Main Detention Unit vs. Community Work Release Center at St. Johns County Jail — Where Your Loved One Might Be Housed
St. Johns County operates two separate detention facilities. Where your loved one ends up usually depends on their court status and whether they qualify for certain programs. Here's how the Main Detention Unit (MDU) and Community Work Release Center (CWRC) differ.
St. Johns County’s detention system includes two separate county-operated facilities: the Main Detention Unit (MDU) and the Community Work Release Center (CWRC). The MDU is the larger of the two, with 664 beds, while the CWRC is a smaller, 100-bed facility.
Think of it this way: the MDU is the primary jail for people whose cases are still pending. It houses both men and women awaiting pre-trial hearings. The CWRC serves a different purpose - it's for certain sentenced male inmates and is tied to work-related programs for those who qualify.
If your loved one was just arrested in St. Johns County, start with the Main Detention Unit. Everyone arrested in the county gets processed through the MDU - it's the first stop for intake.
The MDU is also where people stay while their case moves through court. It houses both male and female inmates awaiting pre-trial hearings, and people processed there remain until they're sentenced or released. Even if someone eventually ends up somewhere else, the MDU is the county's central intake and holding location.
The Community Work Release Center (CWRC) is a smaller, 100-bed facility for male inmates sentenced to 364 days or less. If your loved one has already been sentenced and fits that category, they may be placed here.
- ✓ May be allowed to participate in a work release program (if facility criteria are met)
- ✓ May be allowed to participate in a county work squad (if facility criteria are met)
Housing location matters beyond just the address. It often signals what stage your loved one is in and what options might be available. At the MDU, people are typically in pre-trial status, waiting to be sentenced or released. At the CWRC, inmates are serving sentences of 364 days or less, and placement there can open doors to work release or county work squad programs - if they meet the criteria. Because these are separate facilities, day-to-day procedures families deal with, like visits and other services, can differ depending on where your loved one is housed.
Tip: For a recent arrest, check the Main Detention Unit first - everyone arrested in St. Johns County is processed there. If your loved one has been sentenced and qualifies for work-related programs, they may be moved to the CWRC, which can change how visits and other arrangements work.
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