MCC San Diego | Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego

Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego is an administrative-security federal prison located in San Diego, California. It is also known as MCC San Diego and San Diego Detention Center. The facility houses male and female inmates.

MCC San Diego Contact Information

Facility Address & Contact Information

Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego
808 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-232-4311
Fax: 619-595-0390
Email: [email protected]

BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page

Inmate Correspondence Address

MCC San Diego

Inmate Name and Registration Number
MCC San Diego
Metropolitan Correctional Center
808 Union Street
San Diego, CA 92101

How to Send Money

Do not send funds to inmates directly. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.

Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego Inmate Information

Inmate Gender

Male and Female Inmates

Prison Security Level

Administrative-Security Federal Prison

Facility Location

MCC San Diego is located in downtown San Diego, adjacent to the federal courthouse.

BOP Region

Western Region

BOP Institution Code

SDC for MCC San Diego

Medical Care Level

Level 2. See our page on Medical Care Levels and Procedures for more information.

Mental Health Care Level

Level 2.

Judicial District

Southern District of California

Population Number

MCC San Diego houses approximately 860 inmates.

MCC San Diego Prison Services Information

Background

Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego is an administrative-security federal prison in San Diego, California, which houses both male and female inmates. It was opened in 1974.

MCC San Diego was the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ first high-rise.

Notable inmates include brothers and former U.S. Border Patrol agents Fidel and Raul Villarreal (serving sentences of 30 and 35 years respectively for operating a human smuggling ring), and MLB all-star Esteban Loaiza (charged with possession with intent to distribute more than 40 pounds of cocaine).

Media reports indicate that 32 federal misdemeanor charges had to be dismissed following a computer glitch in which 37 detainees were delayed in seeing a judge for arraignment.

Inmate Housing

Inmates are housed in one of nine housing units. Each housing unit contains 48 cells, which are either divided into dormitories or two-person cells.

Health Services

Sick call, chronic care, physical examinations, eyeglasses, medications, and emergency care are available. Emergency health care is available 24 hours a day.

Psychology Services

Intake screening, evaluations requested by staff or the court, group and individual treatment, crisis intervention, and psychiatric consultation are available to inmates. In order to participate, inmates must submit an Inmate Request to Staff requesting program placement.

Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)

San Diego detention center does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), but referrals can be made to institutions that do provide RDAP. A Drug Education class and the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP) are available.

MCC San Diego Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings

Education Services

MCC San Diego provides GED and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs to inmates. Inmates who do not have a GED or high school diploma are required to participate in such classes. Parenting and release preparation classes are also available to inmates. High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.

Advanced Occupational Education San Diego does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.

Vocational Training

San Diego detention center does not offer any vocational training programs.

Apprenticeship

This facility does not offer any apprenticeship programs.

Library Services

MCC San Diego offers both a leisure and law library. The leisure library offers magazines, newspapers, fiction, nonfiction, and reference books. Inmates are provided access to legal materials and an opportunity to prepare legal documents through the use of the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library. A copy machine is available to reproduce materials needed for research. Electric typewriters are also available for inmate use.

UNICOR

MCC San Diego does not house a UNICOR facility.

Commissary

Inmates can purchase commissary items on a weekly basis by submitting a commissary sheet. The commissary spending limit is $360.00 per month. Postage stamps and over-the-counter medications do not count against the spending limit.

Recreation Services

Recreation equipment is available within each MCC San Diego housing unit and on the roof recreation area. Various board games are also available in each housing unit.

Visitation Information for MCC San Diego

On Sunday and Saturday visiting hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. On Monday, Thursday, and Friday visiting hours are between 4:45 and 9:00 p.m. On federal holidays visiting hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.

MCC San Diego in the News

In May 2018, computer problems delayed 37 detainees at Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego from seeing a judge in a timely manner, resulting in 32 misdemeanor charges being dismissed.

In March 2018, Major League Baseball All-Star Esteban Loaiza was federally indicted for the possession of more than 40 pounds of cocaine with intent to distribute and taken to MCC San Diego to await trial.

More Information About Metropolitan Correctional Center San Diego

For a comprehensive look at life in federal prison, pick up a copy of Christopher Zoukis’ Federal Prison Handbook: The Definitive Guide to Surviving the Federal Bureau of Prisons. For more detailed information about the above facility, please buy a copy of the Directory of Federal Prisons: The Unofficial Guide to Bureau of Prisons Institutions by Christopher Zoukis.

Published Jun 3, 2018 by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA | Last Updated by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA on Jun 4, 2023 at 6:28 pm