Central Detention Center
Website: Central Detention Center
Central Detention Center
The Central Detention Center (CDC) served as the County of San Bernardino’s main jail facility from 1971 to 1992. CDC was closed for a short time and retrofitted to modern jail standards. In 1994, a contract was established between the United States Marshal’s Service and CDC to accept and house federal inmates pending their court proceedings or assignment to a federal prison facility. With this contract, CDC became the west coast hub for the transportation and housing of federal inmates for the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
CDC houses an average of 900 inmates. CDC currently serves as the booking station for all police departments and sheriff stations in the east valley.
CDC has over 130 positions of both safety and general employees, making CDC one of the largest divisions in the Sheriff’s Department.
In 2017, CDC booked 17,587 inmates; 775 of which were U.S. Marshal’s Service bookings.
CDC has continued to upgrade and renovate to include additional security camera observation stations, an updated digital HT radio frequency, metal detectors in the public lobby and inmate walkways, and ground beautification programs ensuring that CDC remains one of the premier custodial facilities in the state.
CDC currently hosts a Juvenile Intervention Program for at-risk youth ages 13 to 17. Our group of close-knit employees does an incredible job keeping up with and embracing an ever-changing correctional environment.
Visiting Instructions
Each jail has unique visiting hours and visitor requirements. It is required to have the inmate booking number before you schedule your visit. Inmates have access to use telephones to make legal and personal calls while at the facility.These general rules apply to all San Bernardino County jail facilities.All Visitors shall:
- Arrive 30 minutes before their appointment.
- Provide a valid photo identification card (driver’s license, consulate i.d., passport).
- Be subject to a search of their personal belongings and vehicles.
- Not have any weapons, cell phones, audio, video, or photo recording devices.
- Not bring into the facility tobacco or illicit drugs.
- Maintain constant supervision of any minors.
- Dress appropriately.
Currency Deposits
- Money can be deposited into inmates’ accounts to purchase commissary. Deposit kiosks are in the lobby at each of four county jails.
- Deposits can be made in person, 24/7.
- The kiosk machines only accept cash, credit, or debit cards. Personal checks or money orders are not accepted.
- Upon release, inmate’s will receive their account balance in cash or check.
Mailing Instructions
- Inmates are permitted to send and receive unlimited letters each day to maintain communications with their legal representatives, families, friends, business associates, and government authorities. The two categories of mail are regular and legal correspondence.
All mail must have the following information or it will be rejected by the jail:
- Include the name of the sender, return address, inmate’s name, booking number, and facility address printed on the outside of a plain envelope.
The following is prohibited:
- Blank paper, envelopes or stamps.
- Perfume, powder or cologne.
- Unknown substances
- Food items.
- Ten or more 5×7 or smaller photos, frames, or accessories.
- Images depicting violence, sex or gang affiliation.
- Nude or sexually explicit photos or drawings.
- Whiteout, crayon, glue, tape, glitter, stickers or labels.
- Metal or plastic.
- Note: All books and magazines must be paperback and shipped directly from the publisher to the inmate.