Men's Central Jail

How to Send Mail to Someone at Men's Central Jail

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

Men's Central Jail has no street address for inmate mail. LASD says all men use one box. Write Inmate Name, Booking Number, PO BOX 86164, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164. Leave out staples, stamps, stickers, cash and anything on the rejection list, because LASD returns rejected items.

Call (213) 725-2815 Apply online in 4 minutes

What is the mail address for MCJ?

LASD lists one general address for all inmates, men and women.

Inmate Name, Booking Number then PO BOX 86164, Terminal Annex, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164.

Men's Central, Twin Towers and the Inmate Reception Center do not have separate mail addresses, so do not send letters to 441 Bauchet Street. Use the booking number, which you can get through the inmate search steps.

What gets rejected at the mail room?

LASD publishes a long list. The main groups are below.

Food, cosmetics, perfume, powders and lipstick
Cash, personal checks, second party checks, payroll checks, out of state checks and blank money orders
Stamps, blank envelopes, metal clasps, glued labels, stickers, glitter
Paper clips, staples, pens and pencils
Musical, plastic or blank greeting cards, and postcards larger than 6 by 9 inches
Jewelry, rosary beads, string bracelets, balloons, ID cards
Lottery tickets, prepaid phone cards, tape, audio, CDs and cassettes
Gang symbols or suggestive art

LASD says rejected items are returned intact. The mail room supervisor line it lists is (213) 893-5874.

Can I send books and magazines?

Only if they come straight from a bookstore or publisher. LASD allows up to 3 books and 3 periodicals a week. No metal or plastic binding, no hard covers, no explicit sexual content, no full or partial nudity and no how to material on weapons or crime.

If a book or periodical is returned, you can appeal on the LASD website within 15 days. LASD says it decides within 15 business days.

What about photos?

Photos must be at least 3 by 5 inches and no larger than 4 by 6 inches. No nudity, sexually suggestive images or gang imagery. Keep a plain letter with a plain photo or two, and you will avoid most returns.

Where do money and eyeglasses go?

Mail is for letters, books and photos. Money by mail has its own rules, which our send money page covers. Eyeglasses need a medical court order, and LASD says they can be left at the MCJ lobby from 5 AM to 9 PM or mailed to Men's Central Jail, Attention Legal Unit, 441 Bauchet St.

For questions about a bond for the person you are writing to, we are at (213) 725-2815, and the Men's Central Jail page has the rest of the building details.

How do I keep a letter from coming back?

Keep it simple. Plain paper, a plain envelope with a return address, a short note and one or two photos in the allowed size. Women are held at Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, so use the lookup if you are unsure where someone is. Skip stickers, glitter, tape and anything stuck on. Do not put in stamps, cash or a blank money order. LASD says rejected items are returned intact, so you will get the letter back, but that wastes days.

If you want to do more than write, see the visiting rules on our visiting page and the money options on our send money page.

If a letter comes back, call the mail room supervisor line LASD lists, (213) 893-5874, with the name, booking number and the date you mailed it. Check the contents against the rejection list above before you send it again.

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

Does Men's Central have its own mail address?

No. LASD says men's mail goes to the P.O. box used for all inmates.

Can I send a postcard?

Yes, up to 6 by 9 inches. Larger postcards are rejected.

Can I mail a prepaid phone card?

No. LASD says prepaid phone cards cannot be mailed to inmates.

How many books can I send?

LASD allows up to 3 books and 3 periodicals per week, sent directly from a bookstore or publisher.

Can I mail clothes or snacks?

LASD's rejection list includes food and cosmetics. Commissary and care packages come from independent vendors, not by mail from family.

More about Men's Central Jail

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.