Vista Detention Facility (VDF) - Visitation
The Vista Detention Facility now offers Home User video visitation for most housing units. With video visitation, you can visit remotely using a computer with a web camera connected to the Internet. Video visits at the facility will be 20 minutes in length. There is no visitation on Wednesdays. All other days and times may vary according to the housing unit.
https://www.sdsheriff.net/detentionfacilities/visit_vdf.html - For Units times
Required Identification
Only those visitors with the following types of valid photo identification shall be allowed to visit inmates in the custody of the Sheriff:
- Driver’s license
- Federal, state, local government identification card (any state)
- Military identification
- Passport
- U.S. Immigration identification (including visas)
- Border crossing card issued by the United States Department of Justice
- Current high school identification for children who do not possess a current California driver’s license or California I.D. card
- Matricula Consular ID card issued after April 22, 2002 by the Consul General of Mexico
A maximum of 3 visitors (including children) may visit an inmate at any one time. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian.
Visit Reservations
Same day visits (up to two hours prior) and next day visits may be made online or by telephone. Access the San Diego Sheriff’s eVisit through “Who’s in Jail” or call the telephone number listed on the facility visit page above. Note: East Mesa Reentry Facility and Facility 8 Detention Facility do not allow same day visits.
Additional visitors can only be added at the time of arrival. Visits will not be scheduled if the inmate has been previously scheduled for court on the same date.
When preparing to schedule a visit, please have the following information ready for all visitors.
- Full name
- Identification number
- Date of birth
- Current home address
- Telephone number
- Relationship to the inmate
While we attempt to honor all visit reservations, visits may be changed or cancelled without notice. Also, changes in the inmate’s housing assignment may automatically cancel a scheduled visit.
General Rules for Visiting Inmates
All visitors must check in together one hour before the scheduled visit and are required to present valid photo identification. If a visitor is late, the visit may be cancelled.
Walk-in visitors will be accepted, on a space available basis, as long as the visitors check in one hour before the visit time. Due to security reasons, East Mesa Reentry Facility and Facility 8 Detention Facility do not accept walk-in visitors.
Cancellations must be made in person at any of the Sheriff’s detention facilities with valid photo identification.
Inmates have the right to refuse visits at any time.
There is no expectation of privacy in a jail facility. Social visits may be monitored or recorded.
Visitors that have been incarcerated within the past 90 days shall not be permitted to visit without Watch Commander consent.
If you have previously been convicted of a felony and served time in state prison, you may not enter the grounds of a county jail without the permission of the Facility Commander. That permission should be obtained in writing before attempting to schedule a visit. Entry to the facility grounds without such permission is a felony (California Penal Code §4571).
Rules for Las Colinas Detention & Reentry Facility
Due to the privilege of having contact visits at this facility, the following additional visit regulations must be observed:
- Nothing is to be brought into the facility except identification and car keys. If visitors would like to purchase vending items during the visit, a VISA type credit card is required and may also be brought into the visit area.
- The following items are specifically prohibited: purses or bags, diaper bags, wallets, cell phones, recording devices, toys, food or beverages, pets, firearms, knives, or other weapons, drugs or alcohol, cigarettes/electronic cigarettes, and lighters (exceptions regarding a diaper and formula may be permitted upon approval).
- Physical contact during visits is limited and hands must remain visible at all times (refer to security staff at the facility for specific contact regulations).
Rules for Facility 8
As of April 9, 2015, Facility 8 has been offering video social visitation for all of its housing units. Visitors have the option of conducting their visits from a terminal at the Las Colinas Detention & Reentry Facility in Santee or by using a home-user option offered by Securus. Fees apply for home-video visitation. Video visits are 30 minutes in length.
Hospital Visits
Occasionally, inmates may be admitted to hospitals for medical treatment. Special visits may be allowed for hospitalized inmates who are considered to be in grave condition. These special visits require the approval of the watch commander. Persons wishing to visit a hospitalized inmate must check at the appropriate facility and register for the visit. The watch commander will be consulted concerning the inmate’s suitability to have visitors. If the visit is approved, a visit pass will be issued, which can be taken to the hospital and presented to the assigned Deputy or Guard. In addition to normal visiting guidelines, the following rules apply to visits occurring in hospitals:
- All visits must conform to the hospital’s regular visiting hours and policies
- Only two visitors are allowed at a hospital visit for the duration of 30 minutes.
- Two visits per week are allowed, Sunday through Saturday.
- Inmates cannot receive items of any type from social visitors.
- Any deviation from the above rules requires Watch Commander approval.
Visits for inmates admitted to the Tri-City Medical Center Hospital Guard Unit are subject to approval of the watch commander at the Vista Detention Facility.
Media Access to Persons in Custody
News media representatives have no greater right of access to detention facilities or inmates, than any other member of the public. A visit by news media personnel shall be considered a social visit, not a professional visit. The Public Affairs/Media Relations office does not process requests for interviews.
- Visit the “Who’s in Jail” page of the Sheriff’s Department website.
- Search the inmate’s last and first name.
- A new page will open if the person is in the custody of the Sheriff’s Dept.
- Note the facility and housing area location of the inmate. That location will determine which days and times social visiting is permitted. Click “Visit Schedule”immediately under the inmate’s housing location, and you will be taken to the visit schedule for that facility.
- You may go to the facility and attempt the visit, however you may wish to correspond with the inmate first to be more certain the interview will be accepted by the inmate.
- To correspond with the inmate, click the “Email this inmate” icon on the inmate’s page in “Who’s in Jail” and follow all the directions to complete the message.
- If the inmate opts to accept the visit, that visit shall be counted as a social visit for that day, just like any other social visit.
- With the inmate’s permission, the visit may be tape recorded or videotaped from the public access portion of the visit area.
- Inmates have two social visits per week. To find out if an inmate has available social visits for the week, please contact the Detentions Information Office of the Detention Facility.
- George F. Bailey Detention Facility – (619) 210-0385
- East Mesa Reentry Facility – (619) 210-0334
- Facility 8 Detention Facility – (619) 210-0327
- South Bay Detention Facility – (619) 213-1433
- Las Colinas Detention & Reentry Facility – (619) 402-1312
- Vista Detention Facility – (760) 936-0014
- San Diego Central Jail – (619) 610-1647
When conducting an inmate visit for media purposes, please observe the following:
- You will generally have 30 minutes with the inmate.
- While interviewing the inmate, please make sure other inmates are NOT included in the videos or photographs.
- At most facilities, your interview will be through a visit window. You will not have face-to-face access and will be unable to equip the inmate with a microphone.
- Once you have scheduled a visit and the inmate has accepted your visit, call the detention facility to inform the watch commander that you are arriving with TV equipment which will be subject to search upon your arrival.
