It's run by the San Diego Sheriff's Dept which seems to be perpetually understaffed. I received an unwelcome/threatening phone call from an inmate here and when I called to learn how I could get a copy of the recorded call, the staff said they'd call me back and never responded after making several follow up calls. The website is also a bit confusing- old phone numbers and a bit clunky to use. I think that good use of technology could easily solve many of their issues. read more

Having a loved one incarcerated is already an emotionally difficult experience, and the customer service at the George Bailey facility has unfortunately added additional stress during my attempts to schedule visits. Over the past several months, I have repeatedly encountered issues with two receptionists, Rachel and Stephanie, when calling to book visits. On multiple occasions, I was told that visits must be scheduled online, and at one point I was even refused phone assistance entirely -- despite the automated phone system clearly offering an option to schedule visits by phone. One visit was also booked under the wrong inmate, which caused confusion and resulted in me being told I could not attend due to a lockdown. Thankfully, another staff member took the time to look into the situation, discovered the mistake, and corrected it. According to the system records, the incorrect booking had been made by Rachel. When I arrived at the facility afterward, I shared my concerns with the manager. He confirmed that phone scheduling is allowed and assured me he would address the issue with staff. During this conversation, a staff member inside the office -- who I believe was either Rachel or Stephanie, though they do not wear name tags -- watched and glared at me throughout the interaction, which felt unprofessional and unnecessary. Unfortunately, this behavior has continued. On a later visit, the same staff member stared at me again as I checked in with another employee. As I walked away to sit down, she stood up and asked loudly, "Can I help you with something?" even though I had already completed check-in. I responded politely, but the repeated hostility has made an already difficult situation far more stressful than it needs to be. I am certain I am not the only person who has experienced this. Families who are already going through a challenging time deserve to be treated with professionalism, respect, and basic courtesy. I hope the facility will take steps to ensure more compassionate and consistent customer service moving forward. read more

My son was recently transferred from another facility to George Bailey to be transferred to Wasco. He was told what he could take with me and the rest we picked up instead when he got to George Bailey he was put into the hole and all his pictures and a journal were thrown away,he and other inmates were there for over a day and never fed or even checked on. This is unexceptable and I will be making a formal complaint. read more

Completely unprofessional, couldn't find one staff member without an attitude. They were very disrespectful with a better than you mindset

The staff was the WORST... I have been here many times over the past 10yrs and have never had a problem requesting property from an inmate. Usually take a hr or too from the time of request which I have no problem wait.. In this instance I tried to request property from a Teller by the name of Sherri. She was not helpful at all, she denied me the property saying the Defendant had to sign days before...Unless things have changed I know this is not the CASE. Knowing it still would takes a few days she still denied my request for the property...When asked if a Supervisor was available then was told Angel was not here. after I had told her I was going to write a complaint I received a call from George Bailey an hour later saying my property was ready What a coincidence... Definitely disappointed in the service at George Bailey Detention center this trip... read more

George Bailey Detention Facility - Jails & Prisons Near Me - San Diego, California

They need to fire that lady name Miriam!!!!!! She always has an attitude and doesn't like to confirm the first names and when you ask to confirm it she says you gave me the booking number right?!! Like you're the same lady that booked me with a different inmate with the same last name of my spouse with my spouse booking number?!!!!! So why are you acting dumb for! I know you know who I am I call everyday to book a video visit and you always pick up with an attitude. read more

This place needs to be looked into fast! Whistle Blower Inmates are Hungry , they are dirty, and not given their PIN number to call their loved ones ( at least some of the sheriffs pick who they don't give it to) they don't wear their badge with names either so it's harder to pin point who it was. Out of state inmates are treated with no rights as well. Sheriff's need to be looked into. There is no toilet paper given in the cells.. there is pee and poop all over the floors and inmates step all over it do to backflow of the toilets. Inmates watch over each other and hide food to make sure other inmates have eaten . The front ppl that answer phones need to be fired! They give false info or not correct info to family members calling for their loved ones. Government or someone in charge of them sheriffs NEED to remove bad seeds from here I recommend you lawyer up if your loved ones are here . read more

Nothing is great about going to visit a jail. staff are not very friendly. They act like they're the ones that are incarcerated. The bathrooms are ghetto. read more

Did an extended stay here once, not very clean, lots of over crowding and the food was usually cold. Thin blankets and there aren't even any pillows! Definitely best to vacation elsewhere. read more

Been here once on a jail bus tour of San Diego visiting all the jails around the county on a content charge. One thing, Warden is an inmate title for top-prisoner keeping hierarchy together with all his Trustees and all his fellow inmates according to law and order of the U.S. Government. There is also a Warden Cadet in Juvenile Detention. "Don't lose it." read more

The service quality was truly exceptional. Those staff in front has the best customer service. Thank you for making my visit easy and stress free. read more

Front desk workers take VERY long to answer calls and will lie about available visiting times. You can be on hold for an hour and then literally hear them answer the call and hang it up. Why work as a receptionist if you don't like dealing with people? Bathrooms are always filthy and hardly ever have toilet paper. Visiting rooms are even worse! I know not to expect much from a jail but also can't believe how neglected the whole place is. read more

The staff at this facility are nothing but a bunch of LIARS! They treat the inmates and their loved ones like inhumane trash. They lie about the video visit schedules, they don't alway deliver commissary to your inmate and then they give this whole song and dance how they have no control over the commissary and don't know how to get your money back. Nobody ever has an accurate answer. The place is a joke! And far too many inmates overdosing. Get your $hit together over there!!!!! read more

Today I drove a mama to visit her young son recently assigned to George Bailey. I chose not to go in, but rather wait in the vehicle for her visit. I find that the security personnel are very proactive in their duties. I was very nicely approached and asked for my ID as I was waiting in my car. They explained that waiting in the car was suspicious as it may be that perhaps legal reasons prevented me from entering. They checked out my ID, apologized and returned it. I watched as they had one woman remove herself from her car, throughly search the car with 3 officers, then allowed her to return to it and leave. Now I am observing their canine search of the parking lot through all the empty, parked vehicles. So while the visitors are inside, the officers are going from car to car with a dog. I must admit, I do think it would be foolish to bring drugs to a facility such as this, yet I am somewhat amazed at their diligent efforts to find someone not abiding by the law. I suppose those that pay these officers will be happy to hear that they are about their business. read more

WHO oversees prisons and detention centers? They should be fired, or relieved of duty immediately. The facility is FILTHY both on the visitor AND inmate sides. It is no wonder that cell phones are not allowed inside by visitors, or we could take photos for evidence of the unsanitary conditions. The bathrooms, waiting rooms and visiting booths are black with filth on every surface- toilets, sinks, chairs, floors littered with trash and dirt, the glass windows at visiting are disgusting with fingerprints/lip marks, etc., the counters are filthy & the phones have a black film of dirt/sweat that is sticky to the touch. GOOD LUCK finding any hand cleaner, much less soap or toilet paper/paper towels. I have visited numerous weeks and it progressively gets worse, as more people are shuttled through. I assure you it has not been cleaned week after week. Inside the inmates are locked up routinely 20+ hours/day in their CELLS. Yard time is either too early & COLD or in the late afternoon the following day (in a heat wave it is in the 90"s.... and no shade/asphalt).... IF yet another lockdown even allows it. The largest detention center in SD, its capacity is SUPPOSED to be 1,450 and yet it is ALWAYS overcapacity up to 1750 crammed in like sheep on top of each other. HOW is that possible? Cells are 5X8 with up to three bunks/inmates a toilet with a sink attached (can we say unacceptable?). There is NO mirror, so when an inmate is given a razor to shave at 2AM, they are doing it DRY and without a mirror for the few minutes before they are collected. Haircuts? Moths go by without that luxury and daily showers apparently that is NOT a NECESSITY, but a luxury not allowed inside these walls. At one point my son had not had a haircut/shave to the point I did not recognize him. He looked like a homeless person. Breakfast is at 4AM, lunch 10AM, dinner at 4PM.... and it is comparable to the worst small school portions you can imagine- definitely barely enough to sustain a grown man. IF they are lucky enough to have someone put money on their books to buy additional food the maximum is $100/week which doesn't go far at their excessive prices & you never get your full order. GIFT Packages can be purchased, however since they changed VENDORS July1st, MOST of the 7 choices are NOT available AND the prices were jacked up AGAIN. The choices NEVER change, so imagine eating the same baloney sandwich every single day for 2 months, much less 5 years?? Phone calls IF they are lucky are maybe ONE 2-10-minute call every few days, SECURUS video chats are a JOKE. 1/2 the machines are broken, the few that are working are barely functional- you cannot hear either party from the background high pitched squeal. For unknown reasons, the facility gets warped pleasure from booking the broken machines as well as the dysfunctional ones (which leaves families waiting up to 30 minutes HOPING their loved one comes on). Neither SECURUS or the facility will fix these issues (I have talked to BOTH multiple times) and now that I have complained 7 out if the past 9 booked video chats have been cancelled. It is ABSURD to deny FAMILIES the ability to keep in touch with their loved ones. WE ARE VICTIMS of this INJUST insanity. From an inmate's PARENTS point of view this is NOT HUMANE NOR JUST TREATMENT. Complaining from an inmate's side of the fence is flat out ignored and be assured they pay a stiff price for complaining. From a family's point of view, we are ignored, told the inmate has to do the complaint OR WE are punished (as in video visits being cancelled). FENTANOL drug overdoses are RAMPANT and due to lockdowns, IF a cell mate buzzes for an emergency for a cellmate- 15 minutes plus can go by unanswered. In a high security facility HOW are these dangerous euthanizing drugs allowed inside their cells?? Recently someone hung himself inside per the inmates (the papers said he was just found "unresponsive"). WOW!! I would not want to see an animal in these conditions, much less a HUMAN BEING. Guilt nor innocence for any offence should not prohibit a human being their basic human rights. So, WHO FIGHTS FOR THESE POOR SOULS, OR THAT OF THEIR LOVED ONES? Is there an organization that CAN take this on? IF they were animals PETA of the ASPCA would be all over this. END RANT..... is anyone listening?? read more

If I Could Give 0 Stars I Would, The Staff Here Is Most Definitely Incompetent!!! I have been told multiple times by a Male Who Answers The Visit Line That I Cannot Call Anymore To Schedule My Visits With My Husband, Why would there be a Scheduling Line if I'm not Allowed To Call And Schedule?!! Second They Are Super Rude After I Was Told I Could Not Schedule On The Phone I Made a 45+ min Drive To Schedule My Visit In Person For The Next Day And Was Told To Go to My Car And Call Them From There And Then They Would help me, I Did This And then Was Told by another Employee Who Answered The Phone To Come Back Inside, So I come Back Inside And Still Was Not Helped !!!!! Staff Is Definitely Lazy And Will Not Do Their Job At All !! The Facility Is Absolutely Disgusting and not well maintained at all !!! read more

Anyone know what housing area unit 6/A is? Our son with bad mental illness is here at George Bailey. I've been told he's not getting his prescribed 6 meds. And possibly not getting any meds. Is Housing Area 6 A general population or ? People are saying our son needs to sign a release but if he's psychotic, not on meds, how do you get him to sign. His public defender said they can't tell us anything until he signs a release. Won't even tell us if he's getting said meds. Disgusting. read more

I'm being told by my brother that he has been on a covid lock-down for the last 3 months.. AND HE DOES NOT EVEN HAVE COVID. They havent let them outside in 3 months, and his hair is falling out... they are only allowed out of their cells for 25 minutes... every other day to shower. Not seeing the outdoors seems a civil violation, and I am contacting the ACLU and others. The covid incarceration guidelines say 14 days.... So I dont understand. Someone PLEASE advise me. read more

This is the biggest holding facility for county prisoners in the san diego area. The San Diego county sheriff runs several facilities- Bailey, South Bay Detention, Downtown Jail & Vista Detention. All of the inmates are either pending trial or serving a year or less sentence. Bailey is mostly used for people who are either doing time they've been setenced to, or those who have been awaiting trial for longer then a month. Bailey is probably the worst place to do your time in San Diego county, though those familar with the county jail system sometime prefer Bailey to Downtown, most "newbies" prefer the lock down climate of central jail to the more... um "freewheeling" atomsphere at Bailey. Gang tension is a long running theme, riots occasionally break out, though nothing that makes the news. The staff is fairly polite and courteous once you show up- getting ANYONE on the phone other then the front desk is a NIGHTMARE! Appointments are required for visitors, but professional visitors can do walk in. Allot at least two and a half hours for the visit and round trip from the down town area. read more

I have been calling trying to set up a in person visit first guy his English was so poorly spoken I did not understand a word he said, he hung up the phone twice. Today a wonderful person by the name of Kristen I believe helped me thank you for walking me through all the steps and having the patience I know you were very busy but still took the time to assist me. read more

My husband has been moved around and I never had a problem but this place is the most rudest place ever! The people that work in the front desk are so rude! They always give you attitude, make faces , etc. Very disgusting place they don't clean at all! Very unsanitary! read more

This is not a place you give stars to lol... but i have visited here a few times. The workers look worn out, tired, and just unhappy to work there. The parking lot is huge now. The waiting area is bigger. The bathroom is dirty. I saw a lady doing lines before her visit in the car.... really lady! I can't comment on the inside since i never been. But my emails went through asap and the items i bought went through to him too. read more

Learned a lot in thunderdome, was a lot tougher then any other jail in San Diego county . If you go here get ready too get down .. end of story read more

Diane at reception is awesome. She graciously dealt with a very rude person and then managed to juggle three different tasks at the same time. The new COVID rules make visiting absurdly difficult. read more

Room had a decent view but the employees aren't very friendly the other guests much either, dinner was always cold and breakfast lukewarm but hey if your in town for the weekend it's the cheapest hotel around!!! They've got you covered. Stay tight my friend read more

If I could give zero stars I would. They treat inmates horrible here even the ones that havent even been proving guilty. My brother has seizures at least two a week before he went into this place. He has had a few since hes been there and they keep telling him to quit faking and do nothing to help him. It was court ordered by the judge for him to be placed in Medical the deputies there said it is a recommendation they don't have to listen to the judge. Then when he was at central jail it took them almost a week to get him a uniform and since he's been transferred over a little over a week ago he still has yet to receive any new clothes since the central jail. The way they treat people here is very unconstitutional and if something happens to my brother they will be held 100% accountable. My brother would flop down on that disgusting floor for no reason. The medical team they have there are rejects couldn't get a real job I trust in nothing they have to say. I am listening to my brothers professional real Dr's on his condition. It's not going to help him come home sooner if he fakes a seizure what's the point. They put him on lock down said he's trying to minpulate the system and faking his seizures. His attorney and the judge are on it. This place needs a full overhaul on their employees and get someone in charge that knows how to run a prison/jail this place is a basket case. Get real Dr's in there that actually know how to do their jobs. Not my problem they couldn't get a better paying job at a hospital or your own practice. if you don't like it leave don't risk others lives because of your unhappiness. read more

seriously, its like a public bathroom with no windows or doors. pretty much the same as downtown cept for commissary and the fact that everyone here has priors and previous knowledge of the sd detention facility lifestyle. the houses have the same layout as level 7 in SDCJ, cept the dorms are enclosed from the dayroom. 2 shower, 2 toilets, 2 urinals, 3 sinks, 1 mirror, 1 corner is what each dorm consists. wasnt able to check out the other houses except my own which was 1A. and by far mines was the best. a good collection of southsiders, paisas, woods, and of course brothers and others. not a pleasant place to serve your time at all. "i dont like the way the southsiders get down, they be shankin" read more

You guys are ridiculous - if you give this cesspool a high star rating you must work there. There is no way this is fit for human habitation. Filthy and over crowded. The guards are disrespectful to visitors. Yes our family member may have issues like drug abuse but it is not my parents fault they were good parents. Worked hard mom stayed home sent us to church etc. No reason to treat others with such bitterness because no family is untouched by society's ills. read more

I was promised that my special needs grandson, who has ASD, extreme bi-polar syndrome, and many more neurologic and psychiatric challenges, would "be placed in the psychiatric wing" of the facility, where he would be "safe." I believed them. I shouldn't have. My very vulnerable grandson has been attacked, terrorized and beaten. His cellmates broke his glasses. I did speak with someone in the DA's office, a young whippersnapper who lugubriously assured me that,"We don't permit violence in our facilities. We could be sued." How could he promise me that? "I've toured the jail." read more

I've been coming here to visit my husband for about eight months and the visiting rooms are gross. There's food wrappers and dirty napkins are all over the place. The phones and windows are dirty. The bathrooms....OMG! I'd rather use a porta potty. It's absolutely disgusting. They never have any toilet paper or paper towels to dry your hands. Basically the whole place needs to be cleaned. read more

It is clean, you won't get sick on the food. Concrete blocks metal bars, and a micro-thin mattress.

Terrible facility, if you read that they go outside 3 hour a week, and have access to reading materials, or a library , or anything that can educate them, or get physical activity..it is all bs..and the food is unfit for roaches..My son hasnt even been sentenced yet and was sent there on charges that he did not commit,,they wake them at 4am for breakfast...they are on lock down 23 hours a day..one inmate has been there 6 months and has not seen outside..another 1 year...this place is horrible...and they dont give your commissary monies on time or emails, and phone time is a joke...they are all f---ked up, and My son needs medical...and they removed 7 absesses from his arm and left an open wound uncovered.. read more

I have been to George Bailey to visit on many occasions. I have found the employees that check people in to be rude and when I have had a question they seemed annoyed.The medical and dental care are horrible. My nephew waited weeks to see a dentist,he had let the 'staff' know that he had a horrible toothache, the pain ended up being an abscess. And where is the rehabilitation? They just rot in there.The justice system and the prisons are a joke.My nephew is a good person,nonviolent,funny,smart he got caught up in the drug mess and because of his addiction there he sits in there.They need to have voluntary classes,more books,newspapers,things to help keep their brains alive.The whole system is a messed up joke.And yes the visiting area is filthy. read more

"The ThunderDome" aka. GBDF, aka George Baily Detention Facility I mean you just know that there wont be a dull moment when the facility they send you to do serve out your time at or wait to go to court at has its own "moniker", "label", basically it has its own "gang name". Even the deputies that work there I'm talking bout the ones that decided right from the start after completing their cadet training decided they wanted that to be their career the ones that are so huge they don't even have a neck anymore and their knuckles actually drag on the ground as they walk, i mean they look like they escaped from the prison right down the road and were hiding out as deputies "The Goon Squad". The place is basically an inmate training facility for those waiting to be sentenced to prison which is good i guess because I personally would feel awfully embarrassed if i were in prison and went to lets say go shank someone and end up using the wrong technique or do it totally wrong all together. Nestled atop whats known as "Graduation Hill" (Even the mountain its located on has its own "Gang-name, I mean nickname). There's also a Juvenile Facility, the Trustee Facility, the INS Detainment Facility and I believe a Misdemeanor Holding Facility but I'm not positive about that. With Donovan State Prison just a few minutes away on the hill right beside with a lovely view of Mexico, so close you could almost make out a person standing in in their living room window when the house lights were on at night. I think that was purposely done when they were scouting locations just knowing that these prison inmates serving long term even life sentences had to do so being able to see possible freedom and a chance for new identity and a fresh start so close and knowing that it would ever happen because of that flat unobstructed span of desert that spanned the whole way to the borders fences not to mention the cruel desert climates both day and night. I personally thought the views were just breathtaking outside my 24 inch tall 4 inch wide frosted glass window until i realized San Diego doesn't get such a dense fog in the desert like that. Overall the accommodations weren't bad, the food was decent, except for the fact that everyone there seemed to shop at the same clothing store and the sex was far from consensual or even gentle for that matter, and the deputies weren't too bad even though at times I felt as though I was being treated like I was some sorta criminal or something. I mean it could have been worse.....like Brian R. said above....its jail they kinda remove all the frills and thrills and fun stuff like that because i mean if they had pony rides and balloons people just might wanna come back. Trust me if you come out of there still in one piece I really wouldn't be complaining. Ryn GBDF Alumni Class of 2003 "The Prunos" read more

Thunderdome is the thunderdome. Better have a heavy wood pile. Brothers & Others don't always like the woods. Keep your head down and fight when your supposed too. You make the time how you make the time, mental strength makes it easier read more

Well i am always a trustee and we are well,trusted so i have only good things say.let me walk you through a typical day.wake up around noon beakfast consists of bacon eggs French toast and we'll since we are responsible for cooking the cops food we in turn eat the cops food except on ours we hold the spit, read more

I agree with krsitopher and scott, this jail is like entering the nastiest gray colored public bathroom. inmate has not told me much yet about being in there GBDF but i know that Downtown was not good! Visiting there is like a doing a " cat walk" for the officers. Visitors go through ( sometimes) two officers and one metal detector ( thats if its connected) , and its hilarious what the visitors come up in the rooms...cell phones and cameras! WTF! Plus if your a first timer, for sure you will get lost because they don't tell you directions on how to get to your visiting room. If thats how they manage visitors, imagine inside. i know its a jail but come on, were all human and make mistakes. Officers should be professional, have more education to become a deputy... shouting only means that they are truly fearful..and how you feel at work and how you treat these inmates, will come back just as bad in a health way...stress, anxiety, depression. I was in shock of how these jails are ran by the inmates . And how much drugs come in, thanks to the officers getting paid for letting it happen. Drugs like meth and heroin. Heroin is a must. Wow....it was a depressing day for me when i found out all of this..Why even get drug tested when your in jail? lol i guess prison you will get better treatment that jail.. read more

Exactly like Disneyland actually. Expensive food (if you order commisaary and don't want to eat the crap they serve). Crowds of people, the not so friendly and the friendly types, the bathrooms smell bad and look like hell, the mice that run around (they dont get dressed up though), and on the holidays it gets festive (cake comes with chow). Bailey is the new Disney. read more

so yesterday was my first time dealing with george baileys detention facility and they are horrible!!! i went to visit someone and when i was done i tried to request his belongings and it literally took me 25 minutes to convince the front desk that i need to start the request because he denied it the first time from lack of information. Also while i was sitting there waiting for the visiting to begin a woman came to check in for her visit and they told her that she can not see her inmate because it says she was there in the morning. When she informed them that she was late that morning and couldn't see the person they basically said oh well and she was denied her visit. now first of all the front desk has so much attitude they treat the visitors like were criminals they pass judgment and are rude for no reason what so ever. i feel like this your JOB is to be a front desk administrator (im pretty sure thats what the job description was when they applied) your job does not require you to pass any kind of judgment to anyone that walks in and yet they all did. i feel the front desk runs their area very poorly and there needs to be something done. thanks for everyones time read more

it's jail you guys....if you don't like it, quit breaking the law....since I got clean, I havn't seen los colinas and I don't miss it!