(A resource guide to parents whose child is detained at the Orange County Juvenile Hall)
Operated by the Orange County Probation Department, the Orange County Juvenile Hall serves as a detention center for young people ages 12 to 25 who:
- have been arrested,
- are being prosecuted,
- are awaiting transfer to another facility, and/or
- are serving a juvenile sentence.
Orange County Juvenile Hall is located at 331 City Drive, City of Orange, CA 92868 directly adjacent to the Betty Lou Lamoreaux Juvenile Justice Center. It can be reached at (714) 935-6660.
Below our Orange County criminal defense lawyers explain the following:
- 1. Intake procedure at Orange County Juvenile Hall
- 2. How to contact your child at Orange County Juvenile Hall
- 3. Visiting hours and rules at Orange County Juvenile Hall
- 4. Mail rules and regulations
- 5. Life in Juvi Hall
- Additional resources
1. Intake procedure at Orange County Juvenile Hall
During intake at Orange County Juvenile Hall, your child will go through a physical health evaluation and be assigned to a housing unit pending their next court hearing. While in detention, your child will be provided with a uniform and personal hygiene items for their use only.
Any personal belongings your child had during intake will be kept in storage while your child is detained. Then once they are eventually released, their belongings will be returned to them.
2. How to contact your child at Orange County Juvenile Hall
You are not allowed to contact your child directly by phone. To inquire about their status, you can contact their designated Supervising Probation Correctional Officer at (714) 935-6660.
Your child will be given the opportunity after school hours to call you collect.
3. Visiting hours and rules at Orange County Juvenile Hall
Visiting hours for adult inmates are on Mondays from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
Visiting hours for youth inmates are on Saturdays, and the time depends on the first letter of their last name:
Youth inmate | Visiting Day | Visiting Hours |
Last name starting with A, B, C, D, E, or F | Saturday | 9:00 am – 11:00 am |
Last name starting with G, H, I, J, K, L, M, or N | Saturday | 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm |
Last name starting with O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, or Z | Saturday | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm |
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early. You have to present you driver’s license or government picture ID to the Reception Clerk.
Who can visit
You can visit OC Juvenile Hall inmates only if you are the child’s:
- parent,
- stepparent (with proof of your marriage to the natural parent), or
- legal guardian.
Otherwise, you must be pre-authorized to visit by a:
- unit supervisor,
- administrator or
- court order.
No more than two people may visit a child at a time.
Dress code
You may not wear:
- clothes with obscene or offensive language or images
- gang attire
- see-through, form-fitting, or revealing clothes
- halter tops, strapless tops or tops with spaghetti straps
- shorts, skirts and dresses that expose more than 2 inches above the knee
- hats or gloves
- sunglasses
- hair pins or bobby pins
Plus, you must have shoes.
What you can and cannot bring
If security allows you, you can bring stamps, paperback books, and magazines to your child.
You are never allowed to bring: keys, belts, purses, briefcases, backpacks, hip pouches, food, drinks, phones, packages or parcels.
You will go through a metal detector prior to the visit and are subject to searches.
4. Mail rules and regulations
Your child is supplied with writing materials to mail you letters. You may direct incoming mail to:
[YOUR CHILD’S NAME]
Orange County Juvenile Hall
331 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
You must include a return address. Your mail will be inspected prior to delivery.
No packages or parcels are allowed to be sent or received in the mail. No letters may show gang-related slogans or images. Obviously, letters may not contain any illegal drugs and/or contraband.
5. Life in Juvi Hall
Each living unit at the Orange County Juvenile Hall provides:
- sleeping quarters,
- bathrooms,
- a library,
- telephones, and
- a multi-purpose room.
For the duration of their detainment, your child will receive educational programming fully accredited by the Department of Education.
The Orange County Health Care Agency provides medical, dental, and psychological care onsite. Every day there are outdoor sporting and recreational activities. Upon request, your child can request Bible Study.
Additional reading
For more information, see our related articles:
- Orange County Central Jail – Information page on Orange County’s primary detention facility for adult offenders.
- California juvenile & criminal law – An overview of defending juveniles facing delinquency charges in California.
- Juvenile court process – A step-by-step guide of California’s juvenile justice system.
- Sealing juvenile court records – The process for getting juvenile records sealed in California.
- When juveniles get prosecuted in adult court – Situations that trigger youths being tried in criminal court.
References:
- Juvenile Hall – Official webpage by the OC Probation Department.
- Juvenile Hall Visiting Guide – Brochure by the OC Probation Department.
- In-Person Services to Resume at Orange County Probation Department’s Juvenile Facilities – Press release by the OC Probation Department.