San Diego Metropolitan Corrections

Most in-person visits at San Diego Metropolitan facilities are scheduled by phone. Call (619) 409-5000 and book at least one day ahead—same-day visits aren't allowed. Some locations have set reservation windows: San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) takes calls Wednesday through Sunday, 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while George Bailey Detention Facility (GBDF) runs its line from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Check-in timing varies by location. GBDF requires you to check in 60 minutes before your visit; South Bay Detention Facility (SBDF) requires 30 minutes. At Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility (LCDRF), visitors 18+ must show valid ID. Social visits last 30 minutes, and video visits run daily but are capped at two 30-minute sessions per week. LCDRF only allows ID and car keys inside—purses, food, drinks, and toys are all prohibited.

San Diego County jails use Smart Communications for phone service, video visitation, and e-mail through the SMART/SmartInmate system. For account or scheduling help, call 1-727-349-1561. Phone calls from the jails are free—local, long distance, and international—but each call is capped at 15 minutes. All calls are recorded unless the number has been verified and added to the Detention Investigations Unit "Do Not Record" database. Video visits require advance reservations (no same-day visits) and fill up first-come, first-served. Countywide, you're limited to two 30-minute video visits per week. E-mail goes through staff review and must be plain text only (one page max). Senders can send up to two messages per day, and incarcerated individuals can receive up to 10 messages every 24 hours.

Mail for someone at San Diego Metropolitan Corrections goes through San Diego County's central Mail Processing Center—not directly to most detention facilities. Since Sept. 1, 2022, mail addressed directly to six detention facilities gets rejected and returned, so use the central processing address to avoid delays. On the envelope, include the person's full name, booking number, and facility. Add your own printed name and return address. All incoming and outgoing mail is opened, inspected, and scanned for contraband and security concerns. Legal mail between an incarcerated person and their attorney is checked for contraband but won't be read. Allowed items include general correspondence, legal correspondence from legal entities, and books or magazines sent directly from reputable vendors or publishers.

To add money for someone at San Diego Metropolitan Corrections, use the San Diego Sheriff Commissary e-commerce website. Funds go onto the person's jail account for commissary purchases—food, hygiene items, and other permitted goods. Before submitting a deposit, double-check the incarcerated person's full name and their booking or facility ID, then follow the vendor's instructions. Deposit options vary by facility and may include online portals, phone deposits, lobby kiosks, or mailed money orders. Money in a jail trust account is generally used for commissary and related services, but the balance can be reduced by authorized deductions like court-ordered restitution. Under California law, commissary profits go into the Incarcerated Persons' Welfare Fund to support inmate benefit and welfare programs.