El Centro Detention Facility-GEO

You can support your loved ones at El Centro Detention on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 760-259-2500.

Located in El Centro, CA, El Centro Detention operates as a private contractor with various government agency agreements providing state-minimum custody requirements. Programs are offered to all custody levels, including work release residents focused on reentry success. With a strong emphasis on rehabilitation, El Centro Detention provides comprehensive educational and vocational opportunities. Onsite amenities include dietary, health, fitness, educational, religious, and recreational services. Regular inspections ensure compliance with government standards, ensuring the facility's continued operation.

The El Centro Detention Facility, operated by GEO Group, transitioned in October 2014 to offering comprehensive services on behalf of the U.S. Marshals Service after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in El Centro closed. Following this closure, detainees were moved to the newly constructed Imperial Regional Detention Center (IRDF) in Calexico, California. The IRDF, designed to accommodate up to 780 detainees—320 more than the El Centro facility—now houses both men and women, whereas the former facility housed only men.

The El Centro Detention Facility continues to provide essential services including housing, security, transportation, medical care, food provision, and various support functions. Located on North Imperial Avenue, this facility, alongside the U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing center in El Centro, became a focal point of national attention in July 2014 when undocumented immigrants detained at the Texas border were transferred to Southern California stations.

Inmates at this facility are assigned housing based on their classification following processing. Those who comply with facility rules are often classified at a lower level, which grants them additional privileges, while those who violate rules or face new charges may be classified at a higher level, resulting in fewer privileges. Trustees within the facility undertake tasks such as cooking, laundry, and managing commissary services, sometimes receiving minimal compensation or a reduction in their sentences for their efforts.

The facility is structured with "pods," which are large common areas with affixed tables and individual cells, typically arranged on two levels. Inmates spend part of their time in their cells and part in the common area, engaging in activities such as playing cards, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, is closely supervised by unarmed correctional officers. The environment in the county jail is generally less stressful than that of a prison due to the shorter sentences served by inmates.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with no incoming calls allowed. Collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call, and setting up an account through a third-party provider may also result in high per-minute fees. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, All phone calls are recorded, and it is advised not to discuss sensitive legal matters over the phone.

To ensure security, books and magazines ordered for inmates must be sent directly from the publisher, guaranteeing that the items are new, untampered, and comply with facility regulations. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected. However, letters and selfies to inmates can be sent to inmates through a convenient app, with packages starting at $8.00.

Inmate workers are selected based on conduct and cooperation with staff, and participation in the community service program can sometimes lead to reduced sentences. Commissary is available weekly, with orders placed via kiosk two days in advance. Spending limits may increase on holidays. Upon receiving their commissary items, inmates must present identification, verify their orders, and sign for them in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with essential hygiene items, USPS stamps, and writing materials.