The Men's Central Jail is the main jail in Los Angeles County California. While the police in the cities and towns in Los Angeles County can arrest and detain offenders, the Men's Central Jail is the facility that is accredited by California to hold inmates for more than 72 hours.
The Men's Central Jail is located at:
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
It can be reached 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 213-974-4082.
The main reason that people call 213-974-4082 is to find out if a particular person is in custody, although you can look up an inmate online by going here. You can also get answers to whatever questions about an inmate, and the services for Men's Central Jail that you may have by clicking on any of the questions below:
How to search for an inmate?
Can you look up an inmate’s mugshot?
How do you look up an offender’s criminal charges, bond or inmate number?
How do you visit an inmate?
What are the visitation hours?
Can you visit inmates in Los Angeles County by video from home?
How do you get phone calls from an inmate?
Can you send mail, books, or newspapers to an inmate?
How do you send an inmate money?
Does Men's Central Jail have inmate commissary?
Can an inmate receive and/or send email or text messages?
Do inmates in Los Angeles County have access to computers or tablets?
How do you pay an inmate’s bail or bond?
Every year the Men's Central Jail has approximately 135000 bookings, with a daily average of 6750 inmates and maintains control of the facility with a staff of 1687.
Inmates in this jail range from low level misdemeanor offenders to those being held and awaiting trial for violent crimes like robbery, rape, and murder. Therefore, given the mix of potentially dangerous inmates, the security level is very high.
The Men's Central Jail is equipped with a state-of-the-art locking system, closed circuit cameras covering every area where inmates are located, and jail staff that utilize a communication system that keeps each of the guards and civilian staff in constant contact.
Guards that circulate in the same general area of the inmates are armed with eye-blinding mace that will turn an inmate having a violent outburst into a weeping child. They also carry stun weapons, short clubs, flashlights that have dual use as both a light source and as a weapon, and handcuffs. Guards at entrances and in areas not frequented by inmates are armed with various firearms. The goal of such tight security is to keep both the staff and the inmates safe.
Go to this page for other jails in Los Angeles County, jails in neighboring counties, and local police jails and juvenile detention centers for young offenders under age 18 in this county.
Unlike the California Department of Corrections, where inmates are sent once convicted of a crime and sentenced to a period of more than a year, the Los Angeles County Jail System is populated by short-term offenders; those who have just been arrested and awaiting to be bonded out by friends or family, those who cannot afford or get bailed and are awaiting trial, or those who have already been convicted of a crime and sentenced to a term of less than one year. Many of the latter inmates become ‘workers’, who can reduce their sentence by performing jail maintenance or working in the kitchen. An upside to being a worker is they also get paid a small stipend so when they get released, they have a few dollars in their pocket.
When an inmate is convicted and sentenced to a year or more, they are transferred to the California Department of Corrections or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Inmates that are convicted of a misdemeanor and/or sentenced to less than one year of a state crime serve their time in the Men's Central Jail.
Illegal immigrants convicted of a state or federal crime will first do their time, then may be transferred into ICE custody for deportation.
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 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:
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.
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 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.
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.
Follow these instructions on how to open an account with GTL Connect Network (aka Viapath Technologies)
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.
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.
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.
To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Men's Central Jail follow these steps:
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.
Gone are the days where Men's Central Jail supervised their own phone system, mail system, visitation, commissary and inmate money deposit systems. Jails throughout the United States are now partnering with high tech companies to provide and manage these servives for them and the jail in Los Angeles County is no different.
Everything from video calls, to messages to visitation, and even digital mail and money deposits can be done from your home computer or personal device. Inmates in Men's Central Jail, if they don't already, will soon have their own personal tablets for watching movies, TV shows, access to educational and and legal information, and more.
As Men's Central Jail adds these services, JAILEXCHANGE will add them to our pages, helping you access the services and answering your questions about how to use them and what they cost.
You can check out this information now by going to the: Family Info page, Visit Inmate page, Inmate Mail page, Inmate Phone page, Send Money page, Inmate Bail page, Mugshots page, Text/Email an Inmate page, Commissary page, Remote Visits page, or the Tablet Rental page.
Men's Central Jail
| STATE | COUNTY | BEDS |
|---|---|---|
| California | Los Angeles | 6,750 |
PHYSICAL ADDRESS
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
TELEPHONE NUMBER
FAX
District Attorney: 213-974-1484
INMATE MAIL
Inmate's First and Last Name
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Photos
View 8 photos of this facility
How many inmates are in the Men's Central Jail in California?
There are 6750 inmates in the Men's Central Jail in California. While that is what they are approved to have incarcerated at any one time, they have on occasion had to add additional beds, even having inmates sleep on the floor when overcrowding becomes an issue. When possible, Men's Central Jail will temporarily transfer some inmates to a neighboring facility, or if necessary, release some offenders from custody. Learn more about how to search for a specific inmate in the Men's Central Jail.
How many people get arrested and booked into the Men's Central Jail in California every year?
In 2021, a total of 135000 offenders were booked into the Men's Central Jail in California. That is less than previous years, mostly due to restrictions related to the COVID pandemic. As of April 2022, the number of arrests and bookings are returning to normal, which means they are running higher than 2021. Learn more about how to search for an inmate in the Men's Central Jail.
How many people work at the Men's Central Jail in California?
The Men's Central Jail maintains a staff of approximately 1687. Staff positions include correction officers, maintenance, clerical, kitchen workers and management. California law allows for inmates to work alongside the paid staff during their incarceration, saving the facility money. Even though the inmates are paid, the cost is less than 15% of what a normal worker from the outside would be paid.
Does the Men's Central Jail in California have an inmate search or jail roster to see who is in custody?
Yes, the Men's Central Jail in California has an Inmate Search Roster feature. Learn more about how to search for an inmate in the Men's Central Jail. When you get to this page click on the big green button that reads 'OFFICIAL Men's Central Jail INMATE LIST'. After clicking on the link, type in the offender's name and then click 'search'. You can always call and speak to someone on the staff at 213-974-4082 if you are have further questions. In most cases the Inmate Roster provides information about the inmate's bond, criminal charges, mugshot, and even their release date, as long as they are not being sent to a California prison or the US Bureau of Prisons to serve a sentence that is longer than one year.
What is the address and phone number of the Men's Central Jail in California?
The Men's Central Jail address and phone number is:
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012. Their phone number is 213-974-4082.
To find out the address for sending an inmate mail, sending newspapers, magazines or care packages, learn more about how to mail an inmate in the Men's Central Jail.
Where do I found out all the inmate services at Men's Central Jail, such as visitation policy and schedule, how the inmate phone system works, emailing an inmate, and sending them money to buy things in commissary?
Here is where you get direct access to all the information you need for Men's Central Jail inmate services: Learn more about how to visit an inmate in the Men's Central Jail. Learn more about how to get phone calls from an inmate in the Men's Central Jail. Learn more about how to text/email an inmate in the Men's Central Jail. Learn more about how to send money to an inmate in the Men's Central Jail. Learn more about how to mail an inmate and what's allowed in the Men's Central Jail. Learn more about inmate commissary in the Men's Central Jail.
How do I bail or bond an inmate out of the Men's Central Jail?
Call 213-974-4082 for the type of bond and any information that is required for a particular individual at Men's Central Jail.
A bond is set according to a court-approved schedule. You will either have to pay a cash bail, or put up a private, surety or a property bond to guarantee to the court that the defendant will return on their assigned court date. Learn more about how to bail or bond out an inmate in the Men's Central Jail.
This facility, known as "Men's Central Jail" is also known as Los Angeles County Jail, LA COUNTY JAIL - Men's Central Jail.
