Juvenile Halls

The Detention Services Bureau of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office operates two maximum-security juvenile halls in San Diego County—the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (which includes Facility 8) and Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility. 

Both East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF) and Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (KMJDF) hold youth who are awaiting proceedings or placement into one of the commitment options available to the Juvenile Court. 

Youth are held based on an assessment of risk to abscond or reoffend while they are awaiting trial. They can also be held via court order. The average length of stay in the juvenile facilities is less than one month.

The department also operates a 24-hour minimum-security facility called Urban Camp, a program where youth are typically committed to several months to a year.

Kearny Mesa

KMJDF is located in the Birdland suburb of San Diego. It has a maximum capacity of 359, and it has housed youths since 1954.

East Mesa

EMJDF is located in Otay Mesa, north of Brown Field. It has a maximum capacity of 290, and has been open for operation since June 2004.

Urban Camp

Urban Camp (UC) is located in the Birdland suburb of San Diego. The goal of this program is to provide youth with the training and skills necessary for successful transition and reintegration into society. The age range of participants is between 13 and 18 years old.

The male and female residents at the Urban Camp are committed by the Superior Court.  Males receive a commitment length of either 85, 130, or 240 days.  Females receive a commitment length of 120 days.  

The Camp operates four living dorms, which are separated by the male and female population. The boys and girls in the camp receive different programming.

• Base Camp Dorm:  Houses the youngest male youth, between the ages of 13 to 16 years old.
• Ascent Dorm: Houses male youth 16 to 17 years old. 
• Summit Dorm: Houses the oldest male youth, ages 17 to 18.
• Girls Rehabilitation Facility: This dorm houses the female population.

Inmate Search

To find out if your loved one is being held in a juvenile facility, click here or use VINE (see below). 

VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday)

Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) is a free and anonymous telephone service that provides victims of crime both information and notification. VINE monitors the custody status of offenders and receives updated information every 15 minutes.

The Toll Free Number for California VINE is 1.877.411.5588. Anyone can call the California State VINE line to determine an inmate's custody status. To search for offender information, callers will need one of the following items:

• Offender name or alias
• Secondary search option (if there is more than one offender with the same name), such as:
  • Arrest date
  • Date of birth
  • Middle initial
  • Offender identification number

VINE will let callers know about the offender's current custody status, the location of the inmate, and their offender number.

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

A youth at either one of the facilities can receive a visit from anyone over 18 years old in their family. Family is defined as people who are united through biology, marriage, or adoption or who are so closely connected through friendships or shared experience that they are taken to be family members.  

"Family” might include biological and adoptive parents, legal guardians, foster parents, kinship caregivers, grandparents, godparents, mentors, teachers, clergy, family friends, and others who support the youth and contribute to the success of their rehabilitation process.

Authorization and approval for visitors must be obtained through the juvenile's Casework Probation Officer.

COVID Rules

Due to changing public health guidelines, both juvenile facilities are subject to new health and safety requirements:

Visitors are now subject to the following Public Health Guidelines:

• Visitors must present proof of vaccination at time of scheduled visit or
• Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of their scheduled visit
• Visitors must have a temperature screening upon entry of the facility
• Visitors must wash hands upon entry of the facility
• Visitors must always wear a mask while in the facility
• Youth in quarantine are not permitted to receive in-person visitations until cleared

In addition to the Public Health requirements, our general visiting rules will also apply including:

• In-person visiting will be by appointment only (only one visitor per visit)
• No walk-in appointments
• Visitors should arrive 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled visitation time to check-in
• Failure to comply with any of the required safety and facility protocols will result in cancellation of the visit

* Virtual visits are an option for those who may not be able to meet the criteria for in-person visitation or who have transportation concerns.

Visiting Rules

• All visitors must be pre-approved and must bring a valid photo I.D.
• Special visits must be pre-approved through the minor’s Probation Officer, the KMJDF or EMJDF Watch Commander, or the Court for the visit.
• When entering either facility, you may only bring in your I.D. and one key. There are a limited number of pay-per-use lockers available to secure your valuables.  Lockers at EMJDF require 2 quarters $0.50 (refunded when you empty the locker).
• You may bring in one paperback book or magazine for your child, with their name and unit number written on it.
• Parents are also allowed to bring magazines that are on the approved list.

Visiting Hours and Rules for Kearny Mesa/Urban Camp

• Monday - Friday:  2:30pm - 7:30pm by appointment only.
  • The last scheduled visit will begin at 7:00pm and end at 7:30pm.
• Saturday & Sunday:  8:30am - 11:00am and 12:00pm - 5:30pm.
  • The last scheduled visit will begin at 5:00pm and end at 5:30pm.
• Visits are a maximum of 30 minutes in length.
• There will be a maximum of one visitor per youth at a time.
• You must check in at the Administration Entrance prior to your visit.
• All visits should be scheduled by appointment and may be scheduled up to a week in advance.
• Virtual visitation is still available for families.
• For appointments and additional information, please call (858) 694-4766, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Visiting Hours and Rules for East Mesa

• Monday - Friday:  2:30pm - 8:00pm by appointment only.
  • The last visit scheduled will begin at 7:00pm and end at 8:00pm.
• Saturday:  No visiting
• Sunday:  8:30am - 11:00am and 12:00pm - 5:30pm.
  • The last scheduled visit will begin at 4:30pm and end at 5:30pm.
• Visits will be up to 60 minutes in length.
• There will be a maximum of two visitors per youth at a time.
• You must check in at the Administration Entrance prior to your visit.
• All visits should be scheduled by appointment and may be scheduled up to a week in advance.
• For appointments and additional information, please call (619) 671-4400, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:00pm.

Skype Visiting at East Mesa

The East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility (EMJDF) offers Skype visitations for approved visitors who are unable to travel to the facility for a face-to-face visit.  Only visitors who are on the “approved visitor” list are permitted to have a Skype visit. 

Skype tele-visitation is available for all youth detained at EMJDF.  These visits are held Monday through Friday from 2:30pm to 8:00pm.  The last is scheduled at 7:00pm and will end by 8:00pm when the visiting center closes. Each Skype tele-visit lasts a maximum of 30 minutes.

To schedule a Skype tele-visit, youth must request a visit from an officer, who will send that info to the Skype Scheduler. The Skype Scheduler will contact the parent/legal guardian/approved visitor to set up a tele-visit. 

The interested visitor may also contact the Skype Schedulers directly at (619) 671-4471 to schedule a Skype visitation appointment.

Juvenile inmates are allowed to receive unlimited correspondence and appropriate photos. The photos cannot be gang related or refer to drugs and alcohol use. Juvenile inmates are not allowed to write to or receive mail from anyone in custody.

How to Call an Inmate

Inmates at the San Diego County juvenile halls cannot receive incoming phone calls. However, they have access to phones and can make outgoing calls from the inmate housing area on a daily basis. 

How to Send Money

To deposit money into an inmate's account—or to send a care package—click here for the San Diego Sheriff's Office online commissary.

In order to send money or place an order, you'll need to provide the Booking Number that identifies the inmate you are placing the order for. If you don't know the Booking Number of the inmate, you will be able to verify the inmate's booking number from the checkout page.

Money deposited to the inmate’s account is available the moment it is processed and approved. Gift packs are delivered Monday through Friday in the evening. For orders placed before 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, delivery is scheduled the same day.

Programs For Inmates

Every youth in a San Diego County juvenile facility is assigned to an officer who is responsible for ensuring that they participate in the various programs which address their specific treatment needs.

Both Juvenile Detention Facilities offer a number of programs that are designed to assist with rehabilitation.  They include Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Pet Therapy, Yoga, various Literacy Groups, Book Clubs and programs facilitated by SAY San Diego and Second Chance Programs.  

Special speakers are also invited to encourage and inspire youth -- including renowned authors, professional athletes, and community leaders. 

Visits by Protestant and Catholic Church groups are also available to interested youth. They may also request to speak to a clergyperson of a different faith. 

School

All youth housed at the Juvenile Halls are required to attend school Monday through Friday at the S.O.A.R. Academy, which is operated by the San Diego County Office of Education.  

Youth may earn credit towards receiving their high school diploma or earn their high school equivalency (HISET).  Those who already have their diploma or HISET may take college level courses and earn college credit.

Pictures of Juvenile Halls

Careers at Juvenile Halls

If you are interested in a career with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and would like more information about the job openings in one of the juvenile facilities, click here.