With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA jails expect surge of visitors over holiday
Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles.
(
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
)
Listen
0:53
LA jails expect surge of visitors over holiday
The holidays bring more visitors to local jails, said officials. But most inmates will spend Christmas without seeing loved ones.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials expect a surge of visitors to the jails over the next few days, as family members visit locked up loved ones during the holidays.
“There’s definitely an increase,” said Sheriff’s Captain Joe Dempsey, who oversees operations at Men’s Central Jail in downtown. “Christmas we usually run about 500 people visiting and then it will get busier through Saturday and Sunday.”
He expects as many as 800 visitors each day Saturday and Sunday. But that still means only a fraction of the more than 4,000 inmates at Men’s Central will get a visitor.
“I think its various reasons – whether they don’t have family in the area or they’re not in touch with their family anymore,” Dempsey said.
Sponsored message
Even though it might be a tough time to be behind bars, where there are no Christmas trees or stockings or brightly wrapped gifts, the jails are usually quiet during the holidays, said Dempsey.
“There’s not a whole lot of tension – not at all," he said.
On Friday, Roman Catholic Bishop Jose Gomez will conduct Mass inside the downtown lockup. Jail chaplains from other Christian denominations will also hold Christmas Day services at Men’s Central Jail and other jail facilities in the county.
Here’s a list of the visiting times.
Men’s Central Jail (MJC)
- Christmas: 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
- Weekend: 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Century Regional Detention Facility (CDRF)
- Christmas: 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
- Weekend: 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF)
- Christmas: 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Weekend: 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Pitchess Detention Center
- Christmas 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Weekend 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
