Theo Lacy Facility
The Theo Lacy Facility is a maximum security jail complex situated on the banks of the Santa Ana River bed in the City of Orange. The facility covers approximately 11 acres of land between the Orangewood Children’s Home and the Orange County Animal Shelter. With a maximum capacity of 3,442 inmates, the Theo Lacy Facility maintains the custody and welfare over a diverse inmate population ranging from those charged or sentenced for misdemeanor crimes to more serious felonies. Others have been sentenced and are awaiting transfer to State Prison.
The Theo Lacy Facility is staffed by approximately 450 sworn and professional staff members who are employed in a variety of assignments to ensure the safe and efficient operation of this maximum security jail. The staff is dedicated to providing for the security and welfare of the inmates incarcerated within the facility.
Inmates incarcerated at Theo Lacy are classified into various housing locations depending on their past confinement history, current charges, criminal sophistication, and a host of other indicators. Once classified, inmates are housed in areas ranging from multiple bunk dormitories to one or two-man cells. The purpose of the classification system is to minimize the risks to inmates and staff while maximizing the smooth and orderly operation of daily activities. The classification of inmates is continually evaluated and inmates who are not adjusting to their environment are often re-classified to minimize potential problems.
Inmates have access to television, outdoor recreation, local newspapers, mail, commissary purchases (minor grocery store food items and sundries), and special programs. Inmates also receive medical, mental health, and dental care. Religious services, vocational, and educational programs are also offered. Public visiting is also available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays each week. Sentenced inmates may be eligible to perform work in the facility kitchen or labor crews and receive “work-time” credits to reduce their sentences. Eligible inmates may qualify for the Community Work Program or Electronic Monitoring Program.
History
The Theo Lacy Facility, named in the honor of former Sheriff Theo Lacy, was opened in 1960 on approximately seven acres in the City of Orange and initially housed 424 minimum security inmates. The original construction was intended to alleviate overcrowding at Santa Ana’s Sycamore Street Jail.
Over the years, the facility has undergone a large number of expansion projects to further reduce crowding in the Orange County Jail system. The Theo Lacy Facility has the capacity to house a maximum of 3,442 inmates and is the largest jail facility in the County.
Visiting Instructions
- 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.
Visitors who are disruptive or interfere with the normal operations of the facility are subject to removal from the facility and/or arrest.
Currency Deposits
- Effective March 19, 2017, cash and money orders can be deposited to inmates’ accounts at the Jail Cashiering offices located at the Intake Release Center (IRC) or at the Theo Lacy (TL) Jail Facility regardless of where the inmate is housed.
- The Jail Cashiering Hours of Operation and locations are as follows:
- Intake and Release Center – 24 hours a day (714) 647-6085
- 550 North Flower Street
- Santa Ana, CA 92703
- Theo Lacy Jail Facility – (714) 935-6905
- Monday through Thursday 10:00 a.m. to Midnight and
- Friday through Sunday 8:00 a.m. to Midnight
- 501 The City Drive South
- Orange, CA 92868
- Inmates may have city/county/state/or United States Government checks (made payable to the inmate) and money orders deposited to their account. Money orders must be made payable to the “Orange County Sheriff’s Department” and the inmate’s name and booking number must be shown on the reference line of the money order.
- All funds are made available for the inmate to use approximately 30 minutes after the transaction is completed. Personal checks, cashier’s checks, and traveler’s checks are NOT accepted for inmate accounts. Deposited funds on inmate accounts may not exceed $500.
- Money orders may either be deposited at the Jail Cashiering offices or mailed to the inmate through the U.S. mail. Government checks must be mailed to the inmate. This is for tracking purposes and the inmates must endorse these checks before they can be deposited.
- Possession of monies by an inmate is forbidden.
Mailing Instructions
- Mail must contain both the inmate’s name and booking number and the sender’s name and return address. The envelope may not contain any other unnecessary writing, artwork, or markings on it.
- New paperback books, magazines, or newspapers must be ordered and mailed through an accepted distributor, such as amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, costco.com, walmart.com, etc. (Amazon Marketplace vendors are NOT considered secure sources and are prohibited.) Books may not be purchased at a store and shipped to the jail facility. The package must be accompanied by an invoice listing the purchaser, recipient, contents, and the name of the online sotre. Torn pages or torn articles from publications are not allowed. Used books and hardcover, vinyl, and leather-bound books are NOT allowed. Inmates may only possess a maximum of 5 books or magazines.
- Magazines, illustrations, or photographs showing female nipples, genitals, sexual activities, bondage, or degradation are not allowed. Personal photographs may not contain nudity, partial nudity or be sexually suggestive.
- Photographs depicting gangs, gang hand gestures, weapons, drugs, unlawful activities are not allowed. Any material tending to incite or promote racism, violence or any other prohibited conduct is prohibited.
- Oversized packages or boxes will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender unless previously approved by the Division Commander. (An oversized package is defined as any item larger than a 9″x12″ legal size manila envelope.) Boxes will not be accepted unless they are from an approved secure source.
- Mail containing correspondence material (envelopes, paper, pencils, stamps, etc.) will not be accepted. All correspondence material must be purchased through jail commissary or ordered and shipped directly from the United States Postal Service online store, The Postal Store, at www.usps.com. Only stamps and envelopes are accepted from the USPS online store.
- Money orders must be made payable to the “Orange County Sheriff’s Department,” with the inmate’s name and booking number annotated on the reference line of the money order. Personal checks, cashier’s checks, corporate checks, and payroll checks are not accepted. ($500.00 is the maximum amount inmates may have on their account at any time)
- There is a maximum of 10 items of correspondence allowed per envelope. These items of correspondence include but are not limited to: hand or type written items, photocopied or printed material, photographs, newspaper or magazine cut outs, or greeting cards.
Mail Containing The Following Items Will Not Be Accepted
- Items that cannot be inspected without being damaged (e.g. multilayered cards, Polaroids, laminated or glued items, etc.).
- Items containing foil or metal of any type, glass, wood, hard plastic, rubber, hair, leaves, flowers, paperclips, jewelry, staples, whiteout, colored paper, tracing paper, heavy art paper, glitter, confetti, stickers, tape, glue, paint, watercolors, tobacco products, or other prohibited substances, or any items written in crayon, chalk, or markers.
- Items that may compromise the security of the facility.
- Wall posters, travel brochures, catalogs, wall calendars, or any other item larger than a legal size piece of paper.
- Credit cards, personal checkbooks, original certificates (e.g., marriage, driver’s license, diplomas, etc.).
- Any food item.
- Any article of clothing, hygiene item or other personal property. (One pair of prescription or reading glasses may be mailed in. Eyeglasses must be in a non-decorative plastic frame. Eyeglass cases are NOT allowed. Two boxes of contacts are allowed. Inmates may obtain contact lens solution and contact lens cases from the jail dispensary.)
- Third party letters. (Correspondents may not forward letters from one person to another.)
- Any item that contains any unknown substance or unknown odor (e.g., stains, lipstick, perfume, smoke, etc.).