Every detail on this page is checked by hand, not scraped. This unofficial directory helps friends and family of incarcerated individuals find critical information — inmate lists, locations, bail resources, visitation hours, rules, and text, phone, email, and mail services — for jails, detention centers, and prisons across the United States.
The 200-bed Rock Mountain Detention Facility is staffed around the clock, and you can call 619-409-5000 at any hour for inmate information.
Arrestees charged with misdemeanors or felonies in this county are brought here for booking and processing. If held, they stay until they post bail, are released on their own recognizance, or are ordered to remain in custody through the end of their trial.
The facility’s roster of current inmates is available through the inmate search tool.
Convicted inmates with sentences of less than a year remain here. Inmates with sentences of more than a year are sent on to the California State Prison System or the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
This page includes information about the visitation schedule, sending money to an inmate’s account, mail, receiving calls from an inmate, voicemail, email and text messaging, tablet rentals, bail bonds, and commissary.
Find and save the inmate’s booking number early, since you may need it for letters and other communication. Can’t find it online? Call Rock Mountain Detention Facility at 619-409-5000.
Phone: 619-409-5000
Physical Address:
446 Alta Rd., Suite 5300
San Diego, CA 92158
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate Booking #
Rock Mountain Detention Facility
Mail Processing Center
451 Riverview Parkway, Building C
Santee, CA 92071
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate Booking #
Rock Mountain Detention Facility
Mail Processing Center
451 Riverview Parkway, Building C
Santee, CA 92071
Other Jails and Prisons
To search for an inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 619-409-5000 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up a list of criminal courts for San Diego County and every other county in California. The San Diego County District Attorney also has a helpful website where you can look up an offender's criminal court case online.
The San Diego County Sheriff provides a resource for looking up Active Arrest Warrants for this county.
Rock Mountain Detention Facility Inmate Search
This is a link to all of the city and county jails, and juvenile detention facilities in San Diego County.
The Rock Mountain Detention Facility maintains an average of 200 offenders in custody on any given day. The Rock Mountain Detention Facility has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year San Diego County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 128,820 offenders.
The following charts of San Diego County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.
The information is compiled from the San Diego County Corrections Department, the state of California Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in San Diego County.
For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for San Diego County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.
We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.
⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHelpful links for all San Diego County Jails:
After arrest, individuals are processed at Rock Mountain Detention Facility, where they undergo a series of steps that determine their charges and whether they’ll be released on their own recognizance, allowed to post bail, or held until their court date.
The first rule for anyone arrested is to remain silent. Anything they say can be used in court, so it’s best to speak only to an attorney about the incident.
Here are the typical stages of the booking process at Rock Mountain Detention Facility:
Booking time varies, with some cases completed in an hour, but more complex cases, or those involving uncooperative behavior, can take up to 48 hours. If you need details about an offender’s bail or bond, contact the facility at 619-409-5000.
If someone is taken to Rock Mountain Detention Facility in San Diego for booking, the next steps depend on their case:
1. The individual may be released without bail, under a promise to appear at a court hearing.
2. They could be held in custody until their trial.
3. They may post a bail or bond for release. To find out the exact bail amount, call 619-409-5000.
Bail payments can be handled in various ways.
For a comprehensive guide to the bail process in San Diego County, California, visit the Rock Mountain Detention Facility Bail FAQ page.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Visit an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility? What is the Schedule?
To schedule a remote visit, register with Smart Inmate
How Video Visitation Works
SmartJailMail.com provides a two-way, real-time video visitation system which can be used to speak to your loved ones directly in their housing location within the jail.
At some locations you may also use a lobby kiosk at the facility to visit for free when scheduling a local / on-site visit.
Remote visits from home cost 50 cents per minute and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute increments.
To schedule a video visit you must first open a Smart Communications account.
Remote Video Visits From Home
Once you are connected with an inmate you can use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit.
Remote visits from home are billed on a credits-per-minute model and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute blocks.
Local / On-Site Video Visits
Once you are connected with an inmate at a location where you have a visitation kiosk in the lobby, you may use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit.
Local / on-site visits are provided free of charge.
This link explains everything you need to know about Smart Communications Video Visitation.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility?
How Video Visitation Works
SmartJailMail.com provides a two-way, real-time video visitation system which can be used to speak to your loved ones directly in their housing location within the jail.
At some locations you may also use a lobby kiosk at the facility to visit for free when scheduling a local / on-site visit.
Remote visits from home cost 50 cents per minute and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute increments.
To schedule a video visit you must first open a Smart Communications account.
Remote Video Visits From Home
Once you are connected with an inmate you can use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit.
Remote visits from home are billed on a credits-per-minute model and are scheduled in 15 or 30 minute blocks.
Local / On-Site Video Visits
Once you are connected with an inmate at a location where you have a visitation kiosk in the lobby, you may use the visitation section of the website to schedule a visit.
Local / on-site visits are provided free of charge.
This link explains everything you need to know about Smart Communications Video Visitation.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility?
Friends and family of inmates in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility can purchase commissary online and have that shipped directly to an inmate.
Commissary items range from snacks to hygeine products to stationary. You can even deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own items.
To learn everything you need to know about how to deposit money for an inmate, purchase commissary for them, and limits to how much you can deposit, check out our Inmate Money Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility?
To communicate by telephone with a San Diego County inmate, follow these instructions:

For all the information you need to receive phone calls from a Rock Mountain Detention Facility inmate, including how it works, how much it costs, how often you can receive calls and when you can receive them and more, check out our Inmate Phone Page.
NOTE: Your phone calls will be monitored and stored. You may want to refrain from discussing your inmate's court case. Anything discussed on the calls may be used in your inmate's court case.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow do I Mail an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility, and what can I send them?
Postcards
The Rock Mountain Detention Facility allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.
Envelopes
The Rock Mountain Detention Facility also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.
Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope.
Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate Booking #
Rock Mountain Detention Facility
Mail Processing Center
451 Riverview Parkway, Building C
Santee, CA 92071
Legal Mail
Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate Booking #
Rock Mountain Detention Facility
Mail Processing Center
451 Riverview Parkway, Building C
Santee, CA 92071
Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.
Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.
Books
The Rock Mountain Detention Facility allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Rock Mountain Detention Facility standards will be disposed of.
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.
All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & Inmate Booking #
Rock Mountain Detention Facility
Mail Processing Center
451 Riverview Parkway, Building C
Santee, CA 92071
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessCan I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility, and what can I purchase?
Friends and family of inmates in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility can purchase commissary online and have that shipped directly to an inmate.
Commissary items range from snacks to hygeine products to stationary. You can even deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own items.
Friends and family of inmates in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility can purchase commissary online and have that shipped directly to an inmate.
Commissary items range from snacks to hygeine products to stationary. You can even deposit money so that your inmate can purchase their own items.
To learn everything you need to know about how to purchase commissary for an inmate, and limits to how much you can deposit, check out our Commissary Page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessHow Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility using an Online Messaging Service?
Search for the inmate on Who’s in Jail site using the incarcerated person’s name. To prevent conflicts in spelling, you may search using only the first two letters of the first and last name.
Next, do the Captcha code to verify you are not a bot.
You should see a list with one or more names. Click on the last name of the correct person to view the inmate's page in the Who’s in Jail system.
Halfway down the page you will see an envelope icon you can click in order to send a message. Follow the instructions on submitting your email address.
Then open your email account, click on the link and send your message.
Every Rock Mountain Detention Facility inmate is allowed to send and receive two digital messages per day, each totalling no more than 2,500 text charcters.
Search for the inmate on Who’s in Jail site using the incarcerated person’s name. To prevent conflicts in spelling, you may search using only the first two letters of the first and last name.
Next, do the Captcha code to verify you are not a bot.
For complete instructions on how to exchange emails with an inmate in the San Diego Corrections system, check out our Inmate Email page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessDo Inmates in the Rock Mountain Detention Facility have Access to Tablets or Computers?
They may not be directly connected to the internet, but inmates at Rock Mountain Detention Facility are provided free tablets to use within the jail that allow them to have access to the following services and information:
The availability of tablets may seem like something that inmates who are serving time do not deserve, but here are some of the benefits for inmates in San Diego County:
They may not be directly connected to the internet, but inmates at Rock Mountain Detention Facility are provided free tablets to use within the jail that allow them to have access to the following services and information:
The availability of tablets may seem like something that inmates who are serving time do not deserve, but here are some of the benefits for inmates in San Diego County:
For more information about Tablets and how your inmate can get one to use while he is in jail, chek out our Inmate Tablet page.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Rock Mountain Detention Facility’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 619-409-5000 for further assistance.
Learn even more ⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show lessWhat are the other City and County Jails in San Diego County?
What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding San Diego County?
This facility, known as "Rock Mountain Detention Facility" is also known as Facility 8 Jail (temporarily closed), San Diego County Facility 8 Jail.
The Rock Mountain Detention Facility serves the following cities and towns of San Diego County: Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach and Vista.