Men's Central Jail
How to Find Someone at Men's Central Jail
By Jane Un, licensed bail agent #1843448. Updated October 29, 2026.
Use the LASD Inmate Information Center online with the person's last name, first name and date of birth, or call (213) 473-6100, which LASD lists for custody questions. Records are not available for bookings made in the last 2 hours, so a new arrest may not show up yet. Try every name the person uses.
Find someone at Men's Central Jail
Search the Sheriff's Inmate Information Center by name and date of birth, or by booking number. You can also call LASD at 213-473-6100.
Have ready
- Full legal name, spelled the way it is on their ID
- Date of birth
- Booking number, if you have it
Stuck? Call us at (213) 725-2815 and we will look up the booking with you.
What do I need to search for someone at MCJ?
The county runs one lookup for all LASD jails, and Men's Central Jail (MCJ) is part of it. The search form asks for a last name, first name, middle name and date of birth. LASD says to have the person's name and date of birth ready before you start.
A full legal name works well. LASD notes that complete legal name searches return the booking number, which is the number you will want for almost everything else, from visiting to money to a bond.
If you want to start with a person, not a screen, you can also try our guide to finding someone in jail in Los Angeles for the general steps.
Why does the search come up empty?
The first reason is timing. LASD says records are not available for bookings in the last 2 hours. If the arrest was this morning or tonight, wait and try again.
The second reason is the name. LASD says people are sometimes booked with or without a middle name. Try the name on their ID, a nickname, a married name and any spelling variation. Try with and without the middle name.
The third reason is the place. A man arrested by a city police department may still be in a police jail and not yet in the county system. LAPD tells families to use the same LASD lookup or the same phone number for anyone held at LAPD or LASD jails, so if the person is not found, call the number below and ask.
What if the lookup does not show Men's Central?
Many men booked into the county pass through the Inmate Reception Center before they are placed in a housing unit. The reception center is next door at 450 Bauchet Street, and it is a different building from MCJ at 441 Bauchet Street. A man can be listed in one place today and another place next week.
LASD does not notify families when an inmate is moved to another facility. If the listing changes or disappears, call (213) 473-6100 and ask where he is now. Our page on the Men's Central Jail page has the building details and phone numbers.
How do I get a booking number?
Search by complete legal name, or call LASD at (213) 473-6100 with the full name, date of birth and, if you have it, the date of arrest. LASD says that call can give you the booking number.
We did not find an official description of how booking numbers are formatted, so do not guess at digits. If a number on a slip looks wrong, confirm it by phone before you send money or mail.
Why does the person not answer or let me visit?
LASD says people who are unclassified, meaning they have no permanent housing yet, cannot make calls or have visits. Classification can take two weeks to a month. Being found in the system and being reachable are two different things.
If the person is found and bail has been set, you can look at visiting rules, how to send money and how bail is set while you wait. When you are ready to talk about a bond, we answer at (213) 725-2815 and the online application takes about 4 minutes.
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 a delay before someone shows up?
Yes. LASD says records are not available for bookings in the last 2 hours.
What number do I call about someone in custody?
LASD lists (213) 473-6100 for custody questions and inmate location. LAPD also points families to that number for LAPD and LASD jails.
Will LASD tell me if he is moved?
No. LASD says it does not notify families when an inmate moves to another facility, so call (213) 473-6100.
Can I search without a date of birth?
The form asks for it, and LASD tells callers to have the name and date of birth ready. If you do not know it, a call to LASD is the better route.
More about Men's Central Jail
- Bail at Men's Central Jail
- Visiting
- Send money
- Phone calls
- Property release
- Release after bail
- Bail amount
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.