Metropolitan Correctional Center, San Diego

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

Last Updated: March 15, 2024
Address
808 Union St, San Diego, CA 92101
Beds
1012
County
San Diego
Phone
619-232-4311
Fax
619-595-0390
Email
sdc-execassistant-s@bop.gov

MCC San Diego is for Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offenders found guilty of a federal crime and sentenced to incarceration in accordance with the Department of Justice Sentencing Guidelines.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for federal maximum (MCC) facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are seeking to send your inmate money for commissary, one recommended for this facility is MoneyGram There is a fee for sending money, see their rates and limitations.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Metropolitan Correctional Center, San Diego

You can support your loved ones at MCC San Diego on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 619-232-4311.

The Metropolitan Correctional Center, San Diego (MCC San Diego) operates as a unique federal facility within the California penal system. Managed by the BOP, it functions primarily as a pre-trial detention center housing both male and female inmates awaiting court proceedings. Additionally, it houses individuals serving brief sentences. MCC San Diego stands out for its capacity to accommodate a diverse range of security levels under one roof.

MCC San Diego boasts a 23-story structure designed to house a maximum of 1,300 inmates. This high-rise structure marked a significant shift within the BOP's approach to prison design, pioneering a new generation of such facilities alongside MCC New York and MCC Chicago.

The majority of inmates housed at MCC San Diego are individuals with pending cases before the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Beyond pre-trial detainees, the facility also houses those serving short sentences. MCC San Diego officially opened its doors in December 1974. This event marked a turning point in the BOP's architectural approach, ushering in an era of high-rise prison facilities.

Women in prison are often the primary or sole caregivers of children before incarceration. For offenders who will give birth during their incarceration, there are two programs offered to assist these mothers before, during, and after childbirth; these include Mothers and Infants Together (MINT) and the Residential Parenting Program (RPP). The Program Statement, Female Offender Manual, is the agency's primary policy addressing the management of incarcerated women. The agency also issued an Operations Memorandum requiring all female sites to provide five types of feminine hygiene products to inmates free of charge.

Two specific incidents highlight the complexities associated with managing a large-scale detention facility.

  • In March 2011, a former correctional officer at MCC San Diego, Brandon McKinney, was indicted for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a female inmate while on duty. Such actions are strictly prohibited by law, regardless of any claim of consent. McKinney was subsequently terminated from his position and faced legal consequences, ultimately pleading guilty and receiving a 10-month prison sentence.

  • In July 2013, another incident involving an inmate came to light. Kirk Borja, housed at MCC San Diego, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and possessing heroin with the intent to distribute. The charges stemmed from a larger investigation into gang activity. Borja further admitted to attempting to conceal heroin within his body while incarcerated at MCC San Diego, intending to distribute it to other inmates before his plan was thwarted by correctional officers. Borja's sentencing was pending at the time of the press release.

MCC San Diego serves as a crucial element within the federal prison system, functioning as a pre-trial detention center and housing individuals serving short sentences. Its high-rise design allows for a substantial inmate capacity while accommodating a diverse range of security levels. The incidents highlighted serve as cautionary tales, emphasizing the constant vigilance required to maintain order and uphold the law within such facilities.

Visit the official Bureau of Prisons website. It offers regularly updated information tailored to each institution, ensuring accuracy and currentness:

Inmate Locator

Metropolitan Correctional Center, San Diego is a facility in the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that publishes the names of the inmates currently in one of their locations nationwide. Your search should start with the first locator to see if your loved one is there. You will need the offender's first and last name and it must be spelled exactly. If you have a eight-digit BOP Inmate ID number (xxxxx-xxx)

If you cannot find your inmate in the federal search, the second box is the InmateAid Inmate Search. This database of inmates is all the inmates currently incarcerated in all prisons, jails and detention centers. You do not need to sign up to use this free inmate locator.

If you are looking for someone who has been recently taken into custody, you may access the Arrest Record Search feature, there is a cost for this fresh information

Visitation Information

MCC San Diego - Visiting Hours

  • Monday 4:45 pm - 9:00 pm
  • Thursday 4:45 pm - 9:00 pm
  • Friday 4:45 pm - 9:00 pm
  • Saturday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
  • Sunday 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
  • Holidays 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

Visiting Information

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.