Writing letters can be an important and inexpensive way to maintain a close relationship with someone who is incarcerated. Inmates may purchase pre-stamped envelopes and may send and receive as many letters as they desire. Those without sufficient funds are provided a limited supply of pre-stamped envelopes. All mail entering and leaving a jail facility is searched for contraband and the writing will be scanned for security issues. In the case of “legal mail” between an inmate and the inmate’s attorney, the Facility Commander, the Board of Corrections, or other public officials, the correspondence is checked for contraband but not read or scanned.

When addressing correspondence to someone in jail, please address the envelope in the following manner:

Sample Addressing Correspondence
If you do not have the booking number of the inmate to whom you are writing, you may look it up on the Sheriff’s Website using the feature titled “Who’s in Jail.”


Detention Facility Mailing Addresses
  
San Diego Central Jail
PO Box 122952
San Diego, CA 92112-2952
Vista Detention Facility
325 S. Melrose Dr, Ste 200
Vista, CA 92081
South Bay Detention Facility
500 Third Ave
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility
9000 Cottonwood
Santee, CA 92071
Facility 8 
446 Alta Rd., Suite 5300
San Diego, CA 92158
East Mesa Detention Facility
446 Alta Rd., Suite 5200
San Diego, CA 92158
George Bailey Detention Facility
446 Alta Rd., Suite 5300
San Diego, CA 92158


Remember deputies will review anything you send into the facility. You may send photos with your letters; however, photos depicting any nudity will not be forwarded to the inmate. Do not send cash, stamps, coins, drugs, cigarettes or any other property with your letter. Rather than sending money, you may deposit funds to an inmate’s account at the Information Office of any Sheriff’s Detention Facility or by visiting www.sdsheriffcommissary.com.


BOOK, MAGAZINES, PERIODICALS

Each facility maintains a supply of books and magazines available to the inmates. Daily newspapers are also provided in the housing units. Books or magazines mailed or delivered to a Sheriff’s detention facility by the general public will not be accepted. Books or magazines may be mailed to an inmate under the following conditions:

1. They must have soft covers, no hardcover books will be accepted, and

2. The book or magazine must be mailed directly from the publisher or bookseller.