

  2. 02

    Lobby: Smart Communications kiosks at detention facilities.

  3. 03

    Cash window: Custody Information Office cash windows during published daily periods (county funds guide lists 8–10 a.m. and 5–7 p.m.).

  4. 04

    Account limit: deposits are not accepted when they would push the balance over the Sheriff’s stated $500 maximum.

Release and property

Bail, property, and commissary pickup

01Bail

Confirm bail and holds first

Confirm current bail and holds with the custody line at (619) 409-5000 before paying anyone. A posted bond or bail amount does not guarantee release if another hold applies. Jail411 does not list bondsmen.

02Personal property

Ask the custody line

Ask the custody information line which desk handles property release for Rock Mountain and what identification is required. Do not assume lobby hours from Central Jail or from Donovan.

03After release

Uncollected commissary

The Sheriff says unused account funds are generally returned at release by debit card; very large balances may be mailed as a check. Confirm the current release process when the person is discharged.

After booking

Court, a lawyer, probation, and parole.

Rock Mountain is a Sheriff county jail. Court dates still go to San Diego Superior Court — not to the jail lobby and not to Donovan. Confirm the assigned courthouse. Counsel, DA, Probation, and state parole are separate agencies.

01 Seven courthouses

Confirm the assigned court

San Diego County’s Superior Court operates seven courthouse facilities. Confirm the assigned location and next hearing on the case record or with defense counsel before you travel — do not guess from the jail address. General court information: (619) 450-5700. Central Division criminal operations also publish (619) 844-2400.

Do not treat San Diego Central Jail (1173 Front Street) as the courtroom.

(619) 450-5700

02 Appointed or hired counsel

Ask which office was appointed

If you do not hire a lawyer, ask the judge at the first appearance about appointed counsel.

San Diego County’s public defense system is four ethically walled offices: Primary Public Defender, Alternate Public Defender, Multiple Conflicts Office, and Office of Assigned Counsel. Primary has five published locations. Use the office named on the appointment paperwork — not only the downtown main office.

(619) 338-4700

03 County supervision

Probation Administration Center

A probation or parole hold can block release even after bail is posted.

(858) 514-3148

04 State parole, not county

Local CDCR parole units

State parole is not county probation. Report only to the office named on the release papers. Chula Vista and Escondido are published San Diego County units — they are not automatically the assigned office.

California parole office directory

Superior Court — all seven courthouse facilities

The case record names the courthouse — Vista, Chula Vista, Kearny Mesa, El Cajon, downtown Central, Hall of Justice, or Juvenile. Every published Superior Court facility is listed below with a Google Maps link so you can plan drive time. Do not use the jail address as the courtroom.

Public Defender — published offices

Primary Public Defender locations first, then Alternate and conflict offices. Confirm the appointed office on the case papers before you drive.

District Attorney — published offices

Downtown Hall of Justice is headquarters, not the only office. Criminal cases are also handled from East County, South Bay, North County, and Juvenile. Use the office on the case papers.

Probation — published offices

Adult supervision is not only the Balboa administration building. Report to the office named on the paperwork. First reporting can be at any listed adult office.

Nearby CDCR parole offices, if the paperwork names one

Do not treat these as the assigned office unless the release instructions say so.

Court day transit

How to get to San Diego Central Courthouse by trolley or bus

This table is only for the downtown Central Courthouse at 1100 Union Street. It does not cover Vista, Chula Vista, Kearny Mesa, El Cajon, or Juvenile Court. Confirm the assigned courthouse on the case record first.

San Diego Central Courthouse · 1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Closest rail: Orange Line Courthouse Station, 330 West C Street
Downtown buses: Broadway at Union Street, beside the courthouse area

Starting area Route Switch? Downtown arrival
Escondido, Rancho Bernardo, Sabre Springs, Miramar College, Kearny Mesa, or City Heights MTS Rapid 235 No Get off at Broadway & Union (Courthouses).
SDSU or City Heights MTS Rapid 215 No Get off at Broadway & Union. City Heights is also served by Rapid 235.
Otay Ranch or Otay Mesa Transit Center MTS Rapid 225 No Get off at Broadway & Union.
North Park MTS Route 2 No Downtown stop at Broadway & Union.
Hillcrest / UC San Diego Medical Center MTS Route 3 No Exit near 4th Avenue and B/C Street; walk west to Union Street.
Ocean Beach MTS Route 923 No Exit on Broadway near Union/1st Avenue and walk to the courthouse.
Point Loma / Shelter Island MTS Route 28 to Old Town, then Blue Line Yes — Old Town Exit at Civic Center and walk west to Union Street.
UTC, UC San Diego, Clairemont, or Old Town Blue Line No Exit at Civic Center; walk west to Union Street.
Mira Mesa MTS Route 237 to UC San Diego, then Blue Line Yes — UC San Diego Exit at Civic Center and walk west. Route 110 is a limited direct downtown alternative when its schedule fits.
Western Chula Vista, National City, or San Ysidro Blue Line No Exit at Civic Center and walk west.
Imperial Beach or Coronado MTS Route 901 No Exit on Broadway at 1st/3rd Avenue and walk west to Union Street.
Lemon Grove, La Mesa, or El Cajon Orange Line No Exit at Courthouse Station.
Santee Copper Line to El Cajon, then Orange Line Yes — El Cajon Transit Center Exit at Courthouse Station.
Spring Valley / Rancho San Diego MTS 851 or 855 to Spring Street, then Orange Line Yes — Spring Street Exit at Courthouse Station.
Poway MTS 944 or 945, then Rapid 235 Yes — Sabre Springs or Rancho Bernardo Rapid 235 stops at Broadway & Union.
Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, or Solana Beach NCTD COASTER No transit switch Exit at Santa Fe Depot and walk east to Union Street.
Vista or San Marcos SPRINTER to Escondido, then Rapid 235 Yes — Escondido Transit Center Rapid 235 stops at Broadway & Union. Compare Oceanside/COASTER for western Vista.
San Diego International Airport MTS Route 992 No Exit at Broadway & Union.

These are verified route patterns, not departure times. Check MTS/NCTD alerts and the trip planner on the day you travel.

Open courthouse in Google Maps ↗ Court location page ↗ MTS trolley ↗ MTS bus routes ↗ MTS alerts ↗

05 / Who to call

Rock Mountain Detention Facility phone numbers.

For visiting, housing, bail, property, mail, or deposit questions, use the custody information line first.

01
Custody information (select Rock Mountain)

Facility selection, phone visit reservations, housing, and general custody questions

(619) 409-5000
04
Superior Court information

Court information for San Diego County

(619) 450-5700

Common questions

Rock Mountain Detention Facility FAQ.

If a rule changes, confirm with the jail or the agency that published it.

Is Rock Mountain the same as Donovan?
No. Rock Mountain Detention Facility is the Sheriff county jail at 446 Alta Road, Suite 5400. Donovan is Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD), a CDCR state prison at 480 Alta Road. CDCR sometimes writes “Donovan at Rock Mountain” for the prison — that is still not this Sheriff jail.
How do I find someone at Rock Mountain?
Use Who’s In Jail at apps.sdsheriff.net/WIJ/. If the person is at Donovan / RJD, that is a CDCR locator, not Who’s in Jail.
What phone number do I call?
Call (619) 409-5000 and select Rock Mountain. That is the Sheriff custody line for all detention facilities.
When can I visit?
In-person social visits run five days a week — not Tuesday or Wednesday. Register one day in advance. Check in 60 minutes early at Rock Mountain. Max three visitors including children. Open the official housing schedule for clock times.
What is the inmate mail address?
Inmate Full Name, Booking Number, Rock Mountain Detention Facility, Mail Processing Center, 451 Riverview Parkway, Building C, Santee, CA 92071. Do not mail ordinary letters to 446 Alta Road or to Donovan at 480 Alta Road.
What is the inmate mail address?
Inmate Full Name, Booking Number, San Diego Central Jail, Mail Processing Center, 451 Riverview Parkway, Building C, Santee, CA 92071. Use blue or black ink only. Do not mail ordinary letters to 1173 Front Street.
How do I put money on the books?
Use sdsheriffcommissary.com (from the Sheriff commissary page), a Smart Communications lobby kiosk, or the published cash-window hours. Keep the booking number ready. Account balances have a $500 maximum.
What company handles calls and video visits?
Smart Communications / SmartJailMail (smartjailmail.com) for phone, video, email/messaging, and tablets. Calls from detention facilities currently display 727-349-1561.
Where are the local parole offices?
CDCR lists Chula Vista Parole at 765 Third Avenue, Suites 200 and 300, (619) 476-3700, and Escondido Parole at 1301 Simpson Way, (760) 737-7925. Use the office on the release paperwork.
How do I get to San Diego Central Courthouse on the trolley?
For 1100 Union Street, the closest rail stop is Orange Line Courthouse Station at 330 West C Street. Blue Line, Green Line, and COASTER riders can exit at Civic Center or Santa Fe Depot and walk to Union Street. Confirm the case is actually assigned to Central Courthouse, not Vista, Chula Vista, Kearny Mesa, El Cajon, or Juvenile.
How do I get to Central Courthouse from Chula Vista or San Ysidro?
Take the Blue Line and exit at Civic Center, then walk west to Union Street. No trolley switch is required.
How do I get to Central Courthouse from Santee?
Take the Copper Line to El Cajon Transit Center, then the Orange Line to Courthouse Station.
How do I get to Central Courthouse from the airport?
MTS Route 992 stops at Broadway & Union, beside the courthouse area. Check MTS alerts before you leave; this is a route pattern, not a timetable.
How do I get to Central Courthouse from Oceanside or Vista?
From Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, or Solana Beach take the COASTER to Santa Fe Depot and walk east to Union Street. From Vista or San Marcos, SPRINTER to Escondido then Rapid 235 to Broadway & Union is the published pattern.

When you need to act

Search, pay, or read the county’s own pages.

Rock Mountain Detention Facility · San Diego · Updated 2026-09-05

Call before you drive.
Bring the booking number.

Custody information(619) 409-5000 →

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Can Jail411 tell me if someone is in custody right now?

No. Jail411 does not hold live custody records. Use the official locator for the county, state, federal or ICE system that has the person; start here if you do not know which.

Does posting bond mean the person comes home?

Not always. A probation or parole hold, another county's warrant or an immigration detainer can keep someone in custody after bond is posted. Ask the jail what holds are on the booking before you pay.

What should I confirm before visiting?

The person's current facility, the visiting schedule, approval requirements, accepted identification and arrival instructions. Check the facility page and its official sources before you travel.

What if I find something that needs correcting?

Send us the page and the detail that needs attention. Include the official source when you have one. Do not send private booking documents or other sensitive personal information.