MDC Los Angeles
Find messaging, video, and phone options for MDC Los Angeles. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- Federal Facility
- Security Level
- Administrative
- Inmate Capacity
- Not available
- Established
- 1988
- Operated By
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
MDC Los Angeles Inmate Communication Overview
MDC Los Angeles is an administrative security federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles, California, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It opened in December 1988 and houses male and female pretrial and holdover inmates, with a population of about 1,000. It sits adjacent to the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse.
Electronic messaging at MDC Los Angeles runs through CorrLinks, the BOP's TRULINCS system. The inmate must add you to their approved contact list before any messaging can begin. Phone calls run through the BOP phone system funded through the inmate's trust account, and money for the trust fund can be sent through approved BOP deposit methods.
In-person visiting follows BOP rules. Visitors must be approved and on the inmate's visiting list, and must bring valid photo identification. All calls and messages are monitored. The BOP does not offer general remote video visitation at most facilities, so plan in-person visits ahead.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
535 N Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Inmate Search
Search inmates on the official roster
Check the spelling of the name carefully, and allow 24 to 72 hours for new arrivals to appear in the roster.
INMATE NAME & REGISTER NUMBER MDC Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center P.O. Box 531500 Los Angeles, CA 90053
Include the inmate name and ID on all mail.
Visiting Hours
Social visits vary by housing unit and day: for example, Sunday 5 North 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM; Monday to Friday assigned units 2:30 to 8:00 PM; Saturday 5 North 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM; holidays 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Confirm with the facility.
Commissary / Sending Money
BOP Trust Fund: send money via MoneyGram, Western Union, or money order to the Federal Bureau of Prisons processing center in Des Moines, Iowa. Do not send money to the facility address.
Communication Options
Available communication services at MDC Los Angeles.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: CorrLinks
Electronic messaging through CorrLinks. The inmate must add you to their approved contact list first.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
The BOP does not offer general remote video visitation at most facilities. Plan in-person visits instead.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Photo sharing is not available through CorrLinks. Confirm any photo options with the facility.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Outgoing calls through the BOP phone system, funded through the inmate's trust account.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Trust fund deposits through approved BOP deposit methods.
Communication Providers at MDC Los Angeles
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
CorrLinks
Official BOP electronic messaging system. Inmate must initiate or approve contact.
View CorrLinks ServicesConnectNetwork
BOP phone system and trust fund deposits.
View ConnectNetwork ServicesCommunication Rules at MDC Los Angeles
- Get on the inmate's approved contact list before expecting CorrLinks messages.
- Visitors must be approved and on the visiting list, and bring a valid government-issued photo ID.
- Follow the BOP dress code. Inappropriate clothing will get your visit denied.
- All calls and messages are monitored and recorded.
- Confirm visiting hours before traveling, since schedules vary by housing area.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: MDC Los Angeles
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I message an inmate at MDC Los Angeles?
- Use CorrLinks, the BOP electronic messaging system. The inmate must add you to their approved contact list before messaging can begin. Create a CorrLinks account and wait for the inmate's approval.
- Can I video visit an inmate at MDC Los Angeles?
- The BOP does not offer general remote video visitation at most facilities, including MDC Los Angeles. Plan in-person visits instead.
- How do phone calls work at MDC Los Angeles?
- Inmates make outgoing calls through the BOP phone system, funded through their trust account. You cannot call an inmate directly.
- What kind of inmates does MDC Los Angeles hold?
- MDC Los Angeles is a pretrial and holdover detention center. It houses male and female inmates awaiting trial, sentencing, or transfer.
- How do I add money to an inmate's trust fund at MDC Los Angeles?
- Use the approved BOP deposit methods for trust fund deposits, including online deposits through the BOP's approved services. Confirm the current method on the BOP website.
Troubleshooting at MDC Los Angeles
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
- Why is my CorrLinks invite code not working?
- Invite codes expire, and a code only works for the inmate who sent it. Ask the inmate to send a fresh invite, and enter the code exactly as shown. Also confirm the inmate added you to their approved contact list, since messaging cannot start before that step. See our guide: CorrLinks invite code not working
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