Men's Central Jail Inmate Mail

TYPE OF MAIL ALLOWED FOR the Men's Central Jail

The Men's Central Jail has a very strict set of rules and policies regarding mail that is delivered to inmates.

The purpose of these rules are not to make life difficult for you or to ‘punish’ incarcerated inmates further, but are here for the safety and security of all the inmates and staff who reside and work in what can be a very dangerous place.

 For the time being, Men's Central Jail is still allowing inmates to receive physical mail, however many jails and prisons around the country are starting to go full-on digital; only allowing electronic messages and digital images to be accessible by inmates through kiosks or jail provided handheld devices.

All LA County Jail Inmates are made aware of the following Rules and Policies and these are also posted in the lobbies of each of the facilities to educate friends and loved ones.  

Many items that are needed by inmates that you may want to mail but can’t, can be purchased directly from the LA County Jail’s Commissary. Even indigent inmates, those without any funds, are provided basic hygiene items and other items necessary for their physical and mental health.

Men's Central Jail Inmates are allowed mail in envelopes and on postcards.

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

The following is a list of prohibited items: 

If any of these items are mailed to an inmate in the Men's Central Jail, they will be returned intact to the sender (provided there is a return address) and the inmate will NOT be notified. 

Read and follow this list carefully. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this policy.

ENVELOPES & POSTCARDS

*All envelopes and paper must be free of debris and/or any illegal substances, perfume/cologne, powders, lip stick, food or cosmetic items or dried liquids. 

*Blank envelopes, envelopes with a metal clasp, postage stamps, envelopes with gang or suggestive drawings/artwork

*Cash, personal or second-party checks, payroll checks, out-of-state checks

*Blank money order(s) (money orders must be signed and made payable to the inmate)

*Money order(s) that would increase the inmate's trust funds in excess of the $900 limit

*Out-of-state money order(s)

*Money order in amount exceeding $200 limit

*Musical, plastic, or blank greeting card(s)

*Identification card(s) or copies of ID cards

*Paper clip(s), staple(s), pen(s), pencil(s), glitter, sticker(s), glued or gummed label(s)

*Postcard(s) larger than 6''x 9''

*Rosary bead(s), balloon(s), string bracelet(s), or jewelry item(s)

*Lottery ticket(s) or pre-paid telephone card(s)

*Cellophane tape or any type of tape on letters

*Audio, CDs, or cassette tapes

BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS & MAGAZINES

*Item(s) not sent directly from an accepted bookstore or publisher such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.

*Item(s) of explicit sexual nature or that depict full or partial frontal nudity

*Item(s) that depict or describe how to create weapons or commit crimes, or contains content that has been determined to compromise jail security

*Item(s) exceeding the limit of three (3) books per week

*Item(s) exceeding the limit of three (3) periodicals or publications per week

*Item(s) has metal or plastic binding

*Item(s) has a hard cover (only paperback books are allowed)

PHOTOGRAPHS & COMPUTER PRINTED IMAGES 

*Item(s) does not conform to size requirements: Minimum of 3"x 5" / Maximum of 4"x 6" 

*Item(s) that depict nudity, sexually-suggestive content, or gang imagery

*Item(s) that depicts content which has been determined to compromise jail security

*Polaroid photos

POLICY REGARDING COMPLAINTS & APPEALS OF A RETURNED ITEM

If you do send a book, a magazine or a publication and is returned, yet you believe that it should have been accepted by the jail and given to your inmate, you can file an appeal, as long as you appeal it within 15 days of receiving notification that the item was returned.

The LA County Jail will then provide you with their decision of your appeal within 15 days.

You can appeal the return of a book, newspaper, magazine or publication by filing a complaint here.
 

Your appeal MUST INCLUDE ALL the following information or it will be automatically denied: 

(1)  The involved inmate's name and booking number; 
(2)  The form's reference number; 
(3)  The sender's contact information; 
(4)  A description of the withheld/returned item; 
(5)  The date the item was sent to the inmate; 
(6)  The date the sender received this Returned Mail Notification; 
(7)  The reason(s) the sender disagrees with the LASD’S decision to withhold/return the item.

**If you have any questions about any of these rules, policies, guidelines and/or the appeal process, please contact the Mail Room Supervisor at 213-893-5874.

These rules, policies and guidelines are subject to change any time.

What is Inmate mail?

By law, every inmate is entitled to receive mail delivered through the United State Postal Service. While for years, this mail was always delivered in the form of a letter or a postcard from friends and loved ones directly to the inmate, the definition of inmate mail has changed a bit.

Inmate mail can be:

•    A letter in an envelope,
•    A postcard,
•    A greeting card, or
•    A digital letter

Because of security and contraband concerns, mainly the paper and envelope that a letter is written on or enclosed in, being soaked in a liquid form of drugs, many jails are increasingly limiting the type of mail inmates can get.

Some still allow regular mail in an envelope with a stamp, but many now have the letter sent to a third-party that opens the letter, scans it and the envelope into a computer, emails the letter to the jail where they print it out, giving the photocopies to the inmate, or they send it to a computer kiosk or tablet digitally that the inmate can access.

Others only allow postcards, specifically the white, pre-stamped postcards that you can purchase from the post office. 

When greeting cards are allowed, they can’t be cards with glitter, music or other do-dads. They can only be plain paper cards.

Some jails, in fact most, require that mail be written or typed with only black or blue ink. Some allow black pencils to be used.

None allow crayons, markers, lipstick prints, etc. 

All require white envelopes, white paper or lined paper such as from a pad. Very few allow paper that is card stock. It must be plain white, 20-lb. printer paper.

To see the inmate mail policies for Men's Central Jail check out the inmate mail details above or call the jail at 213-974-4082 for specific information.

What is my inmate’s mailing address?

There are five different types of addresses for every jail:

1.    The physical address of the jail
2.    The mailing address for an inmate’s personal mail
3.    The mailing address for the inmate’s legal mail
4.    The mailing address for the jail’s administrative staff
5.    The mailing address for sending money to the inmate’s trust or commissary fund
       Visit the Inmate Money page for this information

In general, the only three addresses that friends and family of inmates need to be concerned about are:

•    The inmate address for personal mail.
•    The address for sending money orders to the inmate’s commissary account.
      Visit the Inmate Money page for this information.
•    The physical address of the jail.

Because this section is about mailing an inmate, the address for mailing an inmate is:

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

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Men's Central Jail
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

If the red address is visible, then use that address, as that is the new address the jail is using for an inmate's personal mail to combat contraband entering the facility.

How do I mail a letter to an inmate in jail?

To mail a letter to an inmate in the Men's Central Jail, first completely read all the mail policies and guidelines that are on this page. Also read any updated mail guidelines that are on the official page for facility. If you still have questions, then call the jail at 213-974-4082 and ask specifics.

It is important to understand that if even one thing is done incorrectly when sending a letter to the jail, even if everything else is done correctly, then your letter will not be delivered to the inmate.  In fact, even though the jail claims they will mail your letter back to you so that you will know it was not delivered, there is always the chance it will be disposed of. 

So here you are at home, wondering why your inmate is not responding to your letter, when in fact, they may not have even received it.

How do I address an inmate?

All mail to the inmate must be addressed as follows:

A full return address, which includes your full name and full address.  Without this the mail will not be delivered to the inmate.

A complete address to the inmate, including:

Full Name (name that they were booked under)
Inmate ID# (booking #, SO #, etc.)
Inmate’s Housing location (if you know it)
Men's Central Jail
Mailing Address
City, State, Zip code

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



A letter that is not addressed completely may not get delivered. Keep in mind that often there is more than one inmate in a jail with the same name. You certainly don’t want the wrong inmate getting your private mail, do you?

If a letter is not delivered to an inmate, will they be notified?

Sometimes. There are some jails that will deliver you a notification that a letter which was intended for you was returned because it was either improperly addressed, did not have return address, contained contraband of some sort, had things written in it that were against mail and jail policies, or were sent by someone you were not allowed contact with such as co-defendant or someone the court had forbidden contact with such as a spouse in a domestic violence case.

Most of the time though, the letter is either returned or destroyed, and if there are illegal substances in the letter, it will be turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff or District Attorney for possible criminal investigation and/or indictment.

What can I send to an inmate by mail?

Generally nothing but a letter, printouts from a computer printer or photographs can be sent to an inmate in the mail. If there is anything else enclosed, the entire letter and the contents will be returned to you or destroyed.

There are a few exceptions to this, such as several county jails in New York, including the infamous Riker’s Island. Riker’s allows all kinds of things to be mailed to an inmate, including a box of items every month.

Can I send pictures to an inmate?

Every jail has their own policy regarding allowing inmates to receive photographs in the mail, if at all. For Men's Central Jail’s policy, review the information on this page.

In general, most jails allow an inmate to have anywhere from four to six photographs in their possession at any one time. These cannot be polaroids, and the photos cannot be construed as even mildly sexual (such as a woman or child in a bathing suit), gang related, drug related or violent.

Some jails allow only photocopied photos.

Some jails only allow photos that are sent digitally and must remain digital.

There are only a few jails that do not allow any photos of any kind.

If you are still uncertain as the policy regarding photographs at this facility, call them at 213-974-4082.

Can I send newspapers, magazines and books to an inmate in the Men's Central Jail?

Most jails allow newspapers, magazines and books to be sent to an inmate, if they come directly from the publisher, such as directly from the newspaper or magazine themselves, or from the specific book publisher or trusted mail order source such as Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

There is often a limit of the quantity of books and magazines an inmate can either receive at one time, receive each month, or have in their possession at any one time. 

Hardcover books, or books with wire spiral binders are never allowed.

Any publications that portray or discuss violence, sex, gang activity, drugs, jail escapes or anything else against jail policies are not allowed and will be returned.

The policy of the Men's Central Jail should be detailed on this page. However, if it is not, then call the jail at 213-974-4082 and ask.

Keep in mind that the address the publications should be mailed to is not always the mailing address of where the inmate gets their regular mail, the mail that is scanned and forwarded digitally to them.

The mailing address for publications is:

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

or 
Inmate's Full Name
Inmate ID#
Men's Central Jail
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Use the address in red if it is visible to you.

NOTE: There are a few New York jails that allow publications to be sent directly to them as opposed to having it sent through the publisher. One of the most notable exceptions is Riker’s Island in New York City.

How often can I send letters or cards to an inmate?

There is no limit to how often you can send letters or cards to an inmate. You are only limited to the types of letters and cards that you can send, considering Men's Central Jail’s policies, which are outlined on this page.

How often can the inmate mail letters?

An inmate can mail letters as often as they like.  There is no limit to the number of letters that an inmate can write and send.  They are only limited by the number of stamps they can afford to purchase through commissary, and the amount of commissary spend that the Men's Central Jail allows.

What is considered contraband in the mail?

Contraband is defined as anything that the jail does not allow to be mailed to an inmate, which is just about everything. The list would fill ten sets of encyclopedias. 

It easier to say what is allowed to be sent through the mail:

•    When allowed, a certain number of photographs.
•    When allowed, newspapers, magazines and books, if they are sent from a publisher.
•    When allowed, a care package of snacks, hygiene products or clothing from a commissary company that has contracted with the jail.

Can I send printouts from my computer to an inmate?

Some jails allow printouts of photographs and information to be sent to an inmate through the mail. Refer to the mail policy on this page or by calling the jail directly at 213-974-4082.

Can I send an inmate a package?

Many jails contract with companies that send food, hygiene products and/or clothing to inmates. These can be purchased and sent by friends and family on a weekly or monthly basis.

You can only send items from the one that your jail has a contract with. 

Check this page, the Money Page or the Commissary Page for further information, or call the jail at 213-974-4082 to see which one that the Men's Central Jail works with.

Here are the commissary package companies, in alphabetical order, that provide this service to jails in the United States:

Access Securepak
Care A Cell
Commissary order
Correct Pay
Express Account
icare
Inmate Canteen
Jail ATM
Jail Pack Store (McDaniel Supply)
My Care Pack
Oasis (jailcanteen)
Prodigy Solutions
Tiger
Union Supply Direct

Can I send an inmate a gift?

The only gifts you can send an inmate must come from one of the stores above, and Men's Central Jail must contract with them.

If I send something to an inmate that is not allowed, can the inmate or I get in trouble?

If the item that you send an inmate is illegal, then you and/or your inmate can get in trouble, otherwise if it is not illegal, it will just be destroyed or in some cases, returned to you.

Note that if you continue to send items that are considered contraband, some of your communication privileges with your inmate, such as visitation or phone calls, may be suspended.

Can I send an inmate postage stamps?

No, you cannot send postage stamps. Stamps must be purchased by the inmate through commissary. You can send them the money for stamps, but not the stamps.

How can an inmate get stamps while in jail or prison?

Stamps can be purchased in the jail commissary be the inmate.

If an inmate has no money, will the Men's Central Jail give them stamps?

Yes. If an inmate is indigent, the jail will provide them 2-3 stamps, and an equal amount of envelopes and stationery each week. 

What happens if I send the inmate drugs or something that can be a weapon, will I get in trouble?

Yes. If you send the inmate drugs, a weapon or anything illegal, it will be turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff or District Attorney and it is most likely that you will be prosecuted. 

Is emailing with inmates allowed in Men's Central Jail?

No.

As of January 2023, LA County Jails do not yet contract with a service that allows email or messaging services. 

A growing number of jails now offer email services to inmates and their families.

  • This can save you time by letting you view your email from your smart phone, computer, or tablet, whenever you wish. 
  • You don't have to deal with envelopes, stamps or the post office.
  • Inmates like it because the emails eliminate delays so they can get your correspondence quickly and send responses immediately.
  • Jail staffs like it as it eliminates concerns about contraband entering the facility in envelopes and on paper. It also allows the jail to have an electronic record that can be called upon at any time.

Anything you or your inmate writes in an email service is put through a filtering program that looks for certain words related to criminal and/or gang activities. There have been multiple cases in which emails between inmates and their friends or loved ones have been used as evidence in criminal court cases to convict them or to file new charges.

How Do You Fill Out an Envelope Mailed to an Inmate in the Men's Central Jail?

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

All mail sent to an inmate at the Men's Central Jail must include the senders name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and discarded.

Policies Regarding Mailing Photos to Inmates in the Men's Central Jail

PHOTOGRAPHS & COMPUTER PRINTED IMAGES NOT ALLOWED

Men's Central Jail does NOT allow:

  • Photo(s) that do not conform to size requirements: Minimum of 3"x 5" / Maximum of 4"x 6" 
  • Photo(s) that depict nudity, sexually-suggestive content, or gang imagery
  • Photo(s) that depicts content which has been determined to compromise jail security
  • Polaroid photos

Inmate Mail Tips

  • The photograph rules also apply to any computer-generated images on computer paper.
  • Mail is always scanned and inspected for contraband, obscenity and other rule infractions.
  • Assume that everything you write will be read by jail staff and can and will be used against you or your inmate in court.  
  • Never write anything about the inmate's court case you wouldn't want read aloud in court.
  • Mail is considered by the jail to be a privilege. Any violations of the mail policies can result in the inmate's mail privileges being suspended.
  • The introduction of contraband by you into the jail through the mail could result in criminal charges being filed against both you and the inmate.

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.


 

Photos of this facility
1 / 8
La County Jail Mens Central Jail located in Los Angeles CA (California) 3
2 / 8
La County Jail Mens Central Jail located in Los Angeles CA (California) 2
3 / 8
4 / 8
La County Jail Mens Central Jail located in Los Angeles CA (California) 4
5 / 8
6 / 8
La County Jail Mens Central Jail located in Los Angeles CA (California) 1
7 / 8
8 / 8