Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles (MDC Los Angeles) is an active federal detention facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in downtown Los Angeles, California.
MDC Los Angeles is an administrative security metropolitan detention center. Unlike a traditional federal correctional institution that primarily houses sentenced prisoners, MDC Los Angeles also holds people awaiting federal court proceedings, inmates being transferred between facilities, and other individuals in federal custody.
MDC Los Angeles Facility Information
| Facility Name | Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles |
| Common Name | MDC Los Angeles |
| Facility Type | Administrative Security Metropolitan Detention Center |
| Operator | Federal Bureau of Prisons |
| Inmate Gender | Male and Female |
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Federal Judicial District | Central District of California |
| BOP Region | Western Region |
| Status | Active |
MDC Los Angeles Address
Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles
535 N Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-485-0439
Fax: 213-253-9510
MDC Los Angeles is located in downtown Los Angeles near the federal courthouse complex and the Roybal Federal Building and Courthouse.
How to Find an Inmate at MDC Los Angeles
Because MDC Los Angeles is a detention and transfer facility, a person’s location may change during a federal criminal case or while the person is being transferred through the Bureau of Prisons system.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator can be used to search for a federal inmate by name or BOP Register Number.
A BOP Register Number is especially useful when several people have similar or identical names.
Important: An older record connecting a person with MDC Los Angeles does not establish that the person is still housed there.
Our historical database also contains inmate and release records associated with this facility:
Browse MDC Los Angeles inmate and release records →
Who Is Held at MDC Los Angeles?
MDC Los Angeles houses both male and female federal inmates and detainees. The population can include people awaiting trial or other federal court proceedings, people awaiting sentencing, inmates temporarily held while being transferred, and some people already serving federal sentences.
This means the population of MDC Los Angeles changes more frequently than the population of many traditional federal prisons.
MDC Los Angeles Inmate Population
The number of people housed at MDC Los Angeles changes regularly as detainees are admitted, released, sentenced, or transferred.
For that reason, a fixed inmate population number can quickly become outdated. Current population figures should be checked through the Federal Bureau of Prisons rather than relying on an older number published on a facility information page.
Visiting an Inmate at MDC Los Angeles
Visits at MDC Los Angeles are governed by Federal Bureau of Prisons visiting regulations and facility-specific procedures.
Before traveling to the facility, visitors should confirm that the person is currently housed at MDC Los Angeles and review the current BOP visiting information. Visiting schedules can change, and visits may be restricted or canceled because of security, operational, or other facility conditions.
Visitors may also need to be approved before visiting an inmate. Identification and other visitor requirements should be confirmed with the Bureau of Prisons before the visit.
Sending Mail to an MDC Los Angeles Inmate
When sending correspondence to a federal inmate, the inmate’s full committed name and BOP Register Number should be used so that the mail can be correctly identified.
Before mailing correspondence, verify that the person is still housed at MDC Los Angeles. An inmate may have been transferred even when older records continue to associate the person with this facility.
Current mailing requirements and restrictions should be checked through the Federal Bureau of Prisons before sending correspondence or packages.
Sending Money to a Federal Inmate
Money for federal inmates should not simply be mailed to the street address of MDC Los Angeles.
The Bureau of Prisons uses designated procedures for depositing money into an inmate’s account. Because payment methods and processing instructions can change, senders should use the current instructions published by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
MDC Los Angeles and the Federal Courts
One reason for the facility’s downtown location is its role in federal pretrial detention. MDC Los Angeles is located near the federal courthouse complex and houses people involved in proceedings in the Central District of California.
Some people may remain at MDC Los Angeles only temporarily. After sentencing, they may be designated and transferred to another federal correctional institution.
Was an Inmate Transferred From MDC Los Angeles?
A person who previously appeared in records for MDC Los Angeles may later be housed somewhere else in the federal prison system.
This can occur after sentencing, during transfers between institutions, for court appearances, for medical or administrative reasons, or as part of routine Bureau of Prisons placement decisions.
For that reason, use current federal inmate information when trying to determine where someone is housed today.
MDC Los Angeles Inmate Records
Our separate inmate-record page contains historical records associated with MDC Los Angeles, including names, BOP Register Numbers, and available release information.
Search MDC Los Angeles inmate and release records →
You can also use our California jail and inmate records search to find additional California correctional records.
Facility procedures, inmate locations, visiting schedules, mailing requirements, and custody information can change. Verify time-sensitive information with the Federal Bureau of Prisons before visiting, sending mail, or relying on an inmate’s reported location.