Twin Towers Correctional Facility: Information Regarding Jail Guidelines

Twin Towers Correctional Facility consists of two towers–one for medical services and the other for the LA County Medical Center Jail.

Both are used for Los Angeles County inmates suffering from medical or mental illness issues as well as inmates designated as maximum security who are brought here because of overcrowding at the county’s other jails.

Male Inmates may also be housed at Mens Central Jail, Pitchess Detention Center, or North County Correctional Facility.

Inmates with acute medical issues are in the medical services tower.

Those with serious or severe medical and mental health issues are in the medical center jail ward.

Female inmates who require medical care are also treated here. Where an inmate is housed depends on the offense for which they are accused, their criminal history and medical needs.

Non-violent offenders are kept separate from those accused of violent offenses. Similarly, gang members are not mixed in with members of rival gangs.

Procedure For Posting Bail For An Inmate At Twin Towers

Important Note: The bail system is California is scheduled to change with the passage of Senate Bill 10 on October 1, 2019. This bill will require for the elimination of cash bail in California and for it to be replaced by a system of judicial discretion. Judges will decide bail eligibility on each case individually for felonies while misdemeanors no longer require bail.

Bail allows an inmate to be released following an arrest and detention upon the payment of money or the posting of a bond. Like most counties, LA has a bail schedule where a set bail amount is predetermined for a particular offense, though bail may be higher for individuals accused of multiple serious offenses, who have prior felony convictions, pose a danger to the community or are considered a flight risk. If the inmate is detained on a parole or probation violation, bail may not be available.

Once the inmate’s court proceedings is completed by plea agreement, verdict or dismissal, the cash is returned to the inmate. This does not include the funds you paid to the bail bondsman, which is nonrefundable.

Bail can be made by the following methods:

Cash

If you are paying cash, have the entire amount that is due and bring it to the cashier at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) at 441 Bauchet Street. A cashier is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Cashier’s Check or Money Order

These are secured forms of payment. Checks must be made out to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and contain the name and booking number of the inmate. You can obtain the inmate’s booking number about 2 hours after the inmate has been booked by going online to the Inmate Information Center or by calling the LA County Sheriff’s Inmate Information number at (213) 473-6080.

Any certified check must be drawn on a California bank or credit union. Money orders can only come from the US Post Office.

Once you have the cash, check or money order, go to LA Inmate Reception area at 441 Bauchet Street, which is open 24 hours per day, every day of the week.

Bail Bonds

Many offenses, especially felonies, require bail in the thousands of dollars. Since most people do not have such amount readily on hand, they can purchase a bond that will cover the entire amount. Bail bonds are obtained from a bail bondsman who can verify the amount of the bail but who will require that you put up collateral such as a car or house to assure payment should the inmate flee before his proceedings are finished. Bondsmen generally require that you pay 10% of the bail amount, which is nonrefundable. Bail bond companies can be found on the internet or are usually in close proximity to the jail or courthouse. Make sure the bondsman is licensed.

Bail is an assurance that the inmate will appear at all subsequent court dates such as the arraignment, pretrial hearings, bail hearing, motions and trial If the inmate fails to appear as ordered, the court can forfeit the bail and you will lose the cash. Also, the bail bondsman will come after you for the bail that can be in the thousands of dollars.

Using a bond may shorten the time for the inmate to be released but the process usually takes several hours.

Locating An Inmate

You can locate an inmate at Twin Towers by either going to the LA Sheriff website for Inmate Information Center or by calling the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department inmate information line at (213) 473-6080. Have the inmate’s full name and birth date and booking number if you know it.

You can obtain the following information:

• Inmate’s booking number
• Location or where housed
• Next court appearance
• Bail information

For additional information on the inmate’s pretrial hearing, trial date or sentencing, go to the LA County Court Information link.

Visiting Hours

Twin Towers One

You can just show up on the following days and times set aside for visiting but it is highly advised that you schedule a visit by logging on the Inmate Visitation Scheduling System and select a time slot. You should also confirm that the inmate has visiting privileges. You can also call for inmate information at (213) 473-6100.

Arrive one hour before your scheduled visit. All personal belongings are to be stored in a locker provided in the lobby area. Be sure to have your visiting confirmation number with you.

Visiting hours at Twin Towers:
Sunday: 7:30 am to 12:45 pm and 2:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Monday: 9:30 am to 12:45 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am to 12:45 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm
Closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Saturday: 7:30 am to 12:45 pm and 2:30 pm to 3:45 pm

Visitors are accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis and are no more than 30-minutes. Inmates are only allowed one visit per visiting day, and two per week, with only 2 persons of any age permitted at any one visit. Children between the ages and 12 and 16 are permitted to visit without the accompaniment of an adult or legal guardian provided they have the prior permission of the unit commander.

Holiday visits are permitted on:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas

These days are subject to change. Call first to confirm that you may visit on these days.

Inmates are allowed one visit per visiting day with no more than 3 persons per visit, including any family members. Any visitor under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Additionally, all visitors must have a valid, government-issued photo ID which may be any of the following:

• California driver’s license
• California ID card
• US passport
• Foreign passport with supporting documents such as alien registration card or US visa
• US military card

You are not permitted to visit if you are of the following status:

• On formal probation
• Have an outstanding warrant
• Previously served time in a California state prison

You can still visit if you are on formal probation if you receive permission from the unit commander at the jail before you arrive and complete a Visiting Questionnaire for Probationers and Ex-Felons.

You are not permitted to bring anything to an inmate and you can be searched before you can visit the inmate. Be aware that your vehicle is also subject to being searched. Also, please leave the following items behind and do not bring them into the visiting lobby:

• Purses
• Cash
• Cell phones
• Pads or other writing tablets
• Camera
• Medications of any kind including over-the-counter drugs
• Recording devices
• Weapons including knives or firearms regardless if you have a license to possess one
• Tobacco items
• Cosmetics
• Health products
• Stationery
• Lighters or matches
• Hand sanitizers with alcohol

These items should be left in your vehicle or may be stored at a locker at the jail.

Do not wear revealing clothing, short skirts, tube tops, strapless tops, bare midriffs, muscle shirts or sleeveless shirts. You must have a shirt and shoes. Provocative clothing in the opinion of the staff will bar you visiting the inmate. No clothing that is suggestive of gang affiliation or is indicative of drugs or violence is allowed or your visit will be denied.

Twin Towers 2 Medical Facility

Visits at Twin Towers Two are handled differently. There are no scheduled visits for this facility and are on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to medical staff recommendations for that inmate.

For male inmates, the days and hours are:
Saturday: 7:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm
Monday: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm

How To Phone An Inmate

You cannot call an inmate. Upon booking, an inmate is permitted one free call, but all subsequent calls can only be made via collect or by use of a prepaid calling card. You should ask your phone carrier if your plan allows for collect calls or use of a card.

Inmates can purchase prepaid calling cards at the commissary or you can purchase one for them. You can assist the inmate in making calls by these methods:

1. Deposit funds in the inmates in-house bank account so he can purchase a card at the commissary
2. Purchase one yourself at the jail commissary and have it sent to the inmate via the commissary
3. Go to Global Tel Link and click on Inmate Communications Solutions or call the company at (800) 483-8314 to set up an inmate account so that he can call you or anyone else

How To Collect Or Pick Up Property

Inmates entering Twin Towers must surrender any items in their possession that are then stored. Surrender of personal property includes vehicles if the inmate was arrested while driving one or if it was involved in the commission of a crime such as burglary or transporting drugs.

All items are inventoried and stored. When the inmate is released, these items are returned to the inmate. Inmates can designate another person to collect these items for them but must have a Property Release Form, which can be obtained at the check-in window at the Wayside Jail visiting window. The forms are processed at the Inmate Reception Center. Property other than motor vehicles may be retrieved between the hours of 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. The designated individual may have to wait 24-48 hours after submitting the form before the property may be collected.

If a vehicle needs to be retrieved, you or your designate must contact the arresting agency, such as the CHP or FBI. The department will advise you of where the vehicle is located. If it has been impounded, however, it will likely not be released depending on whether it was used as evidence in a crime or if it is awaiting a search for contraband or even DNA. Vehicles are often impounded for offenses such as felony reckless evading, possession fro sale or for multiple DUI. You will need to contact an attorney regarding your options for retrieving it as it may be impounded for a specific time.

For information on inmate property, call (213) 473-6191.

Sending Mail To An Inmate

You can send unlimited correspondence to an inmate but not packages unless they come from the jail commissary or directly from a bookstore, publisher or online bookstore.

Send mail to:
Inmate’s Name and 7-digit booking number

Terminal Annex
PO Box 86164
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164

Your letters may not contain any sexually suggestive markings or artwork on the outside or that makes references to a gang.

You may not send any of the following:

• Food
• Cash
• Drugs, illegal or legal
• Stationary
• Cosmetics
• Stamps
• Blank envelopes
• Jewelry including rosary beads
• Prepaid calling cards, traveller’s checks, certified checks, blank money orders, non-US Postal money orders, money orders from outside California
• Paper clips
• Glued or gummed labels
• Balloons
• Any tape on an envelope
• Lottery tickets
• Prepaid calling cards
• Greeting cards or postcards larger than 6” x 9”
• Picture in picture photographs
• ID cards
• Photos of head shots

You may send:

• Up to 5 photographs that are a minimum of 2”x 3” and a maximum of 4” x 6”. No nude or sexually suggestive photos are permitted. No inmate may possess more than 5 photographs at a time
• 3 books or magazines per week delivered directly from a bookstore, publisher or online bookstore. Hardcover books are not permitted. No book or magazine may be sexually explicit in the opinion of the facility staff.
• Packages through the Keefe Commissary–go to the web site and order them for the inmate
• Certified checks drawn only on a California bank or credit union or an in-state US Postal Service money order. These must be made out to the inmate and contain his 7-digit booking number. No money order can be for more than $200.

No packages sent from any other source will be permitted. If you do send a controlled substance that may even be part of a legally prescribed medication, you risk prosecution.

Transferring Funds To An Inmate

You can deposit cash, certified check or money order in-person for the inmate’s in-house account at the cashier’s office at the LA Inmate Reception Center located at:

441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

For information, call the cashier’s office at (213) 893-5875. Deposits may be made 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Mailed money orders or certified checks may not exceed $200. Mail them to:

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
P.O. Box 86164 Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
Attn: Inmate Name, Booking Number

Inmate Purchases

Inmates can find a number of items at the Keefe Commissary including:

• Food
• Snacks
• Books and magazines
• Grooming items
• Prepaid calling cards
• Clothing

Safety & Medical Care

The Los Angeles Sheriffs Department’s Medical Services Bureau offers medical and mental health services that rival those of many states. It has physicians, nurses, dental staff, pharmacies, radiology and labs to serve between 15,000 and 20,000 inmates throughout the county correctional system.

Mental and Physical Health

When an inmate is brought to the Inmate Reception Center (IRC), he is given a mental health screening. If your loved one is at a local city jail, not a county jail, and you are concerned about your loved one’s condition, contact the Watch Commander and let him know that your relative has mental illness issues and describe the condition and diagnosis. You can ask that the person be transferred to the County Jail IRC if you are advised that he will not be released soon. In circumstances where your relative have severe mental health issues, you may ask that a “5150” hold be placed on the individual, which is a 3-day involuntary hold at a psychiatric facility. Be sure that the staff is aware of what medications the inmate has been taking, though you should send a fax to Mental Health Services with detailed information.

Should your relative/inmate have serious medical and/or mental health issues, consider sending a fax with the information described below to:

Mental Health Services
(213) 972-4002

If the inmate has medical issues, then also send the same fax to:

Medical Services Bureau
(213) 217-4850

Include the following information in your fax:

• Inmate’s complete name
• Birth date
• Booking number
• Facility inmate is housed in
• Diagnosis
• Name and contact information of psychiatrist
• Medications including dosage and when to be administered
• Side effects
• History of suicide or aggression with brief description of episodes
• Urgent medical conditions that may require immediate attention such as diabetes, heart problems or high blood pressure
• Name of treating physician and contact information to verify the inmate’s condition
• Ask that the inmate sign a waiver of confidentiality or you can fax one if the inmate/relative has signed a previous one

The Twin Towers is fully equipped to handle acute and severe medical and mental health issues.

Safety Issues

It is no secret that the Twin Towers Correctional Facility is a dangerous place. Along with the Men’s Central Jail, it has had documented episodes of suicide and aggression directed towards guards as well as other inmates, many of which have been instigated by guards. There have been changes made in the jail to minimize suicides and assaults including monitoring of each inmate, open viewing areas and cameras.

Inmates are classified at maximum, medium and minimum security levels and housed accordingly:

Maximum: custody levels 8 and 9. These inmates are accused of violent and sexual crimes or have a history of disciplinary problems when in custody.

Medium: custody level 5, 6 and 7. These inmates do not required a high level of security but otherwise do not qualify for minimum security.

Minimum: custody level 1,2, 3 and 4. Misdemeanants and certain felons. They have no hold on them and have displayed a degree of cooperation towards staff and adherence to the rules and regulations. They are eligible for outside work crew, work and educational release.

Jail Address & Phone Number

Twin Towers Correctional Facility is located at:

450 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Important Contact Information

General Phone: (213) 893-5100
Inmate Information: (213) 473-6100
Inmate Booking Number: (213) 893-5327
Cashier Office: (213) 473-6049
Inmate Property: (213) 893-4428
Release information: (213) 893-5347
Medical Services: (213) 974-0149
Visiting Lobby: (213) 974-4927