Los Angeles Police Department · Custody Services Division
LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center Inmate Search & Information
If someone may be held at LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center, submit an inmate inquiry for help locating them and checking available booking and custody information. MDC is an LAPD-operated facility — it is separate from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department facilities and from the federal Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles.
Facility Contact
180 North Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Operator
Los Angeles Police Department
Division
Custody Services Division
Hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Find an Inmate
Submit an inquiry for help locating someone who may be held at LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center and checking available booking and custody information. Provide the person's full legal name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date.
Records for recent bookings may not be immediately available. If you need immediate assistance, contact LAPD MDC directly at (213) 356-3400.
Submit an MDC Inmate InquiryNot the federal Metropolitan Detention Center
LAPD MDC is not the same as the federal Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles (MDC Los Angeles), which is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility. Confirm the arresting agency before contacting a facility.
Information to Prepare
Having the following details ready will help with any inquiry or contact with the facility.
- Full legal name of the person (first, middle, last)
- Date of birth
- Approximate arrest date and time
- Arresting LAPD division if known
- Booking number if one has been provided
- Any known charges or case number
Booking and custody at LAPD MDC
LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center is operated by the Los Angeles Police Department's Custody Services Division and serves as a central booking and short-term custody facility for LAPD. Individuals arrested by LAPD in the City of Los Angeles may be transported to MDC for booking and processing.
Booking involves identification, fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening, property inventory, and charge entry. This process takes time, and a record may not be immediately available after an arrest. A person may be held at MDC pending arraignment, released on bail or citation, or transferred to a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department facility depending on the charges and circumstances.
Why a record may not appear immediately
Records for recent bookings at LAPD MDC may not be immediately available for several reasons: booking may still be in progress, the person may have been released, the person may have been transferred to another facility, or the name entered may not match the booking record exactly.
If no record appears, verify the spelling of the legal name and date of birth, confirm the arresting agency, and try again after several hours. Contact LAPD MDC directly at (213) 356-3400 for guidance about a very recent arrest.
Local LAPD custody versus county transfer
An LAPD arrest does not establish that someone is currently at MDC or any other specific LAPD facility. After booking, a person may be released, held at MDC, transferred to another LAPD facility, or transferred into Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department custody at a county facility such as Men's Central Jail or Twin Towers Correctional Facility.
Transfer timing varies and is not immediate. If the person has been transferred to county custody, the LASD inmate locator may reflect a county custody record. If no record appears in either system, contact the arresting LAPD division or MDC directly.
LAPD MDC versus the federal MDC Los Angeles
LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center (180 N. Los Angeles Street) is an LAPD-operated local jail facility. It is entirely separate from the federal Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles, which is a Bureau of Prisons facility located in the Westlake neighborhood and holds federal pretrial detainees.
If someone was arrested by federal agents or charged with a federal offense, they would not be held at the LAPD MDC. Contact the Bureau of Prisons or the relevant federal agency for information about federal custody.
Related Resources
LAPD Custody Resources
LA County Custody Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center?
LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) is a jail facility operated by the Los Angeles Police Department's Custody Services Division, located at 180 North Los Angeles Street in downtown Los Angeles. It serves as a central booking and short-term custody facility for LAPD.
Is LAPD MDC the same as the federal Metropolitan Detention Center?
No. LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center at 180 N. Los Angeles Street is an LAPD-operated local jail. The federal Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles (MDC Los Angeles) is a separate Bureau of Prisons facility that holds federal pretrial detainees. They are different facilities operated by different agencies.
How do I find someone who may be held at LAPD MDC?
Submit an inmate inquiry for help locating someone who may be held at LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center. You can also contact the facility directly at (213) 356-3400. Have the person's full legal name, date of birth, and approximate arrest date ready.
Why is a recently arrested person not showing up?
Records for recent bookings may not be immediately available while booking is still in progress. Identification, fingerprinting, medical screening, and charge entry all take time. If no record appears, verify the name spelling and date of birth, then contact LAPD MDC at (213) 356-3400 for current guidance.
Can someone arrested by LAPD be transferred to county custody?
Yes. After booking at an LAPD facility, a person may be transferred to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department custody at a county facility such as Men's Central Jail or Twin Towers Correctional Facility. Transfer timing varies and depends on the charges and circumstances.
How do I confirm where someone is being held before visiting?
Contact LAPD MDC at (213) 356-3400 to confirm whether the person is currently held there before making a visit. Visiting procedures and schedules are subject to change; verify current visiting information directly with the facility.
What information do I need to locate someone at LAPD MDC?
Have the person's full legal name, date of birth, approximate arrest date and time, and booking number if available. The arresting LAPD division, if known, can also help narrow down the custody location.
What is the phone number for LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center?
The phone number for LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center is (213) 356-3400. The facility is operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Need Help Locating Someone at LAPD MDC?
Submit an inquiry for help locating someone who may be held at LAPD Metropolitan Detention Center and checking available booking and custody information.