Men's Central Jail Remote Inmate Video Visits

Men's Central Jail

Address:
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone:

213-974-4082

Visiting with an Inmate at the Men's Central Jail

Men's Central Jail Visitation Page - Find the Schedules, Rules, Policies and Guidelines below

Men's Central Jail Inmate Visitation Schedule and Visitation Rules

All visits must be made online with GTL
No registration and no appointment = No Visit

Using the GTL Online App to first register, then selecting an inmate and then making an appointment can be confusing, so if you are having trouble call the Inmate Video Visitation System Help Desk at 213-680-4887 (Monday thru Friday) between 7:00AM and 2:00PM. That said, if you follow the instructions that follow each step of the registration process, it's quite simple.

For those who prefer to ask questions using email.

     VISITATION SCHEDULE

  • Each inmate is allowed one 30 minute visit per scheduled visiting day with a maximum of three (3) persons at a time. Each child counts as one (1) person.
  • Due to COVID restrictions, this may be limited to one adult and one child per visit. Call 213-680-4887 (Monday thru Friday) between 7:00AM and 2:00PM to confirm.
  • Arrive at least one hour before your scheduled visit.
  • IMPORTANT: Because of the large number of people that arrive to visit, you may want to plan on arriving at least one hour ahead of your scheduled visit time!
  • Because visiting hours are subject to change without notice, it is a good idea to call the visitor’s line prior to making a visit. The best number to call for this is 213-680-4887.
  • Bring your confirmation number/receipt and a valid, government-issued photo ID.
  • Visits take place at the Lynwood Jail Visitation Center - aka The Men's Central Jail
    441 Bauchet Street - Los Angeles, CA 90012
DAY TIME
THURSDAY 10:00AM - 3:00PM
5:00PM - 7:00PM
FRIDAY 10:00AM - 3:00PM
5:00PM - 7:00PM
SATURDAY 10:00AM - 3:00PM
5:00PM - 7:00PM
SUNDAY 10:00AM - 3:00PM
5:00PM - 7:00PM
HOLIDAYS** 10:00AM - 3:00PM
5:00PM - 7:00PM

** Holidays are: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day (the 4th of July), Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. NOTE: Holiday visits are subject to change.

Attorneys and Clergy Visitation

  • Attorneys may visit inmates at the Men's Central Jail Monday - Friday from 8:00AM to 7:00PM, or outside of those hours with prior approval from the Watch Commander.  
  • Clergy members may make their own arrangements with the Chaplain’s office by calling 323-526-5390. Clergy can visit any time, 24 hours a day.

     VISITATION RULES - Read them all. Failure to follow these may result in not getting a visit.... and you wasting a day.

  • All visits must be scheduled in advanced. There will be no walk-in appointments allowed nor scheduled at Men's Central Jail.
  • All Visits to the Men's Central Jail are arranged on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The absolute minimum time you should plan on, from arriving to leaving from the visit, is approximately three (3) hours.
  • You must have proof of vaccine, proof of a recent (3 days) COVID test, or have proof of recovery in order to visit. NOTE: You can pre-register for free Covid testing at the Men's Central Jail.
  • You must have a California state or US government issued ID card.
  • Visitors must wear a mask at all times and maintain at least six feet of distance.
  • Only one adult visitor or one adult with one child will be allowed at a time. (Note: During normal visitation, up to three visitors - which includes three children - are allowed per inmate. This may change once the pandemic panic is over). Call 213-680-4887 or 661-295-8074 to confirm prior to leaving for your visit.
  • If you are a convicted felon or currently on parole or probation, you need a preapproval to visit. Fill out and submit this form, and you can expect to receive a letter within about a month granting or denying permission.
  • Minors 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian unless legally emancipated. Appropriate paperwork is required as proof of status, including guardianship or emancipation.
  • Children must show some form of a photo ID and remain closely supervised at all times.
  • Personal belongings should be left behind or will be stored in lockers. Strictly prohibited items include cell phones/electronic devices/cameras, tobacco products, waterless hand sanitizers containing alcohol, medications (including homeopathic) hygiene products, stationery, carabiner shackle tools, plastics of all kinds.
  • Do not arrive under the influence of alcohol or drugs (or with contraband in your possession) or you may be subject to arrest.
  • Persons causing a disruption will be ejected from the visitation area
  • There is also a strictly enforced dress code for visitors at the Men's Central Jail. The following may deny you entry:
     - Revealing clothing, such as strapless and midriff-baring tops, see-through material or display of cleavage
     - Skirts, shorts or dresses that are higher than mid-thigh
     - Gang-affiliated clothes and accessories
     - Bare feet
     - Swimsuits
     - Bare torsos or muscle/sleeveless shirts
     - Clothing with graphics depicting nudity, violence, drugs or gang themes

What is a video visit?

Video visitation, also known as remote visitation, is quickly becoming the preferred method for visiting an inmate in jail or prison for the following reasons:

•    It requires little to no staff, versus the staff required to move inmates to and from the visit and watch over the visit. It saves the Men's Central Jail money.
•    It removes any opportunity for contraband (drugs) to enter the facility.
•    It can become a profit center for the facility, given that the revenue generated by visits is shared with the jail.
•    While inmates prefer to see family and friends in person, video visitation allows them to visit with them more often, and on a whim.
•    Video visitation gives the inmates and their visitors the feeling of more privacy.

Video visitation from the perspective of the visitor allows them to visit from their home, their car, at work, and even allows them to take their device to a family or religious gathering. It allows them to give their inmate the feeling of belonging and not being forgotten.

Video visitation can take place on a computer, a tablet or a phone. 

Video visitation saves time. Instead of spending hours driving to the jail, checking in, filling out paperwork, potentially being searched, waiting, and then having a 15–30-minute visit, if it isn’t cancelled at the last minute, the visit can be done from anywhere during a short break in the visitor’s day.

If the visitor does not have access to a phone or computer, they can make an appointment ahead of time and use terminals in the lobby of the jail.

You must also be on the inmate's approved list, even for a video visit.

What are the companies that work with the jails and prisons that allow video visits?

There are several different companies that contract with all the jails and prisons that allow video visitation:

These are the companies in alphabetical order:

CIDNET
City Tele Coin
Correct Solutions Group
Correct Pay
Ctel
Gettingout
GTL
Homewav
IC Solutions
Inmate Canteen
Inmate Sales
iwebvisits
JailATM
Jpay
Gettingintouch (netvisit)
NCIC
Prodigy Sales
Reliance
Securus
Smart Communications
Tiger Services
Visitel
In addition, some jails use Microsoft Meeting and Zoom.

How to Deposit Money in a Men's Central Jail Inmate's Account

There are two ways to deposit money in an inmate's account in the Los Angeles County Jail system:
1.  Mailing a Payment - $200 maximum

Mailing Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking Number
PO BOX 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164

2.  Dropping off a payment - $200 maximum
When dropping off an inmate's money in person, the Men's Central Jail will only accept:

  • Cash
  • US Postal Money Orders, or
  • Certified Bank Cashier Checks from banks in California for deposit into an inmate’s account.

Locations to drop off inmate money:

Inmate Reception Center
450 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

or

Century Regional Detention Facility
11705 S. Alameda Street
Lynwood, CA 90262

For complete information and guidelines for sending an inmate money including: the maximum you can send, what form the payment has to be, the maximum an inmate can have in their account and more, check out our Inmate Money page.


 

How to Send Mail to an Inmate in the Men's Central Jail

Men's Central Jail Inmates are allowed mail in envelopes and on postcards. They are also allowed to receive photos.

They are also allowed to receive books, magazine and newspapers directly from trusted publishers and businesses.

Mailing Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Booking Number
PO BOX 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164

To learn all the rules, policies and guidelines, and they are extensive, for sending anything in the mail to an inmate at any of the Los Angeles County Jails, check out our Inmate Mail Page.


 

How to use a Tablet to Access Services at Men's Central Jail

To find out how to get access to a tablet for an inmate read the following:

1.  First, Register or Sign In to GTL / Viapath Services.

2.  In the top menu, click on 'Services', then on 'Inmate Devices & Content'.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.


 

How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Men's Central Jail by Phone

Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)

  • Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
  • Pin Debit  -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
  • Voicemail  -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Men's Central Jail, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

For full instructions on the Men's Central Jail Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our Inmate Phones Page.


 

How do Inmates at the Men's Central Jail Communicate using Email?

As of January 2023, LA County Jails do not yet contract with a service that allows email or messaging services.  For the time being the only communication with inmates by US Mail, By Phone or by Visiting them at the facility.

For more information on how jails across America are using third-party email services to allow communication between inmates and their loved ones, check out our Inmate Email page.


 

How to Arrange Visitation with Men's Central Jail Inmates

Follow these instructions to register, schedule and then visit an inmate using GTL.

Inmate Visitation times in Men's Central Jail vary based on many considerations.
After you select your inmate, you will be given the option of available time slots.

DAY TIME
SUNDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM
MONDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM
TUESDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM
WEDNESDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM
THURSDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM
FRIDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM
SATURDAY 8:00AM - 9:00PM

For all the information you need to know regarding scheduling, times, cost, rules, tips and guidelines of inmate visits at the Men's Central Jail, check out our Visit Inmate Page.


 

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Los Angeles County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Men's Central Jail follow these steps:

  • Select California, then select Men's Central Jail, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
  • Register and create an account with Access Securepak, for Los Angeles County.
  • Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
  • NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Los Angeles County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping Commissary packages to an inmate in Men's Central Jail check out our Commissary Instructions Page for Los Angeles County.


 

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