Men’s Central Jail (MCJ) is located near downtown Los Angeles, about one mile from the Hall of Justice, just North/East of Union station. Its primary purpose is to provide security for sentenced and high security, pre-trial inmates. Together with the Transportation Bureau (TST), the Inmate Reception Center (IRC), the Twin Towers Correctional (TTCF), and the Central Jail Arraignment Courts (CJAC), all located on Bauchet St., it makes up the Central Regional Justice Center.

Originally constructed in 1963 at a cost of $16.3 million, MCJ was designed to house 3,323 inmates and contain 585,150 square feet of floor space. In 1976, an addition was completed at a cost of $35 million, adding 350,000 square feet of floor space and raising the inmate rated capacity to 5,276. Currently, the inmate capacity of MCJ is approximately 6,750.

Because Men’s Central Jail is the largest jail in the World, the fiscal aspects of its operation are tremendous. MCJ’s budget is $49,944,651 per year. As of August 2004, the average cost to house an inmate at MCJ is approximately $61.21 per day.

MCJ also has a specialized medical housing capable of handling 781 inmates and is staffed by Sheriff’s Department Medical Personnel. They provide services for inmate with communicable diseases, long term medical conditions, and/or who are recovering from wounds or surgery. There are also provisions for mentally ill inmates.

Originally referred to as the “Central Jail Expansion,” Twin Towers Correctional Facility opened in 1997. It occupies a 10 acre site to the east of MCJ and is connected to MCJ by a transfer bridge. TTCF consists of two high rise inmate housing towers, an Inmate Reception Center and a five story Medical Services Building. It also includes a Central Energy Plant and Custody Division Administration offices. The facility provides housing for over 2000 inmates, of which 200 are of medical and mental health care classification, and totals just under 1.5 million square feet.

Assigned by IRC Classification, as many as 800 inmate workers are housed at CJ. These inmate workers are assigned to one of many jobs, and may accrue “Work Time” or credit towards their sentences.

Unless prohibited by special circumstances, inmates are granted access to telephones and can send and receive mail through U.S. Postal Services. All outgoing mail, except legal mail previously inspected and signed by a deputy or custody assistant, must be unsealed. All mail is screened for contraband.

Chapel services are available for all major religious denominations. Chaplains provide counseling and are allowed to provide toiletry items to indigent inmates.

The La Puente-Hacienda Heights Unified School District provides basic educational courses that can be used to obtain high school equivalency (G.E.D.) certificates. Many areas of study are available such as: health, English and arithmetic. In addition, the LPHSD maintains a library facility at MCJ.

Unless superceded by exigent circumstances, per Title 15, inmates are afforded time to exercise three times a week in either of two exercise yards. In these, they are afforded the use of basketballs, handballs, footballs, and other recreational items, including telephones.

The Inmate Services section coordinates the procurement and operation of televisions and provides the materials and instruction for crafts at all custody facilities. Jail Stores is handled by the Canteen Corp and is al coordinated through Inmate Services. MCJ Visiting is open Thursday through Sunday and provides 265 seats for inmates to receive visitors. Certain classifications of inmates may only receive visits on Thursdays/Saturdays or Fridays/Sundays.

Inmates may consult with their attorneys in MCJ’s Attorney Room, which can accommodate up to 63 attorneys at tables and consultation booths.

Inmates who are granted permission by the courts to act as their own attorney (Propria Persona or “Pro Per”) are given special legal considerations. They are housed in a separate location; they are given access to the law library at MCJ; they have unrestricted access to telephone during specific time periods; and they are allowed access to certain otherwise restricted stationery items and typewriters.

While the jail is operated by the Sheriff’s Department, there are many civilians who work in the facility in a support capacity. Among them are: food services personnel, clerical, medical services personnel, and chaplains. In addition, Los Angeles County Facilities Services Bureau (FSB) personnel are stationed at the jail to maintain and repair the facility.

Although the facility strains under the demands of a changing society, it continues to function with safety and security thanks to the professionalism and efficiency of personnel assigned to MCJ.