The Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) in Washington, District of Columbia is a municipal law enforcement agency. Officers patrol the city, respond to calls, investigate crimes, and make arrests within Washington's jurisdiction. Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) does not operate a long-term jail. Arrestees may be held briefly in a Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) holding cell or booking room, typically only for the few hours required to complete initial processing, before being transferred to the DC County jail for arraignment and longer-term housing. If you're trying to locate or contact someone just arrested in Washington, the destination within hours of arrest is almost always the county jail, not Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail).
Police department holding is short-term by design. Most arrestees brought to Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) are held only long enough for fingerprints, photographs, an inventory of personal property, and entry into the booking system. Holding can last a few hours to roughly 24 hours, depending on the time of arrest, court schedules, and intake capacity at the receiving jail. Late-night and weekend arrests often sit longer because court arraignments are limited to business hours and the transfer van may not run until morning. During this window, visitors are not permitted and phone calls may not yet be available.
After initial processing at Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail), arrestees are transferred to the DC County jail. The county jail handles longer-term pretrial detention, arraignment scheduling, bond intake, and any sentenced time served locally. Once the transfer is complete, the arrestee shows up in the county jail's inmate roster, becomes available for phone calls under the jail's contracted provider, and follows the county jail's visitation rules. To find the arrestee after transfer, use the InmateAid inmate search and look for the DC County jail record. The county jail's facility page on InmateAid covers visitation, phone discount setup, and money transfer options once your person is in their system.
Arrestees at Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) may or may not receive a phone call during the brief holding period. Most jurisdictions allow at least one call after booking, but the timing depends on staffing, processing volume, and whether the call happens at Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) or after transfer to the county jail. The call is typically routed through the facility's contracted phone provider as a collect call or via a prepaid account. To make sure you don't miss the first call when it comes through, set up a prepaid account in advance through InmateAid's discount calling service.
Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) does not set bail. Bail is set by a judge at arraignment, which usually happens at the county courthouse after transfer to the DC County jail. Minor misdemeanor arrests may qualify for cite-and-release at the scene or station-house release after booking at Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail), in which case the arrestee is released without ever going to county jail. Felony arrests and serious misdemeanors almost always go to the county jail to wait for arraignment, which can take hours, overnight, or until the next business day depending on when the arrest occurred. For specific bond information, contact the receiving county jail.
There is no visitation at Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) because the holding period is too short and the facility is not built for visitors. Once the arrestee is transferred to the DC County jail, that facility's visitation rules apply, including approved visitor lists, scheduled visiting hours, ID requirements, and dress codes. To find the receiving facility and its visitation rules, search for the DC County jail through the InmateAid inmate search and review the visitation section on that facility's page.
To confirm whether someone is still at Central Detention Facility (CDF/DC Jail) or has been transferred to the county jail, call 202-673-7316.
The new Video Visitation Center (VVC) is now open and located behind the Correctional Treatment Facility (1901 E Street, SE, Washington, DC 20009), on the ground level of The READY Center.
All visits will continue to be scheduled via the Internet or by calling 1 (888) 906-6394 or (202) 442-6155 (Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am-5 pm).
Social visits at the DC Jail are conducted at the Department’s Video Visitation Center, located at the DC General Hospital complex (adjacent to the jail), and in select community visitation locations. Visits may be scheduled via the Internet or by calling 1 (888) 906-6394 or (202) 442-6155 (Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am-5 pm). Visits are conducted Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 11 am and ending at 10 pm. The last session begins at 9 pm. Visitation hours at the community locations differ. Please see below for visitation hours for each satellite location. DOC encourages all visitors to arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled visit. Visits must start on time and are automatically cancelled if visitors arrive late.
Effective Wednesday, September 12, 2012, inmates are allowed two (2) 45-minute social visits per week--visits are free and by appointment only. However, One adult and up to two minor children (under the age of 18) may enter the video visitation room to visit, effective November 6, 2012. Additional minor children may be rotated in during the forty-five (45) minute visitation period as long as they are supervised by an adult while in the waiting area.
Note 1: At all times, minor children entering the VVC and satellite locations must be supervised by an adult.
Note 2: Media interviews with inmates shall not be conducted at the Video Visitation Center under the guise of a social visit---media requests for inmate interviews should be forwarded to the Office of Government and Public Affairs for review and appropriate action.
Satellite Locations and Hours
Anacostia Library, 1800 Good Hope Rd SE, Washington, DC 20020 – Visits are conducted Thursdays and Sundays 2 to 4pm.
Bald Eagle Recreation Center, 100 Joliet St SW, Washington, DC 20032 – Visits are conducted Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11am to 3pm.
Martin Luther King Library, 901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 – Visits are conducted Thursdays from 2 pm to 8 pm and Fridays/Sundays from 2 pm – 5 pm.
Capitol View Neighborhood Library, 5001 Central Ave SE, Washington, DC 20019
About Face to Face Visitation
The D.C. Department of Corrections offers visitation for the families and loved ones of those incarcerated in our facilities. Most social visits for inmates housed at the D.C. Jail are conducted through video visitation. However, as an incentive for positive behavior, face to face visitation is now available for eligible inmates. This program began on June 22, 2015.