East Mesa Detention Facility

Visiting someone at East Mesa Detention Facility requires a reservation. Schedule in-person social visits through the San Diego Sheriff's eVisit system (Wed–Sun, 7:00am–7:00pm) or by calling (619) 409-5000 during phone hours (Wed–Sun, 6:30am–6:00pm). You'll need to book at least 24 hours ahead—same-day scheduling isn't available. Arrive early: check-in is required 60 minutes before your visit (effective Nov 6, 2025). Visiting days can differ across published sources, so confirm the current schedule before traveling. Up to three visitors (including children) are allowed per visit. Adults 18+ need valid government photo ID, and minors must be with a qualifying adult. Social visits run 30 minutes; incarcerated workers get one-hour visits.

East Mesa Detention Facility offers video visits seven days a week. Each session lasts 30 minutes, and people in custody can have two video visits per week. Book at least one day ahead through Smart Communications—you'll need a user account. Phone calls are limited to 15 minutes and have been free since July 1, 2021. Incoming calls may display as 727-349-1561 and could get flagged as spam by your carrier. All phone calls are recorded unless the receiving number is verified and added to the Detention Investigations Unit (DIU) "Do Not Record" database. Email works differently here: messages are reviewed, printed, and delivered as hard copies. There are strict daily and inbox limits, and the person in custody can't reply electronically.

All incoming and outgoing mail at East Mesa Detention Facility is opened, inspected, and searched for contraband. Written content gets scanned. Legal mail is checked for contraband too, but staff won't read it. There's no limit on how much mail someone can send or receive. Allowed items include letters, money orders and checks, legal correspondence from legal entities, and books or magazines—as long as they're sent directly from reputable vendors or publishers. For successful delivery, address mail with the person's full booked name and required identifier, and include your printed return address. Follow facility rules for money orders, and skip decorative or multilayer items and restricted photo types—they can get rejected during screening.

East Mesa Detention Facility uses the San Diego Sheriff Commissary e-commerce website for deposits and gift pack purchases. You can add money to someone's account or buy gift packs that get delivered to the facility. Commissary items are paid from the incarcerated person's trust account, so make sure enough funds are available before ordering. Profits go to the Incarcerated Persons' Welfare Fund under California Penal Code 4025. Other deposit methods—phone payments, lobby kiosks, or mail—may be available, so confirm what East Mesa accepts before sending money. Processing times vary by method, which affects when funds become available.