Men's Central Jail (MCJ) - Call 213 473-6100

Visiting Hours

You may visit an inmate at the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Men's Central Jail, commonly known as "MCJ," Thursday – Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and, Saturday – Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please note that MCJ's visiting hours and roster of inmates who are eligible for visits vary and are subject to change without notice. Therefore, you should always call MCJ at 213-473-6100 when planning a visit. You can reach MCJ's Main Control by calling 213-974-4921.

For information regarding an inmate, call (213) 473-6100.

Visiting Procedures

If the inmate you wish to visit is a "general population" inmate, he may receive one visit per day for fifteen (15) minutes up to four days per week. However, if the inmate you wish to visit is considered to be a "high powered" or "special handle" inmate, his visitation rights will depend upon the charges against him and where he is housed. During each permitted visit, an inmate may have up to three visitors. Visitors under the age of 18 (minors) must be accompanied by an adult and have proof of age (for example, a birth certificate). Attorneys may visit inmates Monday—Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Friday between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Clergymen and bail bondsmen generally visit inmates during regular visiting hours.

Location

441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Parking is available on site at MCJ's parking structure for $8.00 per entry.

How to Bail an Inmate Out of Jail

Need to bail someone out of jail? Click here for more information.

Visitors' Restrictions

Only visitors with one of the following valid forms of ID will be allowed to visit inmates at MCJ:

• California Identification Card
• Driver's License (any state)
• U.S. Military Identification
• Passport/Visa
• Mexican Consulate Card
• Permanent Resident Card
• Valid School Identification Card or Birth Certificate (if visitor is a minor).

Any person with an outstanding traffic or parking ticket or with an outstanding warrant are advised not to visit this facility as they may be immediately arrested. Persons on probation, who have been formerly incarcerated in state prison, and ex-felons are required to fill out a “Visiting Questionnaire for Probationers and Ex-Felons” in order to obtain approval for visitation.

Visitation rights may be denied for a number of reasons, and all visitors are subject to a search of their personal property. All vehicles entering or parked in an MCJ or custody facility may also be subject to search. Anyone found in possession of any contraband, illegal drugs, or weapons may be placed under arrest.

Items forbidden within the MCJ visiting area include, but are not limited to:

• Cell phones
• Purses
• Briefcases
• Radios
• Recording devices
• Cameras

Visitors are permitted to bring in their plastic photo ID and one key; visitors are encouraged to bring quarters to use MCJ lockers.

Mentally Ill Arrestees

A family member of a mentally ill arrestee/inmate may immediately after the arrest of the family member fax information regarding the arrestee's mental condition and medications to the Sheriff's Department at: (213) 972-4002 (for men) and (323) 568-4650 (for women).

Telephone Access

An inmate/arrestee may make only one free phone call during booking. Inmates are not permitted to receive calls or messages, but may make unlimited calls during program hours by using a calling card purchased either through MCJ’s commissary or through an authorized program. A calling card for an inmate's use can be obtained via the Sheriff's Department's "Inmate Package Program” or through Global Tel* Link. To order a calling card or commissary care package via the Los Angeles County Inmate Package Program, visit Keefe Commissary Network online. If you wish to assist an inmate with obtaining his or her own card, please read on to the section below.

Getting Money to an Inmate's Books

An inmate must have “money on the books” in order to purchase items, including calling cards, from MCJ’s commissary. This can be accomplished by sending either a U.S. Postal money order of a bank money order to the following address:

[Insert Inmate's Name and Booking Number]

P.O. Box 86164

Terminal Annex

Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164

Money orders sent through the mail cannot exceed $200, must be made payable to the inmate, and must be signed. In order to add additional funds to an inmate’s books, a person may bring a money order or cash to the cashier at the Inmate Reception Center (“IRC”), which is located across from the MCJ at:

450 Bauchet Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

213-893-5875

The IRC is typically closed between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 12:30 A.M. daily.

Sending Mail to MCJ

Inmates at MCJ may receive mail. While there is no limit to the volume of mail that an inmate is permitted to send or receive, they may only receive up to three subscription magazines and no more than three books per week. Any magazines or books must be sent directly to MCJ from the bookstore or publisher, either brick-and-mortar or online. Library, religious, and personal books are permitted. Magazines must be the current month’s edition. Sexually explicit material or material containing nudity is not permitted.

Inmates are not allowed to receive a wide array of goods and personal items, including but not limited to greeting cards larger than 6” x 9”, cosmetics, food, stationary, paper clips, bank enveloped, pencils, pens, staples, etc. However, inmates may have in their possession up to five photographs or computer generated images at a time as long as each image is no smaller than 2” x 3” and no larger than 4” x 6”.

Inmates are permitted to send and receive “confidential mail,” which the Sheriff’s Department defines as correspondence between an inmate and a member of the State Bar; between any members in the chain of command of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, or between an inmate and any federal or state court. Sheriff Deputies and staff are not permitted to read confidential mail.

You may send mail to an MCJ inmate at the following address:

[Insert Inmate's Name and Booking Number]

P.O. Box 86164

Terminal Annex

Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164