Effective December 06, 2023:

The Custody Information line for all Sheriff's detention facilities has integrated to one central phone number. For public inquiries, please utilize (619) 409-5000 and select the option for your desired facility.

Quick Facts

• Opened in May 1998
• Facility Size: 417,000 sq. ft.
• Height: 230 ft.

Located in downtown San Diego, the San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) serves as the primary point of intake for incarcerated males in San Diego County.

The facility is staffed by just over 200 sworn employees and nearly 200 professional staff members.

SDCJ opened in May 1998. The state-of-the-art facility makes extensive use of touch-screen controls and video surveillance. At the heart of the facility is the Central Command Center, which has the capability of electronically controlling all jail operations in the event of an emergency or major system failure.

SDCJ is 230 feet tall, making it the tallest construction project ever undertaken by the County of San Diego. It consists of 11 floors with a total of 17 levels counting the mezzanines and basement. The building provides a pleasing aesthetic addition to the downtown San Diego skyline, having been awarded multiple “orchids” for architectural design, interior design, and lighting design.

The population at SDCJ consists primarily of special handling incarcerated persons, newly booked incarcerated persons awaiting transfer to other facilities and pre-arraignment incarcerated persons. The special handling incarcerated population consist of those with serious medical challenges, those under psychiatric care, incarcerated individuals representing themselves in court, as well as defendants facing high-publicity trials.

SDCJ provides a wide range of medical and psychiatric services, including on-site dialysis, infectious disease control, and dental care. Services are provided by physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, and clinical social workers. SDCJ’s Psychiatric Stabilization Unit is the largest acute psychiatric treatment facility in San Diego County.

Reservations must be made one day in advance. ALL VISITORS MUST CHECK-IN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED VISIT TIME. Cancellations can be made in person with ID verification. Visits may be canceled at any time due to rule violations, incarcerated person transfers, or for jail security.

In-Person Visitation Times

3rd Floor Televisiting - 30 Minute Visits

4A 30 Minute Visits

4B 30 Minute Visits

4C 30 Minute Visits

4E 30 Minute Visits

 5A 30 Minute Visits

5B 30 Minute Visits

5C 30 Minute Visits

5D 30 Minute Visits

5E 30 Minute Visits

6B 30 Minute Visits 

6C 30 Minute Visits

6D 30 Minute Visits

6E 30 Minute Visits

7A 30 Minute Visits

7B 30 Minute Visits

7C 30 Minute Visits

7D 30 Minutes Visits

7E 30 Minutes Visits

8A & 8B 1 Hour Visits

8C 30 Minute Visits

8D 30 Minute Visits

8E 30 Minute Visits