Santa Ana Jail

Updated October 21, 2022

Address:	62 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Map
Phone:	(714) 245-8100
Website:	Santa Ana City Jail Bureau

The Santa Ana Jail, located in Santa Ana, CA, is operated under the jurisdiction of the Santa Ana Police Department. Also known as the Santa Ana City Jail, this correctional facility primarily houses detainees accused of or sentenced for federal crimes, many brought in by the U.S. Marshals Service. Individuals detained for California misdemeanor and felony offenses may also be temporarily booked into this facility.

Originally built in 1977, this Santa Ana Correctional Center can accommodate up to 512 adult male and female detainees. It was previously used as a holding facility for U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) detainees, but the contract was cancelled in 2016.

The Santa Ana Detention Facility is located in Orange County, about 30 miles south of Los Angeles, and 12 miles from coastal Huntington Beach.

If your friend or loved one has been detained or incarcerated in the Santa Ana Jail, the information below may be of interest to you. Our team of California criminal defense lawyers provide important details about the following topics:

• 1. Locate an Inmate
• 2. Bail Bonding in Santa Ana
• 3. Inmate Phone Policies
• 4. Commissary and Cash Accounts
• 5. Santa Ana Jail Visitation
• 6. Mail and Reading Material
• 7. Life at the Santa Ana Correctional Facility
• 8. Alternative Incarceration Programs
• 9. Inmate Property Retrieval
• 10. Legal Help

1. Santa Ana Inmate Search

To determine if your friend or loved one is in custody at the Santa Ana Jail, you are encouraged to call the jail at (714) 245-8100. The staff will confirm an arrest, detail the criminal charges and provide the inmate booking ID number and any applicable bail information.

If the person you are attempting to locate was not arrested within the Santa Ana City limits, contact the police department for the city in which he or she was arrested, or the Orange County Jail at (714) 647-4667.

2. Bail Bond Payment

Most criminal detainees are eligible for temporary release from incarceration through payment of a bail bond. Bail can generally be paid at the facility or alternatively, you can use the services of a licensed bail bondsman. Call the jail for specifics regarding bail bonding options for your friend or loved one.

3. Inmate Phone Communication

All newly arrested individuals at the Santa Ana City Jail can make unlimited phone calls in the booking area. Family members and friends cannot call in to reach a detainee or inmate, but may be able to convey an urgent message by calling the jail at (714) 245-8100.

Inmates housed in the Santa Ana Detention Facility usually have access to phones in the common areas of the jail each day. They can place collect calls or use prepaid minutes to make outgoing calls of up to one hour in duration.

You can fund inmate phone communication by setting up an account through the ICSolutions.com website, or by calling ICSolutions at (888) 506-8407. Another option is to add funds to the Inmate Trust Account (see below.)

Be advised that using call-waiting, hold buttons or three-way calling during a Santa Ana Jail call will result in termination of the call.

When speaking with a detainee at the detention center, it is important to be aware that conversations are subject to monitoring and recording. It is best to refrain from discussing your loved one’s case to avoid making potentially incriminating statements.

4. Inmate Cash Account

The Santa Ana Correctional Facility provides food and other basic necessities, but most inmates will want to take advantage of opportunities to order comfort items from the commissary. The selection for Santa Ana inmates generally includes snacks, toiletries and correspondence materials.

Initially started with monies confiscated from the inmate, the commissary account can be supplemented by family and friends in any of the following ways:

• Come in to the jail lobby – The Touchpay kiosk in the front lobby of the jail accepts cash, credit and debit cards. Hours are 7:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Online – At touchpaydirect.com, you can set up an account and deposit funds for an inmate to access at the jail. A service fee will be charged for all deposits.
• Telephone – Call (866) 232-1899 to set up and fund a TouchPay account.
• Mail in Funds – If you prefer, you can also mail in a cashier’s check or money order. Checks should be made out to the City of Santa Ana and include the inmate’s booking number on the memo line. No cash is accepted.
• Gift Packs — Another commissary option is purchasing “care package” items for Santa Ana inmates at icaregifts.com.

Note: Inmates can have up to $500 in their cash account at any one time, however, there is a $125 weekly spending limit for commissary purchases. Also, in order to provide funds for your loved one, you will need to call the jail at (714) 245-8100 to obtain his or her jail ID number. You will also need a facility ID number, which is 192701 for the Santa Ana City Jail.

5. Visiting a Santa Ana Inmate

As of April 2022, limited visitation has resumed at the Santa Ana Detention Center.

Santa Ana Detention Center inmates are not permitted visitors until after their scheduled court appearance has taken place. Thereafter, inmates are permitted two 60-minute visits per week, with a maximum of three adult visitors and five total visitors at one time. (Up to four minor children can visit accompanied by one adult.) Note that these are not contact visits; you will speak to your friend or loved one through glass utilizing handset phones.

Visitation takes place on a “first come/first served” basis each day. Once you have registered at the Santa Ana Jail front lobby, you must check in at least 15 minutes before the visit (or 30 minutes in advance when visiting an inmate housed in Administrative Segregation.)

Visiting hours are as follows:

Tuesday-Friday:

• 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday:

• 8:00 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.

Lobby is closed:

• 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
• 9:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

There are a number is visiting rules for this detention center, as follows:

• Current, government-issued photo identification will be required for each adult visitor.
• Minors under the age of 18 must be in the company of an adult.
• Children must be supervised at all times and may not be left unattended on the detention center premises.
• Do not bring any personal items into visitation, including: purses, cell phones, keys, sunglasses, food or drinks. Coin-operated storage lockers are available onsite.
• If you engage in any type of disruptive/inappropriate behavior, you may lose visitation privileges permanently.

There is also a strict dress code for Santa Ana Jail visitation. You are expected to be clothed appropriately to obtain entry. This means no provocative or revealing attire. Also, avoid clothing or style of dress that staff may deem unsuitable for maintaining order and security at the jail. (i.e. inflammatory messages).

Prohibited clothing includes:

• Swimsuits, low necklines, halters, tank or crop tops
• Sheer or see-through fabric
• Sundresses (backless dresses)
• Skirts, dresses or shorts that expose the thigh higher than three inches above the knee
• Outfits that resemble typical inmate attire
• Headgear including hats, caps, beanies and doo-rags
• Sunglasses – with the exception of prescription glasses

Parking: There is a public parking structure across the street from the facility. There is a fee for parking in the structure and parking will not be validated.

6. Santa Ana Inmate Mail

Incoming personal mail is delivered to inmates Monday through Friday. Be sure to post your correspondence through the U.S. Postal Service – other options such as FedEx and UPS are not accepted. All inmate mail will be opened and inspected.

Correspondence should be addressed as follows:

Last Name, First Name
Booking #, Module & Cell #
C/O Santa Ana Jail
P.O. Box 22003
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Inmates can also send outgoing mail, and writing materials and stamped envelopes are available through commissary.

You can order magazines, newspapers but they must arrive by US mail directly from a publisher or vendor, such as Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Packages of up to five paperback books are accepted.

7. Life and Health at the Jail

Incoming Santa Ana Correctional Center inmates receive a medical screening and classification assessment before they are assigned to a residential unit. Consideration for housing placement includes the criminal charge(s), history, health, and observed conduct.

There are a number of programs offered for Santa Ana City Jail inmates, including religious services and educational classes targeted toward rehabilitation. Inmates can work toward their general education diploma (GED), take ESL classes, and attend sessions on anger management, parenting and employment readiness. Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings are also facilitated.

The jail does not typically accept prescription medication dropped off by family members. Necessary prescriptions are ordered and disbursed under the supervision of medical staff. You can call the jail if you would like to discuss an inmate’s medication needs.

The Santa Ana Correctional Facility follows protocols of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). A zero-tolerance policy is stated regarding sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct at the jail. In addition to inmate complaints, third-party incident reports are accepted.

8. Custody Alternatives

The Santa Ana Police Department facilitates a “Pay-to-Stay Program” for individuals who have been granted an alternative custody arrangement by the court. Eligibility interviews are conducted by the program administrator and a letter of eligibility must be granted in order to participate in pay-to-stay and work release.

There is no cost to apply or to establish eligibility, however, once the court approves an inmate’s program contract, there is a fee of $140 and then $110 for each day of incarceration. More information is available online, or you can contact the program administrator at (714) 245-8102.

9. Inmate Property

Incoming inmates often enter with personal property that is confiscated and stored at the jail. An authorization property release form may be signed by the inmate to allow for retrieval of vehicle keys or other inmate property. Once a release has been signed, designated friends or family members (with proper photo identification) can come in and pick up property for the inmate.

10. Talk to a Criminal Lawyer

With strong legal representation, you or your loved one can avoid the unwanted consequences of criminal allegations. The experienced criminal attorneys at the California Legal Defense Group have successfully defended men and women accused of all types of federal and state crimes. To obtain a free consultation, call us 24/7 or contact us online.