How to Contact an Inmate at Otay Mesa Detention Center

Detainees at Otay Mesa Detention Center cannot receive incoming calls. That means you cannot call and have the person brought to the phone, even if it is urgent.

For general information about a detainee housed at this facility, call (619) 671-8700 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Have identifying details ready so staff can locate the right person: first, last, and hyphenated names, any aliases, date of birth, and country of birth. Need to leave an urgent message? Call (619) 671-8700 and provide the detainee's full name, alien registration number, and your name and telephone number. The facility states the detainee will be given your message.

Otay Mesa Detention Center also provides tablets. The facility directs people to GettingOut for sending messages, but keep in mind these messages are non-confidential. Don't treat that channel as private.

Steps to Follow

• ✓ For general detainee information, call (619) 671-8700 (Mon–Fri, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and be ready with the detainee’s full name (including hyphenated names), any aliases, date of birth, and country of birth.
• ✓ To leave an urgent message, call (619) 671-8700 and leave the detainee’s full name, alien registration number, plus your name and a callback phone number.
• ✓ For tablet messaging, look up the facility’s non-confidential message option through GettingOut and follow the instructions provided there.

Phone hours and procedures can change. Before you rely on the general-information line, confirm the current hours (listed as Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Have the same biographical details ready in case staff ask for them again.

Calling to leave an urgent message? Confirm exactly what identifiers staff need so your message reaches the right person. The facility's listed requirements are the detainee's full name, alien registration number, and your name and telephone number.