LASD operates detention facilities in downtown Los Angeles, Lynwood and Castaic. This guide helps families confirm location, distinguish bail from trust deposits and arrange approved contact. Population and placement change; use the current custody record.

Use LASD’s inmate information line at 213-473-6100 and the official locator linked from the custody page. A missing record does not prove release, and LASD’s system does not cover every person in LAPD, federal or other custody.

Booking routes depend on the arresting agency and custody assignment. Not every arrest is processed first at IRC. If a new booking does not appear, contact the arresting agency and LASD with the person’s identifying details.

Finding your loved one after they’ve been arrested

LASD says booking information within the last two hours may not be available. This is a lookup limitation, not a guaranteed processing or release time. Use the arresting agency if the person has not entered the LASD system.

Online Inmate Locator (free, 24/7): Visit app5.lasd.org/iic and search by first and last name. This official LA County Sheriff’s Department database shows current custody location, booking number, charges, and bail amount. Click the booking number for complete details including housing facility and court information.

LASD inmate information: 213-473-6100. Have the full name, date of birth and booking number if known. Contact LAPD or another arresting agency separately when their custody is involved.

What you’ll need to search: At minimum, provide the inmate’s first and last name. Date of birth, booking number, or approximate arrest date help narrow results if the name is common.

LA County Sheriff’s Department facilities

The locations below have different purposes and procedures. Confirm the actual housing facility before traveling or mailing money.

Downtown Los Angeles complex (Bauchet Street)

Three facilities sit on or near Bauchet Street in downtown LA, adjacent to Union Station off the 101 Freeway. This is where most newly arrested individuals first enter the system.

Inmate Reception Center (IRC)
Address: 450 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 473-6100 or (213) 473-6100
Bail Cashier (24/7): (213) 893-5875

IRC is an intake, processing and temporary-holding facility at 450 Bauchet Street. LASD lists it as no social visiting; a longer stay does not create an automatic visiting exception.

Men’s Central Jail (MCJ)
Address: 441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 974-4082 | Inmate Info: (213) 473-6100
Visiting Lobby: (213) 974-4927

MCJ’s current LASD directory posts Thursday through Sunday visits from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., subject to appointments and restrictions. Confirm approval and your reservation before traveling. Main lobby: 213-974-4082; visiting: 213-974-4927.

Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF)
Address: 450 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 893-5100 | 24-Hour Inmate Info: (213) 473-6100

Twin Towers visiting depends on the person’s current unit, approval and the official reservation system. Do not assume a past tower-specific video schedule remains in effect.

Lynwood facility (South LA County)

Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF)
Address: 11705 South Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262
Phone: (323) 568-4500 | Visiting Info: (323) 568-4520
Bail Cashier (24/7): (323) 568-4535

CRDF is the primary women’s jail at 11705 S. Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262. Confirm housing and current visiting rules in the LASD directory.

Pitchess Detention Center complex (Castaic)

Located approximately 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles in Castaic, the Peter J. Pitchess Detention Center spans over 2,600 acres and consists of four separate male facilities. This is the county’s largest jail complex.

North County Correctional Facility (NCCF)
Address: 29340 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (213) 473-6100 | Administrative: (661) 295-7810

NCCF is a separate facility within the Castaic complex. LASD currently posts weekend visiting from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., subject to approved reservations and restrictions. Confirm the facility entrance before travel.

Pitchess Detention Center – North Facility (PDC North)
Address: 29320 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (661) 295-8840 | Watch Commander: (661) 295-8805

PDC North is listed in the current LASD custody directory. Confirm current housing and the approved visiting appointment rather than relying on a historical capacity figure.

Pitchess Detention Center – South Facility (PDC South)
Address: 29330 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (661) 295-8840

PDC South is listed at 29330 The Old Road. Confirm its current approved visiting appointment and restrictions before traveling.

Pitchess Detention Center – Inmate Firefighters
Address: 29310 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (661) 295-8815

The current LASD directory lists PDC inmate firefighters at 29310 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384. An older East Facility name or population figure should not be used to infer current operation or visit eligibility.

Important note for all Pitchess facilities: These locations do not accept bail payments on-site. Bail must be posted at the Inmate Reception Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Federal detention facilities in Los Angeles

Two federal facilities operate within Los Angeles County, housing inmates facing federal charges or serving federal sentences.

Metropolitan Detention Center, Los Angeles (MDC Los Angeles)
Address: 535 N Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 485-0439
Website: bop.gov/locations/institutions/los/

MDC Los Angeles is a federal detention facility at 535 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, near Union Station. It primarily serves federal custody needs, including pretrial detention. Its procedures differ from LASD’s. Call 213-485-0439 and check the official BOP facility page for the assigned housing unit’s current visiting instructions; population and schedules change.

Federal Correctional Institution, Terminal Island (FCI Terminal Island)
Address: 1299 S Seaside Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: (310) 831-8961
Website: bop.gov/locations/institutions/trm/

Located on Terminal Island at the entrance to Los Angeles Harbor (between San Pedro and Long Beach), FCI Terminal Island is one of the oldest federal prisons, opening in June 1938. It houses approximately 820-1,192 male inmates at low-security level. Visiting days: Sunday, Monday, Saturday, and federal holidays from 8am-3pm. Visitors must be on approved visitor list with valid government-issued photo ID. The facility serves as a medical facility within the Federal Bureau of Prisons system and offers extensive programs including drug treatment (RDAP), education, vocational training, and UNICOR metal factory work.

Posting bail in LA County

Critical 2023 change: On May 16, 2023, a California Superior Court ruling eliminated cash bail for most misdemeanor and non-violent felony offenses before arraignment. Many arrestees are now released on their own recognizance or with non-monetary conditions before their first court appearance. Exceptions remain for serious/violent offenses including crimes of violence, sexual offenses, domestic violence, and weapons offenses. This ruling only applies to pre-arraignment arrestees, after arraignment, traditional bail procedures apply based on amounts set by the judge.

Where to post bail (24/7 locations):

Inmate Reception Center (IRC) – Primary Location
450 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
IRC Cashier: (213) 893-5875
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) – For Female Inmates
11705 S. Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262
CRDF Cashier: (323) 568-4535
Open 24 hours a day

Bail payment: Confirm cash, an accepted cashier’s check or licensed surety-bond requirements, including payee, amount, identification and verification, with the cashier. Do not assume USPS money orders accepted for mailed trust deposits are also accepted for bail.

Bail bonds: Review the licensed agent’s approved agreement, premium, collateral and indemnity terms. A premium often quoted as 10% is different from a court deposit and does not describe every potential obligation.

Bail Deviation Program: Free service through LA County Probation Department for adults in jail on “open” charges (no charges filed yet). A bail commissioner may release on promise to appear or reduce bail. Call (213) 974-9331 or visit probation.lacounty.gov.

Depositing money for commissary

Inmates can purchase items weekly from commissary including food (snacks, soup, coffee), hygiene products (soap, toothpaste, shampoo), stationery, stamps, and clothing. Families can send funds through several methods.

Online deposits through Access Corrections (official vendor):
Website: accesscorrections.com
Phone: (866) 345-1884
Mobile apps available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store

Access Corrections is the official approved vendor for LA County inmate deposits. Service fees apply and vary by deposit method and amount. The LA County Sheriff’s Department no longer accepts online deposits through their own system.

Mail money order or cashier’s check:

For male inmates:
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
P.O. Box 86164 Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
Attn: [Inmate Name], [Booking Number]

For female inmates:
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
Century Regional Detention Facility
11705 S. Alameda Street
Lynwood, CA 90262
Attn: [Inmate Name], [Booking Number]

Mailed trust deposits: LASD currently limits mailed funds to $200. 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. Make the instrument payable to the person’s name and booking number. Do not enclose personal checks, cash or correspondence with the deposit.

In-person deposits (24/7): Visit the IRC Cashier at 450 Bauchet Street (213-893-5875) or CRDF Cashier at 11705 S. Alameda Street (323-568-4535). Valid government-issued photo ID required.

Care packages: Order through accesssecurepak.com (Keefe Commissary Network) for delivery to inmates.

Visiting procedures

All visits require advance scheduling, walk-ins are not accepted. The official visitation system is at visit.lasd.org, managed by ViaPath Technologies. You must create an account and register all visitors (including minors) before scheduling visits up to 7 days in advance.

Scheduling steps:

Go to visit.lasd.org and create an account
Register all visitors with valid ID information
Log in and select available time slots
Confirm appointment and save confirmation number
Arrive ONE HOUR early for MCJ, Pitchess, and NCCF; 30 minutes early for TTCF and CRDF

Visitor Help Desk: (213) 680-4887, Monday-Friday 7am-2pm, or email [email protected]

ID requirements: Visitors 16 and older need current, valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, passport, military ID). Minors must bring birth certificate (hospital-issued not acceptable) and be accompanied by parent or legal guardian with documentation. Foreign-born minors need foreign passport with I-94 and US Visa, OR permanent resident card.

Visitor restrictions: Cannot visit if you are on probation/parole/convicted of felony without prior approval, have outstanding warrants, were released from LA County jail within last 60 days (exceptions for blood relatives/spouse with approval), or are under influence. To request approval, complete “Visiting Clearance Form” at visit.lasd.org.

Strict dress code enforced: No revealing clothing, gang attire, bare midriffs, strapless tops, tube tops, sheer clothing, sleeveless shirts, shorts or skirts above mid-thigh, or clothing depicting drugs/gangs/nudity/violence. Shirts must be worn, tops must cover from underarm front and back, appropriate footwear required.

Confirm current locker and property-storage rules before arrival. Do not assume every facility has the same payment method or fee.

Video visiting options: On-site video visiting available at TTCF, MCJ, and CRDF as alternative to face-to-face visits. MCJ offers video visits Fridays and Sundays during regular hours. Remote video visiting capabilities exist through ViaPath, contact specific facility for current availability. Same rules apply as in-person visits.

Visit violations: Contraband, threats, violence and failure to follow instructions can end a visit, suspend visiting privileges or lead to criminal charges. The applicable restriction depends on the violation and current LASD rules.

Essential resources and contact information

LASD inmate information: 213-473-6100. This line provides LASD custody information; it is not a universal federal or LAPD locator.

Online inmate locator: app5.lasd.org/iic (free, available 24/7)

Schedule visits: visit.lasd.org

Deposit commissary funds: accesscorrections.com or (866) 345-1884

Order care packages: accesssecurepak.com

LA County Sheriff’s Department: Main website lasd.org | Headquarters: 211 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | (213) 229-1700

Custody Services email: [email protected]

ADA assistance: LASD ADA Coordinator (213) 893-5500 | [email protected]

Navigate the system with confidence

Start with the custody record and arresting agency. Then identify whether you need a bail payment, trust deposit, approved visit or medical-information report. Save the booking number, case number, receipts and appointment confirmation.

Use the appropriate official system for the task: LASD’s locator for county custody, its visitation portal for appointments and its approved payment instructions for trust deposits. Bail is a separate process; IRC is a primary posting location, and other cashier services have their own rules. Check the person’s location and current instructions before traveling.

The current official directory and a confirmed appointment are more useful than an old jail population estimate. Contact the facility before traveling, particularly after a transfer or a change in restrictions.

And as always, if you need any help with your legal issue, the Helfend Law Group is here to help. Contact attorney Robert M. Helfend at 800-834-6434 to get assistance for your legal issue.

Published October 3, 2025.

Detailed guides for each custody location

Choose the correct system and destination

Need	Correct route
LASD custody lookup	213-473-6100 or the locator linked from LASD custody. Recent bookings may not yet appear.
Male-inmate mailed trust deposit	Name and booking number; P.O. Box 86164, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164. Follow the $200 mailed limit and instrument rules.
Female-inmate mailed trust deposit	Name and booking number; CRDF, 11705 S. Alameda Street, Lynwood, CA 90262. The male-inmate P.O. box is a different destination.
Urgent health information	LASD medical information line: 213-893-5544. The public locator does not communicate medical information to staff.
Phone contact	County-funded free calls are available subject to access rules. Prepaid phone cards are prohibited in incoming mail.
Federal custody or bond	Use BOP and the issuing federal court’s order; county IRC payment instructions do not govern federal release.

Official sources: LASD current directory, mail, deposits and visiting, visiting reservations and county free-call funding. Facility information checked October 10, 2026.