Mail someone at San Diego Central Jail

Ordinary inmate mail for someone at San Diego Central Jail goes to the Mail Processing Center in Santee — not to the jail street address at 1173 Front Street. Include the booked name, booking number, and facility in the address block.

Confirm the booking first

1. Copy the exact booked name and booking number from Who's In Jail.
2. Confirm the person is still housed at San Diego Central Jail.
3. Put your full name and return address on the envelope.

Who's In Jail · County mail guide

Exact mailing address

[Inmate Full Name]
[Booking Number]
San Diego Central Jail
Mail Processing Center
451 Riverview Parkway, Building C
Santee, CA 92071

Do not address ordinary inmate mail to 1173 Front Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Mail sent to the jail street address is rejected and returned.

What to include

• Letters in blue or black ink only
• Envelope with sender name and return address
• Booked name, booking number, and San Diego Central Jail on the address block

Do not send

• Ordinary mail addressed to the jail street address at 1173 Front Street
• Mail that omits the booking number or facility when required

County mail rules that also apply here

All San Diego County jail mail is processed at the Santee Mail Processing Center. On the county mail guide:

• There is no published limit on the amount of mail a person may send or receive.
• Ordinary mail is opened and inspected; writing is scanned as part of the current processing system.
• Legal mail is inspected for contraband under the Sheriff's legal-mail procedure — it is not treated as ordinary mail.
• Sheriff email (from Who's In Jail envelope icon): up to 2 messages per sender per day; up to 10 total messages to one incarcerated person within 24 hours; 2,500 plain-text characters; no photos, attachments, or links; staff review and print for delivery; the incarcerated person cannot reply by email.
• Books and magazines must come directly from a reputable publisher or vendor.

County mail guide · Sheriff sending-mail page · Sheriff email page

Questions

For mail questions about someone at this jail, call the custody information line (619) 409-5000 and select Central Jail.