When men are arrested in the Los Angeles area, they are sometimes brought to Los Angeles County’s Men’s Central Jail.
The address for Los Angeles County Men’s Central is:
Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail
441 Bauchet St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 974-4082
Driving directions: Google Maps
Men’s Central Jail houses men in LASD custody, including people awaiting proceedings and people serving county-jail sentences. Current placement and visiting eligibility must be checked for the individual.
- Are released on their own recognizance,
- Post bail, or
- A court-ordered release or lawful transfer occurs. Attending an arraignment or trial does not itself require release.
It also houses convicted inmates who have been sentenced to county jail. It houses only male inmates.
How do I post bail for someone at Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail?
Before posting bail, confirm the current amount, eligibility, other holds and accepted payment method with the IRC cashier at 213-893-5875. Cash, an accepted cashier’s check and a licensed surety bond involve different requirements. A commissary deposit is not a bail payment; do not assume credit cards or money orders are accepted for bail.
The L.A. Inmate Reception Center (“IRC”) is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It is across the street from the jail at:
450 Bauchet St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 893-5875
How to post cash bail
If cash bail is required, confirm the exact amount and receipt requirements. Return of deposited funds depends on the court’s exoneration and any forfeiture or other lawful order. Posting money does not remove a separate hold or guarantee immediate release.
Return of deposited funds depends on court exoneration, any forfeiture and other lawful orders. Confirm the court’s procedure before expecting a refund.
How to post bail with a cashier’s check
For cashier’s-check bail, ask the cashier to confirm the acceptable bank, exact payee, amount, identifying information and verification process before obtaining the check. The rules for mailed commissary money orders are separate.
Verification and other custody checks can delay release. Keep the receipt and confirm the actual release status before arranging transportation.
How to pay bail with a bail bond
A surety bond requires an agreement with a licensed bail agent. Confirm that the court permits it and read the premium, collateral and indemnity terms before signing.
A licensed bail agent charges a premium, often quoted as 10%, under an approved agreement. The premium is generally not returned after release. Read the collateral and indemnity terms; appearing in court does not necessarily eliminate every contractual obligation. Missed appearances may trigger forfeiture and liability under the agreement.
Bail bond organizations advertise online and in the phone books. Make sure to verify the bondsman’s license before working with them.
Custody staff must verify the court order, payment and any other holds before release. Processing time varies; there is no reliable half-hour release promise.
How do I look up an inmate’s information?
You can call the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail Inmate Reception Center at (213) 473-6100 anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also find this information online by visiting the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s inmate information website.
In order to look up an inmate’s information, you must be able to provide:
- The inmate’s full name
- Date of birth
- Booking number
You will then be provided with the following inmate information:
- Bail information
- Jail housing location
- Next scheduled court date
How do I contact someone who is being held at the Los Angeles Men’s Central Jail?
Incarcerated people cannot receive incoming personal calls. Los Angeles County funds free jail phone calls; access still depends on housing, processing and institutional rules. Prepaid phone cards are prohibited in incoming mail. Do not send a card or assume that buying one is necessary to receive a call.
To provide commissary funds, use the trust-account process rather than a calling card.
- Prepaid phone cards are prohibited in incoming mail. County-funded calls do not require sending a card.
- For a mailed trust-account deposit, LASD currently limits the amount to $200 and requires the incarcerated person’s name and booking number as payee information. California senders may use an accepted California bank cashier’s check or USPS money order; out-of-state mailed deposits must use a USPS money order. These are commissary-deposit instructions, not bail-payment instructions.
[Inmate’s complete name and booking number]
P.O. Box 86164, Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
Arrange social visits through the official reservation system. LASD currently posts Thursday through Sunday visits from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for MCJ, subject to approval, available appointments and restrictions. Confirm your reservation before traveling.
How to get help for someone who has been arrested
A criminal defense attorney can explain the charges and release conditions, review the evidence and communicate about deadlines. Bring the booking and case numbers and any available court order to a consultation.
Robert M. Helfend has practiced criminal defense since 1984. His State Bar record and Super Lawyers selections for 2020 through 2023 provide independently checkable professional information. Call 800-834-6434 for a free consultation.
Have an expert by your side to help you every step of the way. Call today.
Plan an MCJ visit or deposit using the correct destination
| Purpose | Destination |
|---|---|
| Physical jail and main lobby | 441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012; main lobby 213-974-4082. |
| Social visiting | 213-974-4927 and the LASD visiting reservation system. Verify the person remains at MCJ before departure. |
| Mailed male inmate trust deposit | Name and booking number; P.O. Box 86164, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164. Follow the $200 mailed-deposit limit and accepted instruments. |
| Deposit or bail questions | IRC cashier: 213-893-5875. Identify which kind of payment you are making. |
County plans concerning MCJ do not tell a family where a particular person is housed today. Use the current LASD custody record and a confirmed appointment, rather than assuming a planned closure or a past housing assignment has resulted in a transfer.
Official facility information
- LASD custody directory, visiting, mail and deposit instructions
- LASD visiting reservations
- County jail reform report and free-call funding
Facility information checked October 10, 2026. Confirm the person’s current location and applicable rules before sending funds or traveling.
References
- California Penal Code § 245. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=245
- California Penal Code § 401. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=401
- 18 U.S.C. § 844. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/844
- Arson. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/arson
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