Orange County-Central Men's and Women's Jail (CMWJ)

County Jail

Last Updated: March 13, 2024
Address
550 N Flower St, Santa Ana, CA 92703
Beds
1814
County
Orange
Phone
714-834-5955

CMWJ is for County Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

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 County - medium 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 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 Orange County-Central Men's and Women's Jail (CMWJ)

You can support your loved ones at CMWJ on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 714-834-5955.

The CMWJ is a low/medium-security detention center located at 550 N Flower St Santa Ana, CA which is operated locally by the Orange County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Orange County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Santa Ana Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals. You can see all the arrest records for California here.

The Central Men’s and Central Women’s Jail, established in November 1968, are traditional linear-style facilities housing both sentenced and pre-trial maximum-security inmates. The Central Men’s Jail accommodates up to 1,428 inmates, while the Central Women’s Jail can house up to 386 inmates.

Inmates at these facilities have access to various amenities and services, including television, outdoor recreation, local newspapers, mail, and commissary purchases. They also receive medical, mental health, and dental care, in addition to participating in religious services, vocational, and educational programs. Public visiting is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week.

Sentenced inmates may have the opportunity to work in the facility kitchen or labor crews, earning "work-time" credits to reduce their sentences. Eligible inmates may also qualify for the Community Work Program or Electronic Monitoring Program, providing alternatives to traditional incarceration.

The Central Men’s Jail is home to “CJ1,” a dedicated courtroom for arraignments located inside the facility for enhanced efficiency. This initiative represents a productive partnership between the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Public Defender, streamlining the arraignment process and ensuring timely judicial proceedings.

Inmate Locator

Orange County-Central Men's and Women's Jail (CMWJ) publishes the names of the inmates currently in their facility in California. Your search should start with this locator first to see if your loved one is there.

The second box is the InmateAid Inmate Search. This database of inmates is user-generated content to access and utilize any or all of the InmateAid services. If you need our assistance creating your inmate profile to keep in touch, email us at aid@inmateaid.com and we will assist you in locating your inmate.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

Central Men's Jail - Visitation

Hours:

Housing Location Check-In Time Window Closes, No Visits Accepted After Modules C-15 & C-16 (Special Handling) 7:30am 7:45am General Population 8:30am 5:00pm Module D-19, D-20 & F 29, F-30 (Special Handling) 9:00am 9:15am Modules A-03, A-04 & C-13, C-14 11:00am 11:15am Modules O/R & Sheltered Living (Special Handling) 1:00pm 1:15pm DIS/ISO Overflow (Special Handling) 3:00pm 3:15pm

Note: Inmates at The Central Men’s Jail receive their meals from 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM daily, and may refuse visits offered at the times. All visiting times are subject to change without notice.

Parking: Visitors may park in the parking structure across from the Santa Ana Police Department.

Rules

  • Visitors are required to show valid photo identification prior to a visit. Only government issued ID’s are accepted (State Driver’s License or Identification Card, Passport, Consular Card, etc.)
  • Each inmate is allowed one public visit per visiting day.
  • We strongly urge visitors to coordinate their visits with their loved ones so as to avoid a situation where two visitors show up (at different times) to visit the same inmate. One of the visitors will be turned away as inmates are only allowed one visit per day.
  • Each visit will last a minimum of 30 minutes.
  • Two adults and one child under five may visit. Only two visitors plus one child under five years of age, or one adult and two children under five years of age, will be permitted to visit any one inmate.
  • Children must be under adult supervision at all times.
  • Upon prior request of the Watch Commander, unaccompanied minor children may visit any relative in custody.
  • Visitors who have been released from jail or prison within the preceding sixty (60) days are ineligible to visit. However, visits between blood relatives (i.e., mother, father, sister or brother) or spouse may be allowed even though the visitor was released from our custody within the last sixty (60) days, with Watch Commander approval.
  • Visitors may only possess identification and keys while inside the facility for their visit.
  • For visitor safety and to expedite the security screening process, bulk property (e.g., purses, make-up bags, day planners, books, backpacks, baby diaper bags, etc.) are prohibited and will not be allowed in visiting. Lockers are available at some facilities for visitors to store bulk property at their own expense.
  • Visitors with babies or toddlers may possess necessary items such as diapers, wipes, clothing or garment(s) for breast feeding, formula, and bottles, separate from the diaper bag. However, each item will be subject to search.
  • Nursing mothers shall be discreet and covered when breastfeeding their child in the visiting area. Failure to do so may result in termination of visiting for that day.
  • No food, drinks, candy, gum, cigarettes, matches, lighters, pepper spray.
  • Weapons or anything deemed inappropriate are not allowed in this facility.
  • Cell phones, laptops, cameras and other electronic devices are prohibited and not allowed on the facility.
  • All documents requiring an inmate's signature requires the permission of the visiting staff.
  • Clothing that is derogatory, offensive, revealing, or deemed inappropriate by the visiting staff will not be allowed.
  • Visitors under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed and are subject to arrest.
  • Visitors shall proceed to their assigned seat and remain there until the inmate arrives.
  • You will need the inmate's booking number when you check-in. To search for an inmate's booking number click here.

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.