Jails & Correctional Facilities in San Diego, California
Find all 14 facilities in San Diego. Directions, nearby hotels, visiting tips, and facility contact information for families.
Overview
San Diego, California has 14 correctional facilities: 7 jails, 1 state prison, 3 federal facilities, 3 other facilities. This page provides visiting information, inmate lookup resources, and contact details for every facility in San Diego.
San Diego's correctional system is one of the largest in Southern California, managed primarily by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The county operates multiple detention facilities spread across the region — from the downtown San Diego Central Jail to the East Mesa complex near the U.S.–Mexico border. The city also hosts federal facilities including MCC San Diego (a federal Metropolitan Correctional Center) and the Otay Mesa Detention Center, one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the western United States.
All Facilities in San Diego
East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
East Mesa Reentry Facility
Facility 8 Detention Facility
George F Bailey Detention Facility
Girls Rehabilitation Facility
Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility
San Diego Central Jail
Cai - Boston Avenue
Cai - Ocean View
Cca San Diego Correctional Facility
Mcc San Diego
Otay Mesa Detention Center
R J Donovan Correctional Facility (Rjd)
Western Region Detention Facility
Visiting San Diego? What Families Need to Know
If you're traveling to San Diego, California to visit someone at a correctional facility, this section covers everything you need to plan your trip — from getting there to finding affordable lodging nearby.
Getting There
By Car
Get driving directions to San Diego via Google Maps. Most correctional facilities have free parking lots — arrive early as spaces fill up during peak visiting hours.
By Air
Search for flights on Google Flights. Budget airlines like Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit often have the lowest fares. Many facility towns are rural — you may need to fly into the nearest major city and rent a car or take a shuttle.
Where to Stay
Many families visiting correctional facilities need affordable lodging, especially for early morning visit check-ins. Here are tools to find budget-friendly options near San Diego:
Tips for Families
- Book near the facility — Many visit check-ins start at 7:00 or 8:00 AM. Staying close means less stress on visit day.
- Look for extended stay hotels — If you're visiting regularly, extended stay properties (Extended Stay America, WoodSpring Suites, InTown Suites) offer weekly rates that save significantly.
- Check cancellation policies — Visits can be cancelled due to facility lockdowns. Book hotels with free cancellation when possible.
- Consider motels on major highways — National chains like Motel 6, Super 8, and Red Roof Inn offer consistent, affordable rates.
- Rural facility towns may lack hotels — If San Diego is a small town, check nearby larger cities for more lodging options. A 20–30 minute drive is common for families visiting rural facilities.
Where to Eat
Plan Around Visit Schedules
- Eat before you arrive — Visiting hours are limited and check-in takes time. Have a full meal before heading to the facility.
- Vending machines inside — Most visiting areas have vending machines (coins or debit cards), but selection varies. Don't rely on them for a meal.
- Bring snacks for the road — Pack snacks and water, especially if traveling with children. No outside food is allowed inside facilities.
- Fast food is usually nearby — Chain restaurants along major roads near facilities are convenient for a quick meal before or after your visit.
- Hotels with free breakfast — If staying overnight, look for hotels that include breakfast to save on meal costs.
Visiting Tips
Arrive Early
Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled visit. Check-in, ID verification, and security screening take time. Late arrivals may be turned away.
Bring Only Essentials
Leave everything in your car except your government-issued photo ID and car keys. No phones, purses, bags, or wallets are allowed inside. Some facilities offer lockers.
Dress Code
Dress code rules are strictly enforced. Avoid revealing clothing, open-toed shoes, and anything resembling inmate uniforms. When in doubt, wear plain, modest clothing.
Know the Rules
Every facility has different visiting rules. Check the facility pages listed above for specific visiting hours, approved visitor requirements, and ID policies.
Visitor Approval
State prisons and federal facilities require visitors to be pre-approved. This process can take 2–6 weeks. Contact the facility well in advance of your planned visit.
Prepare for Security
You will pass through a metal detector and may be searched. Avoid belts with large buckles, excessive jewelry, or underwire bras if possible.
Staying in Touch Between Visits
Visiting in person isn't always possible. Here are the ways families stay connected with loved ones in San Diego facilities between visits:
Phone Calls
Inmates can make collect or prepaid calls through the facility's phone provider (often Securus or GTL). Calls are typically 15 minutes and cost $0.14–$0.25/minute for local calls. Set up a prepaid account to save on per-call fees.
Video Visits
Many facilities offer video visitation through tablets or kiosks. Services like JPay, GTL, and Securus allow scheduled video calls from home. Availability and cost vary by facility — check each facility's page for details.
Email & Messaging
Electronic messaging through JPay or GTL's GettingOut allows you to send text messages and photos. Messages cost $0.25–$0.50 each. All messages are monitored and may take 24–48 hours to be reviewed before delivery.
Postal Mail
All facilities accept postal mail. Write the inmate's full legal name and ID number on the envelope. Letters must be on plain white paper — no stickers, drawings, perfume, or Polaroid photos. Some facilities now require mail through services like TextBehind.
Local Resources
- San Diego County Facilities — View all facilities in the county
- All California Facilities — Browse 418 facilities statewide
- How to Visit Someone in Jail — Complete visiting guide
- How to Find Someone in Jail — Inmate lookup guide
- How Bail Bonds Work — Understanding bail, bonds, and release
Visiting Information
San Diego County Jail Visiting Rules
All in-person visits at San Diego County jails are scheduled through the Sheriff's Department. Reservations must be made by calling (619) 409-5000, available Wednesday through Sunday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. You must book at least one day in advance.
Visiting hours at San Diego Central Jail:
- Monday: 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- Closed: Tuesday and Wednesday
Key visiting rules:
- Maximum 3 visitors per visit, including children
- Visits are 30 minutes in length
- One in-person visit per week per inmate; inmates allowed one visit daily
- Arrive 15 minutes early — late arrivals forfeit that week's visit
- All visitors 18+ must present a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license, military ID, or passport). Alternatively, three non-photo IDs may substitute
- Minors must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or court-appointed custodian
- Unaccompanied minors visiting a parent must provide a copy of their birth certificate
Dress code (strictly enforced):
- Must wear shoes and a shirt at all times
- No miniskirts, low-cut necklines, bare midriffs, or revealing clothing
- No clothing with obscene or offensive language/images
- Visitors dressed inappropriately will be denied entry
Prohibited items — leave everything in your vehicle except your ID and car keys:
- Purses, bags, backpacks, wallets, diaper bags
- Cell phones, cameras, electronic devices of any kind
- Food, beverages, gum
- Books, toys, writing utensils, strollers
- Weapons, drugs, or alcohol
Video visitation is available 7 days a week via the SmartInmate™ system or the "Who's in Jail" eVisit portal. Video visits are 30 minutes and inmates are limited to 2 video visits per week.
Federal Facility Visits
MCC San Diego (808 Union Street) follows Bureau of Prisons visiting guidelines. Visitors must be on the inmate's approved list, which requires completing BOP form BP-629. Contact MCC San Diego at (619) 232-4311 for their current visiting schedule. The Otay Mesa Detention Center at (619) 661-3823 has its own visiting procedures for immigration detainees — contact the facility directly.
Inmate Search & Lookup
San Diego County Inmate Lookup
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department operates an online inmate search tool called "Who's In Jail" at sdsheriff.gov. You can search by name, date of birth, or booking number. The system shows current inmates at all San Diego County detention facilities including San Diego Central Jail, George F. Bailey, East Mesa, and Facility 8.
For recently arrested individuals, there may be a delay of several hours before they appear in the system while booking is processed. If you cannot find someone, call the facility directly or try again in 4-8 hours.
The free notification service VINELink allows you to register for automated alerts when a specific inmate is released, transferred, or escapes.
State Prison Inmates
For inmates at R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility (the state prison in San Diego), use the CDCR Inmate Locator. This free tool covers all California state prison inmates.
Federal Inmates
For federal inmates at MCC San Diego, Otay Mesa Detention Center, or Western Region Detention Facility, use the BOP Inmate Locator. For immigration detainees specifically, use the ICE Online Detainee Locator.
County Jails in San Diego
San Diego County operates 6 jail and detention facilities through the Sheriff's Department, making it one of the largest county jail systems in California. The main booking facility is the San Diego Central Jail at 1173 Front Street in downtown San Diego, where most arrests in the city are initially processed.
The East Mesa complex at 446 Alta Road (near the Otay Mesa border crossing) houses multiple facilities: George F. Bailey Detention Facility, East Mesa Reentry Facility, Facility 8, and the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. George F. Bailey is the county's largest facility by capacity.
Juvenile detainees are held at either the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility or the Girls Rehabilitation Facility on Meadow Lark Drive, depending on gender.
| East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility | (619) 671-4400 |
| East Mesa Reentry Facility | (619) 210-0334 |
| Facility 8 Detention Facility | (619) 210-0327 |
| George F Bailey Detention Facility | (619) 210-0385 |
| Girls Rehabilitation Facility | (858) 694-4510 |
| Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility | (858) 694-4500 |
| San Diego Central Jail | (619) 610-1647 |
State Prisons in San Diego
San Diego has 1 state prison operated by the California Department of Corrections. State prisons house inmates serving sentences longer than one year for felony convictions.
| R J Donovan Correctional Facility (Rjd) | (619) 661-6500 |
Federal Facilities in San Diego
San Diego has 3 federal facilities operated by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Federal prisons house individuals convicted of federal crimes. The BOP classifies facilities by security level: minimum, low, medium, high, and administrative.
| Mcc San Diego | (619) 232-4311 |
| Otay Mesa Detention Center | (619) 661-3823 |
| Western Region Detention Facility | (619) 232-9221 |
Bail & Bonds in San Diego
When someone is booked into a San Diego County jail, bail is determined by the San Diego County Bail Schedule — a standardized list of bail amounts for each charge type set by the San Diego Superior Court. Common bail amounts include:
- DUI (first offense): $2,500
- Domestic violence: $50,000
- Assault with a deadly weapon: $30,000
- Drug possession (felony): $20,000
Bail can be posted at San Diego Central Jail 24 hours a day. You can pay by:
- Cash bail — Full amount in cash or cashier's check at the jail
- Bail bond — Pay a licensed bail bondsman 10% (non-refundable). San Diego has dozens of bail bond companies, many operating 24/7 near the Central Jail on Front Street
- Property bond — Use San Diego County real property assessed at 150-200% of the bail amount
After bail is posted at San Diego Central Jail, release typically takes 4-8 hours but can take up to 12 hours on busy weekends. The East Mesa facilities generally have faster release processing times of 2-6 hours.
For after-hours bail questions, call (619) 610-1647 (San Diego Central Jail) or (619) 210-0385 (George F. Bailey).
Other Cities in California with Facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
San Diego has 14 correctional facilities: 7 jails, 1 state prison, 3 federal facilities, 3 other facilities.
Contact the jail directly to schedule a visit. Most San Diego jails require advance reservations by phone or online. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Visits are typically 30 minutes with a maximum of 3 visitors.
Check the county sheriff's office website for their online inmate search tool, often called "Who's In Jail" or a booking roster. You can search by name, booking number, or date of arrest.
Bail can be posted at the jail 24/7 by cash, bail bond (10% through a bondsman), or property bond. After posting bail, release takes 4-12 hours depending on booking volume.
You must first be approved as a visitor by submitting a visitor application through the California Department of Corrections. Background checks take 2-6 weeks. Once approved, contact the facility to schedule your visit.
Use the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc. You can search by name, BOP register number, or other identifiers for anyone in the federal prison system.
Look for budget-friendly hotels near the facility, especially for early morning visit check-ins. Extended stay hotels offer weekly rates. Search Google Hotels or Booking.com for options near San Diego, California.
You can drive (use Google Maps for directions), take an intercity bus (Greyhound, FlixBus, or Megabus), or fly to the nearest airport. Check our directions section above for specific travel options.
Inmates make outgoing calls through the facility's phone provider (usually Securus or GTL). Set up a prepaid phone account to receive calls at lower rates. Calls are typically 15 minutes and cost $0.14-$0.25 per minute for local calls.
Many facilities now offer video visitation through JPay, GTL, or Securus platforms. Check the specific facility's page on this site to see if video visits are available and how to set up an account.
Yes. Most facilities accept deposits through services like JPay, GTL, or commissary kiosks in the lobby. County jails also accept money orders mailed to the inmate's booking account. Online deposits typically cost $3-6 in fees.
Yes. All jails and prisons accept postal mail. Address it to the inmate's full legal name and booking/inmate number at the facility's address. Letters must be on plain white paper. No stickers, drawings, perfume, or Polaroid photos.