Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial / Sentenced
- Inmate Capacity
- 5,000 approx.
- Established
- 1963
- Operated By
- Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD)
Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail Inmate Communication Overview
Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail is the primary adult detention facility operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, located in downtown Los Angeles adjacent to the Hall of Justice on Bauchet Street. With a capacity exceeding 5,000 and a daily population that frequently approaches that number, MCJ is one of the largest single-site county jails in the United States. The facility serves as a central booking and housing location for the LA County jail system, which also includes Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Pitchess Detention Center complex in Castaic, and several other jails. Booking into the LA County system typically begins at MCJ before possible transfer to another facility.
Communication at Men's Central Jail and other LASD facilities is managed through GTL, which provides phone calls, video visitation, and electronic messaging services. Families create a GTL account at telmate.com to access all available services. For phone calls, a GTL prepaid account funded with your phone number allows you to receive inmate-initiated calls. Video visits can be scheduled remotely through GTL. Messaging via GTL delivers communications digitally within the facility. Money for commissary accounts can be deposited through GTL or AccessCorrections.
An important note for families of LA County inmates: after processing and classification, your loved one may be transferred from MCJ to another facility within the LASD system, Twin Towers, the Century Regional Detention Center, or one of the Pitchess facilities. The GTL account and setup remain the same across all LASD facilities, but confirming the current location is necessary when scheduling video visits or making facility-specific requests. If your loved one is sentenced to a California state prison rather than remaining at an LASD facility, communication will shift to JPay for messaging and GTL phone remains but under a different system contract.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
441 Bauchet Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Main Phone
(213) 473-6100
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
Communication Options
Available communication services at Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: GTL
Electronic messaging via GTL. Messages delivered digitally within the facility.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available. Confirm current facility location before scheduling.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photo mail subject to LASD content restrictions. No digital photo service.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Inmate-initiated calls. Fund GTL prepaid account to receive calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: GTL
Commissary deposits via GTL or AccessCorrections.
Communication Providers at Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
GTL
Primary communication provider for LASD jail facilities. One GTL account covers all services.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail
- GTL is the communication platform for all LASD jail facilities. One account covers MCJ and any other LASD facility.
- Inmates may be transferred to another LASD facility after booking and classification. Confirm current location.
- If transferred to a California state prison, communication shifts to JPay for messaging and a separate CDCR contract.
- Phone and commissary accounts are funded separately within GTL.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I contact someone at LA County Men's Central Jail?
- All communication services at LASD jails, phone, video, messaging, and money, are through GTL. Create an account at telmate.com or through the GTL Connect app. One GTL account works across all Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department facilities.
- What if my loved one has been transferred to another LASD facility?
- Your GTL account works across all LASD facilities. When scheduling video visits, select the correct current facility from the GTL platform. Use the LASD inmate information center to confirm the current location before booking.
- Can I do a video visit at Men's Central Jail?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through GTL. Log into your GTL account, navigate to video visitation, select the correct LASD facility, and choose an available time slot. Schedule in advance as slots fill quickly.
- What happens to communication if my loved one is sentenced to a California state prison?
- After transfer to the California state system (CDCR), you will need a JPay account for messaging, photos, and money. GTL continues for phone and video but under the CDCR contract rather than the LASD contract. Creating a JPay account before the transfer is completed will reduce delays in communication.
- How do I send money to an LA County jail inmate?
- Commissary deposits are made through GTL at telmate.com or through AccessCorrections. You can add funds via debit or credit card or in cash at participating retail locations. Processing typically takes one business day.
- How do I find someone at Men's Central Jail?
- Use the LASD Inmate Information Center at app5.lasd.org/iic/ajis_search.cfm and search by name, date of birth, or booking number. The record shows bail information, housing location, and the next scheduled court date.
- How do I schedule a visit at Men's Central Jail?
- Register and schedule through the LASD visit system at visit.lasd.org. Visits require approval and an appointment. Bring a valid photo ID and confirm your reservation before traveling, since rules and hours change.
- Can I call an inmate at Men's Central Jail?
- No. Inmates cannot receive incoming personal calls. They place outgoing calls through the jail phone system. Keep your phone available and accept the call when it comes through.
- How does bail work at Men's Central Jail?
- The bail amount appears on the Inmate Information Center record. Bail is set by the court and can be posted as cash bail, through a licensed bail bondsman, or by release on own recognizance where the court allows it. Contact the jail or a licensed bondsman for posting instructions.
Troubleshooting at Los Angeles County Men's Central Jail
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
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