How to Send Mail to San Diego County Jail (use the Mail Processing Center and what you may send)
Sending mail is one of the simplest ways to stay connected with someone in custody—but it only works if you use the county's central Mail Processing Center and address it correctly.
All San Diego County Sheriff's Office jails use one central mailing address: Mail Processing Center, 451 Riverview Parkway, Building C, Santee, CA 92071. Don't send mail directly to the detention facility itself - since September 1, 2022, anything addressed to the six jail locations gets rejected and returned. Use the Mail Processing Center address every time.
Addressing Required Fields
- ✓ Person’s full name
- ✓ Booking number
- ✓ Facility
- ✓ Your name (sender)
- ✓ Your full return address
Format your envelope like this so staff can match it to the right person: Incarcerated Person's Name (Booking #) / Facility / Mail Processing Center / 451 Riverview Parkway, Building C / Santee, CA 92071 / Your Name / Your Return Address.
Most families use "regular mail" - letters, money orders, and checks. Legal correspondence works differently: it must come from a legal entity like a court, law enforcement agency, attorney, or government office. Want to send books or magazines? They're accepted, but only when shipped directly from a reputable vendor or publisher - not repackaged from home.
Good to know: There is no limit to the amount of mail a person in custody may send or receive.
Every piece of mail gets screened. Staff open, inspect, and search all incoming and outgoing mail for contraband, and they scan the writing for safety and security concerns. It can feel intrusive, but it's standard. Keep your message clear and straightforward to avoid delays.
Legal mail gets extra protections. Correspondence between someone in custody and their attorney is checked for contraband but not read. Staff still inspect it, but they're not supposed to review the actual contents like they can with regular letters.
Quick Checklist
- ✓ Mail everything to: Mail Processing Center, 451 Riverview Parkway, Building C, Santee, CA 92071
- ✓ Put on every item: person’s name, booking number, and facility
- ✓ Include your name and full return address
- ✓ Send general correspondence like letters (including money orders and checks)
- ✓ For legal mail, it must come from a legal entity (courts, law enforcement agency, attorney, government agency, etc.)
- ✓ For books/magazines, send them directly from a reputable vendor or publisher
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