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Visiting Hours at Men's Central Jail (MCJ) — What the Schedule Means for Families

Planning a visit to Men's Central Jail gets easier once you understand the difference between when the jail is open and when visits are actually allowed. Here's how to read the schedule and plan your trip.

• 2 min read • locator.lacounty.gov
Visiting Hours at Men's Central Jail (MCJ) — What the Schedule Means for Families

The published visiting hours at Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) include a daytime window: Thursday through Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm. If you’re trying to plan around work, childcare, or a long drive, this is the main block of time to aim for.

There's also an evening window on those same days: Thursday through Sunday, 5:00pm to 7:00pm. It's shorter, but useful if daytime doesn't work for you. Just watch your timing - arrive outside the window and you'll miss your visit.

Note: These visiting windows (10:00am–4:00pm and 5:00pm–7:00pm, Thursday–Sunday) are listed on the Los Angeles County location listing for Men’s Central Jail.

MCJ's site hours are listed as 24 hours a day, Monday through Sunday. But that "24/7" refers to the facility itself operating around the clock - not a guarantee that every service, including visits, is available anytime.

Visits are still limited to the published windows: Thursday through Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, plus evenings from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The jail runs day and night, but plan your arrival around those specific times.

Visiting Hours at Men's Central Jail (MCJ) — What the Schedule Means for Families

How to Plan Visit

  • ✓ Plan for the daytime visiting window: Thursday–Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm
  • ✓ If you can’t make daytime hours, aim for the evening window: Thursday–Sunday, 5:00pm to 7:00pm
  1. Call Main Control - Use (213) 974-4921 to confirm the visiting hours before you leave.
  2. Call the Watch Commander if needed - Use (213) 974-4916 if you can’t reach the right person or you need clarification.
  • ✓ Have the incarcerated person’s full name ready
  • ✓ Keep any identifying details you have handy (for example, a booking number if you know it)
  • ✓ Write down your questions so you don’t forget them during the call

Call before you go. Confirm that visiting is still Thursday through Sunday, 10:00am to 4:00pm, with the evening window from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. You can reach Main Control at (213) 974-4921 or the Watch Commander at (213) 974-4916.

Heads up: Schedules change. A quick call to Main Control ((213) 974-4921) or the Watch Commander ((213) 974-4916) can save you a wasted trip.

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