A Simple Guide to the Women’s Central Jail Santa Ana

An overhead view of downtown Santa Ana.

Summary: 

Women’s Central Jail Santa Ana Guide 

The Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana houses female pre-trial detainees and convicted inmates. Learn how to contact inmates, perform inmate searches, and provide commissary funds. Bail services can help eligible detainees secure release during pre-trial detention. 

Main Points: 

  • Facility Overview: Houses 386 female inmates, including pre-trial and convicted individuals. 
  • Inmate Communication: Options include phone, video calls, letters, and in-person visits. 
  • Inmate Search: Use the Orange County Sheriff’s online database after creating an account. 
  • Bail Assistance: Eligible detainees can work with bail services to secure pre-trial release. 


In Orange County, some women who are accused of crimes and some women serving sentences after a criminal conviction in the county court system are housed at the Central Women’s Jail in Santa Ana. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department oversees the operations of this facility.  

Suppose you have a friend or a family member currently housed in the Santa Ana Women’s Jail and don’t have experience with the county legal system. In that case, you probably have questions about this facility. 

Bail Hotline is here to help you with this simple guide to the Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana. Find helpful information here, from basic facts about the jail to the Central Women’s Jail in Santa Ana’s phone number and links to the jail’s inmate search tool. 

Looking for more information about how to help a friend or family member who’s been placed in pre-trial detention make bail and gain their release? Learn more about co-signing on a bail bond or reach out to the bail bond experts at our Orange County office. 

What is the Santa Ana Women’s Jail?

Santa Ana Women’s Jail in Orange County, California, formally known as the Central Women’s Jail, is the primary jail facility in the county that houses women. It is a separate building that is part of a larger complex formed with the Central Men’s Jail, which serves the same purpose for male pre-trial detainees and prisoners. 

The James A. Musick Facility and Theo Lacy Facility can or do also house women in pre-trial detention. The county’s Intake Release Center also houses women who are being processed into or released from the county jail system, as the Orange County Sheriff’s Department explains. 

The Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana houses women who are in pre-trial detention. These are people who are accused but not yet convicted of a crime (and may or may not have past court records or criminal history) and are viewed as innocent in the eyes of the law.  

Many inmates can be released from this form of custody by paying their bail amount or working with a local bail bond service in Orange County to do so. Inmates who do not post bail remain in custody during their court dates and trial. 

The facility also houses women who have been convicted of crimes and are serving their sentences. 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office explains that the facility houses a total of 386 inmates from both groups. That’s less than one-third of the total number of male inmates, 1,428 in all. 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana

Now that we’ve covered the basic info about the Santa Ana Women’s Central Jail, let’s take a closer look at some of the specific questions people tend to have about this facility. 

What is the Santa Ana Women’s Jail Phone Number?

Need to reach the Central Women’s Jail in Santa Ana by phone? Simply call Central Women’s Jail Santa Ana phone number: 714-647-4666. 

How Do You Look Up an Inmate in the Santa Ana, CA Women’s Central Jail? 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department maintains an online database of all inmates currently housed in its facilities. That makes it easy to complete a Santa Ana Women’s Jail inmate search no matter where you’re located or the time of day. 

The only major step that’s needed is to create a free account with the department before starting a search. Create that account and then search for inmates in the Orange County jail system, including the Santa Ana Women’s Central Jail. 

How Do You Communicate with Someone in the Santa Ana Women’s Central Jail? 

Generally, there are four main ways in which you can communicate with an inmate in the Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana: phone calls, video visitations, in-person visitations, and letters sent to the facility where an inmate is housed. 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers detailed guidelines for each of these options on its website via the Communicate With an Inmate page.  

Keep in mind that you may need to create an account (such as for video calls) or follow specific rules about the format and physical contents of messages (such as for mail). However, these options allow friends and family members to remain in touch with both inmates serving sentences and people held in pre-trial detention. 

An aerial view of Santa Ana’s urban core.

How do You Put Money on Books in Orange County Jails? 

Putting money on the book is a common phrase used to describe giving inmates in jails and prisons funds that can be used at the prison commissary. 

These commissary stores, located within prisons and jails, offer food, personal hygiene items, writing supplies, small electronics, and more to inmates. They can provide snacks and entertainment as well as make it easier for inmates to communicate with the outside world with writing supplies. 

In the Orange County jail system, friends and family members can make deposits to inmate accounts with money orders, government checks, or currency (cash). Depending on what is used, deposits can be mailed to the jail cashier or deposited in person. 

There are a wide range of rules and restrictions involved in putting money on books for inmates. Check out the guidelines from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to learn more and start the process. 

Helping Yourself, a Loved One, or Friend in the Women’s Central Jail in Santa Ana

Many women housed in pre-trial detention in the Santa Ana Women’s Central Jail do not need to remain in the facility. If a woman is allowed to post bail, they can exit the facility and return to their normal, everyday life before and during the trial process. 

My Bail Hotline is dedicated to helping people in Orange County and across California post bail and exit pre-trial custody. Get in touch with our local office in Santa Ana to start the process! 

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