East Mesa Detention Facility

446 Alta Rd., Ste. 5200

San Diego, CA 92158

(619) 661-2608

GOOGLE MAP

 

Visit Schedule

The East Mesa Detention Facility (EMDF) was initially built as a probation camp in conjunction with the George F. Bailey Detention Facility.  It was turned over to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department in 1991.

 

EMDF is a Type II medium security facility.  It has a Corrections Standards Authority (CSA) rated capacity of 360 beds and currently has over 500 available beds.  Laundry and food production for EMDF and other facilities is coordinated with the use of inmate workers at the facility through the department's growing Inmate Industries Program.  The Inmate Industry Program also includes print-shop skills, janitorial services, computer graphics and construction trades.

 

EMDF rests on eight acres in south San Diego County near the Otay Mesa border crossing.  It consists of four inmate housing dormitories, a mess hall, several classrooms, chaplain, counselor, and staff administrative offices. The beautiful landscaping, softball field, volleyball and handball courts are maintained by the inmate work crews.

The Inmate Worker Operations office serves as a temporary employment agency, hiring and assigning hundreds of inmates on daily basis to the various work crews. The general inmate population housed at EMDF is used as an inmate worker pool since inmates are released on a constant basis. Inmates must be interviewed, screened and cleared for work details as they come available.

 

EMDF is able to provide more rehabilitative programs than other jails due to the working nature of the facility.  In addition to earning a GED, inmates are able to earn certificates in construction trades, printing press operation, janitorial services, computer graphics and industrial laundry machine operation. The Grossmont High School District manages and teaches these programs.  Due to the lower classification and worker status of the inmates, they have more benefits than inmates at high-security facilities including more outside yard time, contact visits, and better recreational facilities.