How Bail Works at San Diego Central Jail and Las Colinas

In San Diego County, men are booked at San Diego Central Jail downtown and women at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee, and both men and women can also be booked at the Vista Detention Facility in North County. Bail is calculated during booking. According to the Sheriff's Office, bail bonds must be delivered in person to a custody information office, and that can be at any Sheriff's detention facility, not only the jail where the person is held.

Below is how the process works, where to look someone up, and what to have ready.

Where people are booked in San Diego County

The Sheriff's Office's Public Information Plan explains where arrestees go:

• Men are booked at San Diego Central Jail, 1173 Front Street in downtown San Diego, or at the Vista Detention Facility.
• Women are booked at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility, 451 Riverview Parkway in Santee, or at the Vista Detention Facility.
• For non-binary arrestees, the plan says the arresting officer asks whether they prefer a male or female facility.
• Field bookings are not normally accepted at the county's other jails.

The Sheriff describes Central Jail as the primary intake point for men in the county, and Las Colinas as the primary intake point for women. Central Jail's population includes people who were just booked and people awaiting arraignment.

How bail is set

The Sheriff's Office says bail is calculated during booking, and that most people in custody are eligible for bail. The amount generally comes from the San Diego Superior Court's countywide bail schedule, or from the warrant if the arrest was on one. Some charges must go before a judge before release, and a judge can change bail at arraignment.

The person in custody also has phone access to arrange bail. The Public Information Plan notes that the law provides for calls including one to a bail bond agent and one to a relative or other personal contact.

Looking someone up: Who's In Jail

The Sheriff's online search is called Who's In Jail. You search by last name and first name, with at least two letters in each. According to the Sheriff, it can show housing location, charges, next court date and a projected release date, if known.

Some things to keep in mind:

• The page says release dates shown may not be accurate right now because records are being recalculated.
• The site goes offline for maintenance every Wednesday at noon, usually for about 30 minutes.
• Write down the booking number. The Sheriff says searching by booking number is the most reliable way to find someone again.

If the person isn't there yet, they may still be in booking. Our guide to finding someone in jail in Southern California explains what to try next.

Posting a bail bond

Here is how it generally works when you use a bail agent:

1. Get the details. Full name, booking number, facility and bail amount.
2. Sign with a licensed bail agent. The premium is typically 10% of the bail amount, based on rates filed with the California Department of Insurance, and payment plans are available.
3. The agent delivers the bond. The Sheriff's Office says bail bonds must be delivered in person to a custody information office, which can be at any San Diego County Sheriff's detention facility.
4. The jail processes the release. Staff check the bond against the jail's record and then begin release.

Because bonds can be delivered to any facility's custody information office, a person held in Santee can be bailed through an office elsewhere in the county. Your agent handles that step.

The Sheriff's bail agent list

The Sheriff's Office posts a Bail Bond Agency List in every county detention facility and on its Jail Information page. It lists licensed agencies alphabetically with their city and phone number. The Sheriff's Office states that it does not endorse any bail agency.

Whatever agent you use, ask for their California bail license number and check it with the California Department of Insurance before signing. The Sheriff's Office also posts tips on avoiding bail agent scams.

Custody information offices and phone numbers

For questions not answered online, the Sheriff's current Public Information Plan says to call the custody information office main line at (619) 409-5000 and select the facility. That same number is listed for Las Colinas in the Sheriff's facility directory.

Custody information offices also take cash deposits to an inmate's account. The plan says each facility accepts them from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and won't accept a deposit that would push the balance over $500.

What can delay release

• Booking isn't finished. Bail can't be posted until the amount is known.
• Holds or warrants. A hold from another case or agency can keep someone in custody even after bail on the new charge is posted.
• Errors on the bond. Names and booking numbers must match exactly.
• Charges that need a judge. California law generally requires an in-custody arraignment within 48 hours, not counting Sundays and holidays. The Sheriff's plan says anyone not arraigned in that time will be released without further delay.

The Sheriff's Office says release windows and release locations vary by facility. Call the custody information line if you need to know where to pick someone up.

Visiting while you wait

If the person stays in custody, the Sheriff's plan says visits must be scheduled 24 hours ahead, either by calling the facility's custody information office or through eVisit on the Who's In Jail site. Walk-ins are not accepted. Social visits are normally non-contact, except at Las Colinas, which allows contact visits. Video visits through SMART Communications are also available with advance registration.

For more about bail across the county, see our San Diego County bail bonds page.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your case, talk to a criminal defense attorney.

Need help now?

OnCall Bail Bonds' licensed agents answer 24/7 in English and Spanish, and you can sign from your phone. Call our San Diego County line at (619) 367-2350 or start bail online.