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San Diego County Custody
George F. Bailey Detention Facility
Maximum security in Otay Mesa, capacity 1,380 — the largest facility in the San Diego County jail system, and one of four sharing 446 Alta Road.
Table Of Contents
Facility Overview
What George Bailey actually is, and what happens there.
Hours & Visiting
The countywide visiting policy and the numbers that reach a person.
Reviews
What San Diego County families say after the bond was posted.
Bail Options & Charges We Handle
All 19 California charge pages and all 9 payment structures.
Booking & Custody Process
The real sequence from arrest to release.
How To Post Bail Here
The statutes behind the number, and what we confirm first.
Nearby Courthouses
Where the case is heard once someone is in custody.
Which Cities Route Here
Every San Diego County city and community page.
Related Facilities
The other San Diego County custody facilities.
Facility FAQs
The questions families ask most about this facility.
George F. Bailey Detention Facility — The County's Largest Facility
George F. Bailey Detention Facility is the largest facility in the entire San Diego County jail system — maximum security, a capacity of 1,380 inmates, located in Otay Mesa. Construction was completed in 1991 and the facility was fully operational by 1994.
Real, important detail: this facility shares its 446 Alta Road address with three others in the Otay Mesa complex — George Bailey, East Mesa, Rock Mountain, and South Bay/Detention Facility 8 are separated only by suite number. Confirm the suite, not just the street address, before assuming a family member is held here specifically.
Practically, that means “he's at 446 Alta Road” is not enough information to schedule a visit or file a bond. Suite 5300 is George Bailey; 5200 is East Mesa; 5400 is Rock Mountain. South Bay/Detention Facility 8 is also listed at Suite 5300, which is a discrepancy we flag rather than smooth over.
At A Glance
- Security Level
- Maximum security.
- Capacity
- 1,380 — the largest facility in the county system.
- Opened
- Construction completed 1991; fully operational by 1994.
- Complex
- 446 Alta Road, Otay Mesa — shared with East Mesa, Rock Mountain, and South Bay.
- Check-In
- 60-minute advance check-in required for in-person visits.
Hours & Visiting
In-Person Visiting
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM — differs from the general county range. Reconfirm current hours before traveling.
Video Visits (eVisit)
Wednesday – Sunday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM, through the Sheriff's Who's In Jail system.
In-Person Reservations
Wednesday – Sunday, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM by phone at (619) 409-5000.
Booking & Release
Booking and release happen 24 hours a day, every day, including weekends and holidays.
Contact
- Facility Line: (619) 210-0385
- Central Custody Line: (619) 409-5000 (select the facility option)
- 446 Alta Rd, Ste 5300, San Diego, CA 92158
- Video visits run through the Sheriff's “Who's In Jail” eVisit system, Wednesday through Sunday, 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
- In-person visit reservations are made by phone at (619) 409-5000, Wednesday through Sunday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM.
- All visits — video or in person — must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance. There is no same-day scheduling.
- Visitors under 18 must be accompanied by a qualified adult with valid photo identification.
- A 60-minute advance check-in is required at this facility — arriving at the reservation time itself is too late.
What We Have Not Confirmed
- — George Bailey's in-person visiting hours of 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM should be reconfirmed as current with the Sheriff's Office before you travel.
- — The courthouse assignment for cases held at this facility.
- — Whether South Bay/Detention Facility 8 genuinely occupies the same Suite 5300 as George Bailey, or whether that is a data error repeated across secondary sources.
Official Sources
Everything above traces to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office directly. We do not treat third-party jail directories as a source of record for an address or a policy.
What Families Say
“They figured out which building on Alta Road my husband was actually in before I drove down there. I would have gone to the wrong one.”
Marisol R. · San Diego County, CA
“Called after midnight and someone picked up who knew the booking process. Straight numbers, no pressure, everything signed from my phone.”
Devon T. · San Diego County, CA
“They wrote down the next court date and explained what happens if it's missed. Nobody else took the time to do that.”
Angela P. · San Diego County, CA
Bail Options & Charges We Handle
California bail premiums are set by the rate filed with the Department of Insurance under Insurance Code §1800 and run 10% of the face amount of the bond. Qualifying cosigners can start as low as 1% down on a written payment plan.
| Bail Amount | 10% Premium | As Low As 1% Down |
|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $500 | $50 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 | $100 |
| $25,000 | $2,500 | $250 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 | $500 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $250,000 | $25,000 | $2,500 |
California Charge Pages
DUI / DWI Bail Bonds
24-hour bail for drunk-driving arrests under Vehicle Code §23152.
Domestic Violence Bail Bonds
Bail and protective-order guidance for PC §273.5 and §243(e)(1) cases.
Drug Possession & Drug Charge Bail Bonds
Bail for possession, sales, trafficking, and prescription-related cases.
Theft Bail Bonds
Bail for petty theft, grand theft, shoplifting, and receipt of stolen property.
Burglary Bail Bonds
Bail for first-degree, second-degree, and auto burglary under PC §459.
Robbery Bail Bonds
Bail for armed and unarmed robbery charges under PC §211.
Warrant Bail Bonds
Clear bench warrants and arrest warrants fast without unnecessary jail time.
Elder Abuse Bail Bonds
Bail for financial, physical, or neglect-based elder abuse charges.
Manslaughter Bail Bonds
Bail for voluntary, involuntary, and vehicular manslaughter under PC §192.
Murder Charge Bail Bonds
Bail for first-degree and second-degree murder charges under PC §187.
Misdemeanor Bail Bonds
Bail for misdemeanors with quick release and flexible payment plans.
Felony Bail Bonds
Bail for felony charges and serious criminal allegations.
Traffic & Vehicle Code Bail Bonds
Bail for reckless driving, hit-and-run, and suspended-license arrests.
Assault & Battery Bail Bonds
Bail for simple battery, assault, and aggravated assault cases.
Failure To Appear (FTA) Bail Bonds
Bail for FTA warrants and missed court dates.
Probation Violation Bail Bonds
Bail for technical and substantive probation violations.
Weapons Charge Bail Bonds
Bail for illegal firearm, concealed carry, and weapons allegations.
Federal Charge Bail Bonds
Bail for federal court charges and pretrial release.
Immigration Bonds
Bonds for ICE detainers and immigration court proceedings.
Payment & Financing Options
1% Bail Bonds
Start the bail process for a fraction of the standard premium.
2% Bail Bonds
Low down-payment option for qualified cosigners and collateral.
24-Hour Bail Bonds
Bonds posted any time, day or night, including weekends and holidays.
Affordable Bail Bonds
Payment plans designed to fit most budgets and credit profiles.
Cosigner Bail Bonds
Use a qualified cosigner to strengthen the application and lower upfront cost.
No-Collateral Bail Bonds
Signature-release options when qualifying employment and residence criteria are met.
No Money Down Bail Bonds
Deferred-down arrangements that let release move forward immediately.
Online Bail Bonds
Complete paperwork, payment, and signatures digitally from any location.
1275 Hold Bail Bonds
Specialized bonds for PC 1275 holds requiring a source-of-funds hearing.
Booking & Custody Process
George Bailey is rarely the first stop. Most people arrive here after intake and classification elsewhere, which is why the facility on the booking record can change within a day of an arrest.
Booked Elsewhere First
Male arrestees are typically booked at San Diego Central Jail downtown before any transfer to Otay Mesa.
Classification
Charge severity, history, and housing needs determine placement. Maximum-security classification points here.
Transfer To Otay Mesa
The drive out to 446 Alta Road puts a person roughly 20 miles south of downtown — a real factor for families.
Bail Amount Confirmed
The Penal Code §1269b schedule amount set at booking carries over; a judge can change it at arraignment.
Bond Filed At This Facility
The bond must be filed where the person physically is. For George Bailey that means Suite 5300, not just the street address.
Release Processing
Release timing depends on facility volume and shift, not on how the bond was paid.
How To Post Bail At George F. Bailey Detention Facility
Give us a full legal name and date of birth and we confirm the exact facility, the suite, and the current bail amount before posting. On the Alta Road complex, confirming the suite is the difference between a release and a wasted trip.
Bail Is Set At Booking
Under Penal Code §1269b, the county bail schedule fixes an amount at booking, before anyone sees a judge. That is the figure the bond is written against.
Penal Code §1269bThe Court Can Change It
Penal Code §1270.1 requires a hearing before release on certain serious charges, and a judge can raise, lower, or attach conditions at arraignment.
Penal Code §1270.1The Premium Is Regulated
Insurance Code §1800 governs bail premiums in California — 10% of the bond, with as low as 1% down for qualifying cosigners on a written plan.
Insurance Code §1800Before Anything Is Signed
Give us a full legal name and date of birth and we confirm the exact facility and the current bail amount before posting. In San Diego County that includes confirming the suite number on the Otay Mesa complex, where four facilities share one street address. The Sheriff's Office does not recommend or direct families to any bail agent — that choice is yours.
Nearby Courthouses
We have not confirmed the courthouse assignment for this facility against an official San Diego Superior Court source, so we are not publishing one. Courthouse assignments for San Diego County are being handled as their own dedicated research tier, exactly as they were in Los Angeles and Orange County. Call us and we will confirm the actual court date and location on the booking record.
Which Cities Route Here
Arrests across San Diego County — from Sheriff's contract cities, independent city police departments, and unincorporated communities alike — route into this same county custody system. Each city page below covers the arresting agency and what is specific to that jurisdiction.
George F. Bailey Detention Facility Bail FAQs
Why do four facilities share one address?
The Otay Mesa complex at 446 Alta Road houses George Bailey, East Mesa, Rock Mountain, and South Bay/Detention Facility 8. They are separated by suite number, and their populations, programs, and visiting logistics are genuinely different. The suite number is what identifies where someone is.
How big is George Bailey?
It has a capacity of 1,380, making it the largest facility in the San Diego County jail system. Construction was completed in 1991 and it was fully operational by 1994.
What are the in-person visiting hours?
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, which differs from the county's general reservation range. A 60-minute advance check-in is also required here. Reconfirm both with the Sheriff's Office before traveling, and remember every visit still needs 24-hour advance scheduling.
Can I post bail 24 hours a day at George Bailey?
Yes. Bail can be posted at any hour once booking is complete and an amount is set, including weekends and holidays. Visiting is the part with a schedule; bonding is not.
How far is the facility from downtown San Diego?
Otay Mesa is roughly 20 miles south of downtown, near the border. If a person was transferred there from Central Jail, plan the drive rather than assuming they are still downtown.
Is South Bay Detention Facility the same building?
Sources list South Bay/Detention Facility 8 at the same 446 Alta Road, Suite 5300 as George Bailey. We have not confirmed directly with the Sheriff's Office whether that is a genuine shared suite or a propagated data error, so we flag it rather than state it as settled.
Talk To A Licensed Agent Right Now
We answer around the clock, we confirm which facility is actually holding your person before anyone drives, and we put the next court date in writing.