Updated
| Address: | 11705 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90059 Map |
| Phone: | (213) 473-6100 |
| Website: | LA Sheriff’s CRD Page |
The Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF) is a Women’s Jail located in Lynwood, California. With a rated capacity near 2,200 inmates, this is one of seven correctional facilities operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The Lynwood Jail was transformed into an all-female facility in 2006, and is now the Los Angeles County detention center for women detained and/or sentenced for a California misdemeanor or felony crime.
The Century Regional Detention Facility is located about eight miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
If your friend or relative has been detained or incarcerated in the Los Angeles Century Regional Jail, the information below may be of importance to you. Our team of California criminal defense lawyers offer key details on the following subjects:
- 1. How do I search for an inmate in Los Angeles County?
- 2. How do I post bail at the Century Regional Jail?
- 3. Can I call an inmate?
- 4. How do I put money on an inmate’s account?
- 5. What are the visiting hours and policies?
- 6. Can inmates send and receive mail?
- 7. What is life like at the Los Angeles Century Regional Detention Facility?
- 8. How can an inmate’s property be collected?
- 9. Legal Defense Help
1. How do I search for an inmate in Los Angeles County?
If you believe your friend or loved one has been taken into custody in Los Angeles County, you can verify this online on the Sheriff Department’s inmate search page. By inputting a first and last name, you will receive a list of potential candidates booked into L.A. County, each identified by race and birthdate. Clicking on the booking number, you can call up the specific criminal charges (and category, felony or misdemeanor) as well as any bail information provided. You may want to make note of the inmate’s housing location and booking ID number for future reference.
Alternatively, you can call (213) 473-6100 to obtain L.A. County inmate information or call the CRDF jail directly at (323) 568-4500.
2. How do I post bail at the Century Regional Jail?
Your friend or loved one will likely be granted an opportunity to post bail for temporary release from custody. To determine if bail has been granted and specific bonding details, you can call the jail directly at (323) 568-4500. Some bail information is also provided on the Sheriff’s Inmate Locator link. Bail can be paid in cash or you can contact a (fee-based) bail bonding agency for assistance.
3. Can I call an inmate?
California law allows incoming jail detainees to make a few local phone calls free of charge. These calls may be used to contact friends or family members and/or to seek help from a criminal lawyer.
Century Regional Jail inmates cannot accept incoming calls from personal contacts, but once assigned to a permanent housing unit, outgoing personal calls can be made using phones in the common areas of the jail. To facilitate these collect calls from your friend/loved one, you can set up and fund a pre-paid calling card account. The Century Regional Jail uses gtl.net for this service, which can be accessed online or by calling (877) 650-4249.
It is important to note that inmate phone calls will always be subject to monitoring and recording. Thus, it is in the best interest of your loved one to refrain from speaking about criminal charges over the phone.
4. How do I put money on an inmate’s account?
You can send money to inmates at Los Angeles County Jails.
All Los Angeles County inmates receive meals and basic necessities, but they may purchase comfort items (such as snacks and treats, hygiene items, and correspondence materials) for weekly commissary delivery. Purchases are paid for through an inmate trust account, which is established at the time of booking (originally funded with monies confiscated from the inmate).
The inmate cash account can be supplemented by family and friends either in person or through the mail. (Note that L.A. County may apply inmate deposits to pay restitution to victims.)
In Person Deposits:
Deposits for CRDF inmates are accepted at the jail between the hours of 4:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. You can also bring deposits to the Inmate Reception Center at 450 Bauchet Street in downtown Los Angeles, between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. Though money orders are accepted at the facility, you will be unable to deposit the money order if it brings the inmate’s account balance over $300. For this reason, cash is recommended.
Mail-in deposits:
Funds mailed in for an inmate’s commissary account are accepted in the form of a US Postal Money Order. The L.A. Women’s Jail will also accept a certified (California) bank cashier’s check. Checks and money orders may not exceed $200. Be sure to include the inmate’s name and booking number when mailing in checks.
A third option to provide comfort items for your loved one is to purchase items directly online. CRDF inmate care packages are purchased through accesscatalog.com. There is a $60 limit for care package orders. For assistance, call (800) 546-6283.
For questions regarding inmate deposits, call (323) 568-4535.
5. What are the visiting hours and policies?
Note that it can take up to 30 days for inmate housing classification to be complete. Until that time, inmates cannot receive visitors. For assistance with visitation, call (213) 680-4887 weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) or email [email protected].
At Century Regional, regular visiting hours are Saturdays and Sundays between 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays between 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lynwood Jail inmates are generally entitled to two 30-minute visits a week.
Personal visits to a CRDF inmate require pre-registration through the Sheriff Department’s online Inmate Visitation System, or in person at the jail. Visits are “by appointment only” and appointments can be made on the registration link, or by calling the jail’s Visitation Center at (323) 568-4520. (Call weekdays between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p. m.) You will need your visitor ID number, and your inmate’s booking number.
On your appointment day, you should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled visit. Bring your confirmation number/receipt and a valid, government-issued photo ID. If you arrive late, your visit may be canceled. Covid 19 testing is done on-site and results are available within 15 minutes. You can pre-register for free Covid testing at Century Regional DF. Be sure to arrive early to give yourself enough time to receive the results prior to your visitation time.
Other rules for visitation at the Century Regional Women’s Jail are as follows:
- Proof of vaccination for Covid-19 or a proof of a negative test within the last 72 hours is required for visitation.
- A maximum of one adult and one child is allowed for each visit.
- Do not bring any items into the visitation area except for your identification and a single car key. This includes, handbags, diaper bags, make-up and medications. Emphatically banned are cell phones, wireless devices, and cameras.
- Minor children (17 and under) must arrive in the company of a parent, grandparent, or legal guardian. (Be prepared to show legal documentation.)
- Minors must also have valid photo ID. A school photo ID card is acceptable for children.
- Children must be closely supervised on the detention center premises. Unattended children will lead to a ban for future visits.
- You are subject to arrest for carrying any type of weapon or smoking device, drugs or alcohol, or for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Any type of inappropriate or disruptive behavior will end your visit.
- If you are a convicted felon or are currently on parole, you must have advanced written permission from the jail administrator to visit. Use this form to request a visit. (Allow two weeks processing before calling the jail for a status update.)
- You may not visit if there is an active warrant out for your arrest.
There is also a strictly enforced dress code for visitors to the CRDF. The rules are as follows:
- All visitors must wear shoes
- Shirts with sleeves are required
- No revealing clothing should be worn. Do not wear see-through fabrics or expose undergarments
- No tank tops, crop tops, spaghetti straps, bra tops or bathing suits are permitted
- Length of skirts, shorts or dresses must reach mid-thigh
- Clothing must not display graphics that include obscenity, gang insignia or symbols, drugs or alcohol, or hate speech.
6. Can inmates send and receive mail?
Inmates at the Century Regional Detention Facility can send and receive an unlimited quantity of postal mail. Correspondence materials and stamps are available for inmate purchase through the commissary.
All inmate mail should include your name and return address. Address the envelope as follows:
Full name and booking number
Century Regional Detention Facility
11705 South Alameda Street
Lynwood, CA 90262
There is a long list of prohibited items which are considered contraband for Lynwood Women’s Jail inmates. These include:
- Cash, personal or second-party checks, payroll checks, out-of-state checks and blank money orders
- ID cards and pre-paid telephone cards
- Food of any kind
- Lottery tickets
- Postage stamps/blank correspondence materials, pens or pencils
- Stickers, tape, gum labels, glitter
- Musical or plastic greeting cards
- Postcards larger than 6”x 9”
- Photographs smaller than 3” x 5” or larger than 4” x 6”
- Items containing metal such as foil, paper clips, wire, staples, spiral bindings and envelopes with a metal clasp
- Rosary beads or jewelry of any kind
- Cosmetics
- Audio, CDs, or cassette tapes
- Sexually suggestive material (including nude / partially nude photos)
- Correspondence scented with perfume or marked with lipstick
- Powders, illegal substances, dried liquids
- Any material related to gang activity or that advocates violence, crime, or a breach of jail security
Brand new, soft-cover books, magazines and newspapers can be ordered for Lynwood Jail inmates, but must arrive directly from a publisher or vendor, such as amazon.com. All material must comply with the same rules as other correspondence and may not exceed a limit of three books/week and three periodicals/week.
7. What is life like at the Los Angeles Century Regional Detention Facility?
There are a wide range of housing options at the Century Regional Detention Facility, including for those with special medical or psychiatric needs. Incoming inmates will be assessed according to criminal charge, history, health, and observed conduct before they are assigned to a residential unit.
Century Regional Correctional inmates have access to necessary medical, dental, mental health and substance abuse care, with 24-hour emergency treatment available. Information about specialized inmate healthcare is offered online. If you wish to report a healthcare concern/emergency, call the Medical Command Center at (213) 893-5544.
A number of rehabilitative programs and services are offered for inmates by staff and community volunteers. This includes 12 step-programs, educational and vocational programs and religious services and activities.
Los Angeles County Corrections has a stated zero tolerance policy for sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual abuse of inmates. Incidents of abuse should be reported immediately to jail staff. You will find detailed information on their approach to the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) on the Sheriff’s website.
8. How can an inmate’s property be collected?
Personal property is confiscated from inmates during the booking process, and kept for safekeeping until their release from jail. If desired, inmates can opt to sign a release of property form to authorize a family member or friend to pick up her property. Once the release has been submitted, inmate property retrieval is permitted during visiting hours, usually immediately after a jail visit. For further property release information, call (213) 473-6191.
9. Legal Defense Help
The experienced attorneys at the California Legal Defense Group have successfully defended women accused of all types of crimes. In many cases, an experienced lawyer can help you or your loved one avoid jail time and other undesirable consequences of criminal conviction. The best time to speak to a lawyer is before you enter a plea to charges. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for a free consultation and case assessment today. Call or contact us online.