Los Angeles Pitchess Detention Center: How to Post Bail, Find Inmate Information and More

The Los Angeles Pitchess Detention Center, also known as the Wayside jail, consists of four separate complexes: the North Facility, North County Correctional Facility (NCCF), South Facility, and East Facility. 

The addresses for Los Angeles Pitchess Detention Center Facilities are:

29320 (The North Facility)

29340 (NCCF)

29330 (The South Facility)

29310 (The East Facility)

The Old Road
Castaic, CA 91384
(213) 974-4921

Driving directions: Google Maps

The four separate complexes that comprise the Pitchess Detention Center are each run by their own commander and staff and serve different purposes.

  • The North Facility officially closed in 2010 and now serves as a backup facility capable of holding up to 1,500 inmates, but currently only holds about 5.
  • The North County Correctional Facility (NCCF) is a maximum security complex that houses up to 3,800 inmates.
  • The South Facility is a low-to-medium security facility that currently houses about 1,400 inmates
  • The East Facility houses roughly 400 parole violators awaiting hearings

How do I post bail for someone at the Pitchess Detention Center?

The Pitchess Detention Center accepts cash, cashier’s check, money orders, and bail bonds to post bail. The Pitchess Detention Center does not have its own cashier at the facility. You may post bail in person at any time at the L.A. Inmate Reception Center (“IRC”). The IRC is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is located at:

450 Bauchet St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 893-5875

How to pay cash bail

When you pay cash bail, be prepared to pay the full amount exactly.

Once cash bail has been posted, the inmate will be released to await their next court date. If the inmate attends all scheduled court appearances, the bail will be returned to you (minus a small administrative fee). If the inmate fails to make their court appearances, the full amount will be forfeited to the court.

How to pay bail with a check or money order

Just like with cash bail, you are required to pay the full bail amount exactly. Both cashier’s checks and money orders should be payable to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Only California bank-drawn cashier’s checks or U.S. Postal Service money orders will be accepted. Both forms of payment must include the inmates full legal name and booking number and should be payable to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

How to pay bail with a bail bond

If you don’t have the bail amount on hand, you can still post an inmate’s bail by purchasing a bail bond. You will first need to contact a bail bondsman, many of whom advertise online and in the phone book. Before hiring a bondsman, it is recommended that you verify that their license is valid.

Once you’ve found a bondsman you will pay them a non-refundable percentage of the total bail amount (usually not more than 10%). The initial fee is non-refundable, however, if the inmate attends all of their court appearances, you will not be required to pay the remaining bail. If they do not attend their scheduled court appearances, you will owe the bail bondsman the full amount.

It takes about half an hour to process the bail bond application, after which the inmate will be released.

How do I look up an inmate’s information?

You can obtain the following information about an inmate at the Pitchess Detention Center anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:

  • Booking number
  • Bail information 
  • Next scheduled court appearance

If you wish to obtain the information you need by phone you can call the L.A. Sheriff’s Department inmate information line at 213-473-6080. You can also find it online at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s inmate information website.You must provide the inmate’s full name and date of birth or booking number to receive information.

How do I contact someone who is being held at the Pitchess Detention Center?

Inmates at the Pitchess Detention Center are not allowed to receive incoming calls. Every inmate is allowed to make one free outgoing call when they are booked, but any outgoing calls made after that must be placed using a prepaid calling card.

If you’d like to help an inmate obtain a calling card, you have three options:

  1. Send the inmate money in accordance with the detention center’s policies
  2. Send a prepaid calling card in a commissary care package
  3. Set up a prepaid account for the inmate online through Global Tel* Link or over the phone at 800-433-8314. Prepaid accounts are in the amounts of either $25 or $50.

How to get help for someone who has been arrested

The criminal justice system is designed to be complex, intimidating, and difficult to navigate. Law enforcement and prosecutors often use the confusing system to their advantage in order to make convictions and obtain harsh sentences. If someone you love has been arrested, know that you don’t have to go through the system alone. By hiring a criminal defense attorney you will have an expert on your side who you can trust to fight for your loved one’s rights and keep you informed of all of your options.

Robert M. Helfend is a SuperLawyers and National Trial Lawyers Top 100 rated trial attorney who has practiced in the Los Angeles area for more than 40 years. No matter the circumstances of your case, you should have a caring and competent attorney helping you through it every step of the way. Call today for your free consultation.