MCJ Visiting - Frequently Asked Questions
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VISITING HOURS:
THURS-SUN 10:00AM TO 3:00PM AND 5:00PM TO 7:00PM

PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOU
AT ALL TIMES AND ENJOY YOUR VISIT!

WHO IS NOT ALLOWED A VISIT?
If you have been to state prison or are on formal probation and do not have permission from the MCJ Unit Commander, or have a warrant, or do not have a valid government issued identification, or are banned from MCJ visiting, you are not allowed a visit here. If you receive permission from the MCJ Unit Commander to visit an inmate, please bring the letter of approval with you to visiting.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN AN INMATE GET VISITS PER DAY?
Once, 3 people per visit (children are included). All visitors must check in at the computers.

HOW DO I GET THE BOOKING NUMBER OR OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT MY INMATE?
Call the Inmate Information Service at (213) 473-6100. You will need your inmates complete name, birth date and/or date of arrest. The operator will provide the inmate’s booking number, jail housing location, court date and bail information.

WHAT IS “HIGH POWER” AND WHERE DO I LINE UP?
“HIGH POWER” are inmates that have to be escorted wherever they go in the jail facility. These inmates are on a visiting schedule. Contact the high power deputy for further information.

WHICH LINE (YELLOW OR BLUE) DO I FOLLOW?
If you are visiting a general population inmate, stay on the yellow line. If you are visiting a high power inmate, stay on the blue line.

CAN I LEAVE MY CHILDREN OUTSIDE OR IN THE PLAY AREA?
NO. If you leave your children unattended, you may be banned from visiting.

WHAT CAN’T I BRING INSIDE THE LOBBY?
No purses, cameras, cell phones, writing tablets, recording devices, and weapons are allowed in the visiting lobby.

HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO VISIT?
3 people per visit (children are included) are allowed inside the lobby. All visitors must check in at the computers.

IF THE INMATE IS “UNCLASSIFIED”
He is not allowed a visit or phone calls at this point. The inmate is waiting to be interviewed by custody officials to verify where he can be housed safely. This process may take two weeks to a month before it is completed. Once he is moved, he will be able to call you.

IF I AM A LEGAL RUNNER
Advise the deputy if the visit is 30 minutes (legal visit) or 45 minutes (legal and regular visit)

WHAT DO I DO IF I WANT TO MARRY AN INMATE?
Ask a deputy at computers for printed instructions.

WAYSIDE MAPS AND MARRIAGE FORMS
Ask the outreach volunteers (located right next to the high power deputy).

WHEN I TRY TO TALK TO MY INMATE ON THE VISITING TELEPHONE, IT DOESN’T WORK. WHY IS THAT?
The visiting telephones are on timers; they are not turned on until everyone on the row is seated. This gives everyone an equal visit.

HOW DO I GET MONEY, PROPERTY, OR A VEHICLE RELEASE FROM MY INMATE?
During your visit, tell your inmate to fill out an appropriate release form (blue for property or pink for money.) These forms are available to the inmate in the visiting area. After your visit is finished, the inmate MUST turn in the completed forms to deputies in the Visiting area. After the visit, you must wait in the lobby for your name to be called (usually no more than 10 minutes.) After you get the money or property release forms, you must take them across the street to the INMATE RECEPTION CENTER LOBBY (450 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, Calif. 90012.) You will need official identification to get property or money released to you. To get a vehicle released you must contact the arresting agency. The vehicle MAY be impounded, which means it legally has to stay in the impound yard for a specified length of time before it can be released. The arresting agency will be able to tell you.

WHY CAN’T I VISIT MY INMATE ON THE DAYS HE GOES TO COURT?
The inmate tracking system in Central Jail is computer based. When an inmate has permission to be out of his housing area for any reason, that reason is entered into the computer. The inmate CANNOT be issued a pass for any other activity until he is checked in from his previous activity, including court. Normally, courts are not checked in until after visiting hours, so a visiting pass cannot be issued that day.

WHAT DOES “DISCIPLINE” MEAN?
Inmates in jail are required to follow jail rules. Violation of jail rules results in disciplinary action, including loss of privileges. Privileges include visits, use of telephone, exercise time, and/or commissary (“stores”.) Any or all of these privileges may be suspended during a specified disciplinary time, known as “lockdown.” Visiting deputies are able to advise when the specified disciplinary time is over.

WHAT DOES “LOCKDOWN” MEAN?
Lockdown is a security condition in the jail where ALL inmate movement is terminated. Visiting deputies have no prior knowledge of the lockdown and do not know how long the lockdown will continue.

WHY DO SOME INMATES GET VISITS FASTER THAN OTHERS?
There are a number of reasons some inmates get visits faster than others. First, some housing areas (“modules” or “dorms”) are closer to the visiting area than others. Second, different floors may have activities or security checkpoints going on. Thirdly, different housing areas may have activities going on (court returnees, transfer lines, showers, stores, school, exercise, pill call, etc.)

HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY INMATE WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER JAIL FACILITY?
Transfer lines are done by computer; Central Jail personnel have no prior knowledge or control over who goes and who stays at Central Jail, or when and if they will be transferred. To find out where your inmate is currently housed, call Inmate Information Service listed above.

I NEED TO GET SOME PAPERS SIGNED BY MY INMATE. HOW DO I DO THIS?
Go to the Attorney Room, located in the Central Jail Main lobby next to the Visiting area. The Attorney Room is open 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday - Thursday, and 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Friday. There is no visiting allowed in the Attorney Room; papers will be passed to the inmate and returned after signing. There may be restrictions on the types of materials; telephone the Main Lobby at (213) 974-4082 for further details.

EYEGLASSES OR ANY OTHER MEDICAL CONCERNS
Go to the MCJ Main Lobby located next to MCJ Visiting Mon-Fri 5:00AM to 9:00PM. Call Medical Services at (213) 974-4949 for additional information.

I HAVE A PROBLEM THAT THE VISITING DEPUTIES CAN’T OR WON’T RESOLVE. WHAT CAN I DO?
Ask to speak to the deputy’s supervisor, or ask for the Visiting Sergeant.

WHAT IS THE INMATE MAILING ADDRESS?
Inmate’s complete name and seven-digit booking number
P. O. Box 86164, Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164

WHERE ARE THE OTHER L. A. COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT JAILS?
- Century Regional Detention Facility: 11705 S. Alameda Street, Lynwood - (323-357-5100)
- Twin Towers Correctional Facility: 450 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles - (213-893-5100)
- Inmate Reception Center: 450 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles - (213-893-5100)
- East Facility - 29310 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384 - (Wayside Facility)
- North Facility: 29320 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384 - (Wayside Facility)
- South Facility: 29330 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384 - (Wayside Facility)
- North County Correctional Facility, 29340 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384 - (Wayside Facility)
- Mira Loma Detention Center, 45100 N. 60th St., West Lancaster, -