Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles is an administrative-security federal prison in Los Angeles, California. It is also known as MDC Los Angeles and MDC Los Angeles, CA. The facility houses male and female inmates.
Table of contents
MDC Los Angeles Contact Information
Facility Address & Contact Information
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles
535 N. Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-485-0439
Fax: 213-253-9510
Email: LOS-ExecAssistant@bop.gov
BOP Website: Bureau of Prisons Page
Wikipedia: Wikipedia Page
Inmate Correspondence Address
MDC Los Angeles
Inmate Name and Registration Number
MDC Los Angeles
Metropolitan Correctional Center
P.O. Box 531500
Los Angeles, CA 90053
How to Send Money
Funds cannot be sent directly to inmates. See our page on sending money to federal prisoners.
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles Inmate Information
Inmate Gender
Male and Female Inmates
Prison Security Level
Administrative-Security Federal Prison
Facility Location
MDC Los Angeles is located in downtown Los Angeles, off Hollywood Freeway (Highway 101), on the corner of Alameda Street and Aliso Street.
BOP Region
BOP Institution Code
LOS for MDC Los Angeles
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
Central District of California
Population Number
Los Angeles Prison houses approximately 630 inmates.
MDC Los Angeles Prison Services Information
Background
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles is an administrative-security federal prison in Los Angeles, California, which houses both male and female inmates. It opened in 1989.
MDC Los Angeles primarily houses pre-trial and pre-sentence detainees and holdover inmates. The prison has a distinct design, referring to housing areas as rooms rather than cells, using wooden doors instead of iron bars on cell doors, and having plate glass windows, balconies, and atriums.
Notable inmates include Jose Cabrera Sablan (serving a life sentence for murdering a guard at USP Atwater in 2008) and Vianna Roman and Aaron Soto (charged with directing gang activities, extortion, robbery, truck trafficking, and murder).
Media reports indicate that at least four guards have been indicted for smuggling contraband into the facility.
Inmate Housing
Inmates are housed in two- and four-person cells.
Health Services
Intake screening is provided for each inmate upon arrival at the facility. An initial assessment by medical staff includes TB testing. Other services include physical examinations, HIV testing, and dental services. Emergency medical care is available 24 hours a day.
Psychology Services
The mental health services available include crisis intervention, suicide prevention, limited group therapy, limited individual therapy, limited substance abuse treatment, and psychiatric medication consultation.
Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP)
MDC Los Angeles CA does not offer the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). However, crisis intervention and support to those detoxing from drugs or alcohol and drug and alcohol education groups are available. The Drug Education class, the Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program (NR-DAP), and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are also available.
MDC Los Angeles Educational, Library, and Recreation Offerings
Education Services
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles offers literacy, GED, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs for inmates. Successful completion of the GED program results in awarding a state-issued diploma and other incentives. These may include participation in a graduation ceremony, photos, or a monetary award (max $25.00). High school diplomas and post-secondary degrees are available through paid correspondence programs.
Advanced Occupational Education
MDC Los Angeles does not offer any advanced occupational education programs.
Vocational Training
Los Angeles Prison does not offer any vocational training programs.
Apprenticeship
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles CA does not offer any apprenticeship programs.
Library Services
Inmates are provided access to legal materials and an opportunity to prepare legal documents using the TRULINCS Electronic Law Library in the Education Department. A copying machine is available to reproduce materials needed for research. Electric typewriters are also available for inmate use. Inmates can also access newspapers, magazines, and fiction and nonfiction books.
UNICOR
The federal prison in Los Angeles does not house a UNICOR facility.
Commissary
Commissary spending is limited to $360.00 monthly (excluding special purchase items). Inmates can purchase various commissary products on their weekly designated shopping day.
Recreation Services
Indoor and outdoor recreation is available to MDC Los Angeles inmates, including recreation areas and indoor activities such as ping-pong, pool, and board games. Each floor has a recreation deck where inmates can play basketball, exercise, and otherwise be partially outside, though in an enclosure.
Visitation Information for MDC Los Angeles
On Sunday and Saturday, visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, visitation is held between 2:30 and 8:00 p.m. On federal holidays visitation is held between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. See our page on prisoner visitation rules for more information.
MDC Los Angeles Prison Culture Information
Prison Politics at Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles
There is very minimal, if any, politics at this facility. This is mainly because the institution is a Metropolitan Detention Center and not a regular prison.
Level of Violence
There is virtually no violence at this facility.
Vulnerable Populations
Sex offenders, informants, and LGBT inmates can stay.
Good at MDC Los Angeles
“As many food helpings as you want.”
Bad at MDC Los Angeles
“Boring.” “The facility is in disrepair; work orders take months.”
Other Inmate Comments
“Prepare to be bored, but not go hungry.” “This facility is a nightmare compared to regular BOP.”
MDC Los Angeles in the News
In February 2006, four guards at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Los Angeles — Juan Cortes, Anthony Robuffo, Ricardo Campos, and Juan Nieto — were arrested for smuggling cell phones and cigarettes to prisoners in exchange for payments of thousands of dollars.
More Information About Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles
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 MDC Los Angeles, 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 Jan 19, 2025 at 5:14 pm