Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station)

Can I Mail Something to the Valley Jail Section?

By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.

LAPD says its jails allow unlimited mail, and staff read it only for security with a supervisor's approval. LAPD does not publish a mailing address for the Valley Jail Section, so do not guess one. Call (818) 374-9645 first. Stays here are short, so a letter may arrive after your person has moved.

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Does the Valley Jail Section take mail?

Yes in principle. LAPD's Custody Services plan says its jails allow unlimited mail. Staff read mail only for security reasons, and only with a supervisor's approval.

LAPD also says that arrestee property goes into a property bag, and mail that comes in is placed in that bag. So a letter that reaches Van Nuys is kept with the person's things.

That is all the official pages say. They do not give a street address or a name format for inmate mail at 6240 Sylmar Ave.

What address do I use?

We cannot give you one, because LAPD has not published it. We would rather say that plainly than send you to the wrong place and lose your letter.

Call the Valley Jail Section at (818) 374-9645 and ask how mail should be addressed. Write down the answer and the name of the person who gave it. Include the full legal name and booking number on the envelope if the jail tells you to.

Do not mail to the Sheriff's PO box for someone still at an LAPD jail. That address is for LASD custody, and LASD's rules are a different set.

Is mail a good idea for a short stay?

Often it is not. LAPD jails hold people briefly before court or before a transfer. Arraignment typically happens within 48 hours of arrest, unless a holiday or weekend gets in the way. A letter mailed on Monday could reach an empty bed on Thursday.

For a quick message, a phone call or a visit works better. See our pages on visiting at the Valley Jail Section and phone calls from the jail.

If the person stays in custody, they will likely be moved to county jails, and your letters should follow them there.

What changes after a move to county custody?

LASD has a detailed mail policy. Its general address for men and women is a PO box at Terminal Annex in Los Angeles, and women may also be mailed at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood. Both need the inmate name and booking number.

LASD rejects many items, among them cash, stamps, staples, stickers, food, cosmetics, jewelry and prepaid phone cards. Photos must be between 3x5 and 4x6 inches. Books must come directly from a bookstore or publisher.

Before you mail, check LASD's custody page and our sister pages for the Inmate Reception Center and Century Regional Detention Facility. Do not copy LASD rules onto an LAPD letter. They are not the same system.

Can I send books, photos or money to Van Nuys?

LAPD's pages we reviewed say nothing about books, photos or money for this jail. So we cannot tell you what is allowed. Please ask the jail before you send anything of value.

Cash in an envelope is a bad idea at any jail. If your goal is to get the person out, our bail guide explains the numbers.

What if I am not sure where they are held?

Do not mail anything until you know. People arrested in the Valley may be booked at Van Nuys, or may be taken elsewhere, and LAPD can move them. Check with the jail at (818) 374-9645 or the county line at (213) 473-6100.

Once you know the location, ask the jail about mail before you spend money on a card or book. Families lose a lot of time and postage on letters that arrive after a transfer. A short phone call first costs nothing.

1% down is a down payment on approved credit, not the price of the bond. The premium is the rate on file with the California Department of Insurance, 10% of the bail amount, or 8% when a private attorney is retained or you or the defendant is a veteran. The balance goes on a payment plan.

Questions people ask

Is there an official Valley Jail Section mailing address?

LAPD does not publish one on the pages we reviewed. Call (818) 374-9645 to ask.

Does LAPD limit how much mail a person can get?

LAPD says its jails allow unlimited mail, with security reading only under a supervisor's approval.

Can I send a book or photo to Van Nuys?

LAPD lists no rules for this. Ask the jail first. LASD's rules apply only after a move to county custody.

What happens to mail if the person moves?

LAPD says mail that arrives goes into the property bag. Ask the jail what happens when someone leaves.

Should I write while they are held in Van Nuys?

Stays are short, so a call or visit is more reliable. Write again once they are in county custody.

More about Valley Jail Section (Van Nuys Station)

Sources

Jane Un Bail Bonds is a private bail agent licensed by the California Department of Insurance, License #1843448. We are not part of LAPD, LASD or the courts. Rules change, so check the official source before you go.