San Diego County-Vista Detention Facility

You can support your loved ones at Vista Detention on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 619-409-5000.

When someone you care about gets locked up, it's tough to figure out all the ins and outs of jail life. From sending mail to visiting, there are a lot of things to sort out. And getting info about the arrest? Not always easy. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get a handle on how things work here so that you can stay connected and support your loved one behind bars.

The Vista Detention is a detention center located at 325 S Melrose Dr, Ste 200 Vista, CA which is operated locally by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. San Diego County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Vista Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals.

You can see all the arrest records for California here.

The Vista Detention Facility (VDF), located in the City of Vista, is a Type II Facility as classified by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BCC). It serves as the primary intake point for both male and female individuals arrested in northern San Diego County. The facility opened in 1978 and underwent an expansion in 1989, which increased its rated capacity to 886 beds. VDF spans 170,000 square feet and is situated within the expansive North County Regional Center (NCRC), which also houses the North County Superior Courts, Vista Sheriff’s Station, and the North County Law Library. Notably, except for the Law Library, all buildings in the NCRC are physically connected.

The facility predominantly houses individuals awaiting court proceedings for North County cases, along with a special handling population that includes those with medical or psychiatric needs, individuals requiring administrative separation, and defendants involved in high-publicity trials. VDF provides a comprehensive range of medical and psychiatric services, including infectious disease control, X-ray, and dental care, supported by a team of physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, and clinical social workers.

For comprehensive details regarding San Diego County jails and the incarcerated individuals within them, the 33-page SDCS's Department Public Information Plan serves as a valuable resource. This plan provides essential information on facility operations, inmate services, visitation guidelines, and other relevant details about the management of the county’s detention facilities.

The jail is designed with "pods," featuring a large common area with affixed tables and attached seats, and individual cells typically on two levels. Inmates spend certain times in their cells and other times congregating in the pod for activities like playing cards, games, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, occurs under the constant supervision of unarmed correctional officers. The environment in the county jail is considered less stressful than that of a prison because the sentences are much shorter.

SDCJ is equipped to provide an extensive range of medical and psychiatric services, including on-site dialysis, infectious disease control, and dental care. These services are administered by a team of healthcare professionals, including physicians, psychiatrists, dentists, nurses, and clinical social workers. Notably, SDCJ houses the Psychiatric Stabilization Unit, the largest acute psychiatric treatment facility in San Diego County, underscoring the facility's critical role in managing the complex needs of its diverse inmate population.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged. For commissary information or to add money to an inmate's account, please visit sdsheriffcommissary.com.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can sometimes reduce sentences. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.

A significant initiative at VDF is its Veteran’s Module, established in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and launched on November 1, 2013. This module represents the first of its kind in the San Diego jail system. The Veterans Moving Forward Program aims to assist incarcerated veterans by offering specialized in-custody programs, services, and community resources designed to reduce recidivism. The program fosters an environment of responsibility and accountability, requiring participants to engage in all assessments and programming. Veterans in this module benefit from privileges and incentives not available in standard housing units, and participation is contingent upon adherence to facility rules and regulations. Correctional Counselors, VA Social Workers, and Sheriff's sworn staff are actively involved in the module’s operations and programming to support participants in achieving their goals.