How to send messages, photos, and packages
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.
Search for a loved one and send messages and photos in minutes.
Sending an e‑mail to someone in San Diego County Jail isn't like regular email—it's more of a web form submission. Once you understand the verification step, size limits, and delivery process, it's straightforward.
San Diego County Jail uses an online "Who's In Jail" lookup to start the message process. Once you find the person and verify your email, you write a plain-text message that staff prints and delivers as a hard copy. Knowing the limits and common fixes upfront will save you time.
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.
Want your letter to actually reach someone in San Diego County Jail? Send it through the county's central Mail Processing Center in Santee — and make sure you include the exact identifying details they require.
Create an account on the county’s communications platform and use SmartInmate to book a video visit. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance, are first-come, first-served, and same-day visits aren’t allowed.
Calls may display the Smart Communications vendor number, 727-349-1561, and some phones flag it as spam. Save that number in your contacts or unblock it so calls don't get filtered.
No. E-mails must be plain text only, limited to a single page, with no pictures or attachments, and all messages are reviewed by staff. You can send up to two messages per day, and the incarcerated person can receive up to 10 messages in a 24-hour period.
Use the county’s central Mail Processing Center address rather than sending mail directly to a detention facility. Mail sent directly to six detention facilities is rejected and returned to the sender beginning Sept. 1, 2022.
Include the incarcerated person’s full booked name, booking number, and facility. Add your full printed name and return address as the sender.
Legal mail between an incarcerated person and their attorney gets checked for contraband but isn't read by staff. Other incoming and outgoing mail is opened, inspected, and the writing may be scanned for safety and security.
Adding money to someone's commissary account at San Diego County Jail is straightforward once you know where to go. Here's how it works.
Las Colinas keeps the
Your first visit to GBDF will go much smoother if you handle the reservation early and show up prepared. Use the checklist below to get everything scheduled and avoid common last-minute problems.
