Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility (RJD) is a multi-mission CDCR institution in San Diego housing Level I through IV general population and Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) inmates. RJD is also a designated facility for inmates with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities. This guide covers CDCR's statewide inmate locator, how to schedule a visit through the VSA system, sending money with JPay, phone calls, and mail rules. All data is verified from cdcr.ca.gov.
City
San Diego
County
San Diego County
State
CA
Facility Type
state prison
Gender
Male
Capacity
Not published by CDCR as a fixed number; check the current Weekly Population Report
Custody Levels
Level I, II, III & IV, plus Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY)
Operator
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Address
480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179
Phone
(619) 661-6500
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CDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, not a separate tool per prison. Here's how to use it to confirm someone is at RJD.
View ArticleYou need CDCR Form 106 approval first, then you book your visit through the statewide VSA system.
View ArticleDeposits go through JPay statewide, or by mail directly to RJD's address.
View ArticleAll outgoing calls from RJD are free. RJD's tablet system is scheduled to switch to Securus on August 10, 2026.
View ArticleRJD uses its physical address for mail, with no separate P.O. Box.
View ArticleCDCR runs one statewide inmate search tool, CIRIS, not a separate tool per facility. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
See the full breakdownYou need CDCR Form 106 signed by the incarcerated person and approved by RJD's Visiting Sergeant/Lieutenant before you can schedule anything. Once approved, book through CDCR's statewide VSA system.
See the full breakdownJPay processes deposits statewide: online, by phone, or by mailing a money order to JPay's lockbox. You can also mail a money order payable to CDCR directly to RJD's address, with a 30-day hold.
See the full breakdownAll outgoing voice calls are free statewide. CDCR's rollout schedule has RJD transitioning from ViaPath to Securus on August 10, 2026, a date still ahead as of this guide's verification.
See the full breakdownRJD's own facility page lists only its physical address, 480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179, with no separate P.O. Box for mail.
See the full breakdown6 of 8 questions
Use CIRIS, the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search, at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Search by name or CDCR number, then confirm the result lists Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility.
Inmate SearchFriday 12:00pm to 6:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8:00am to 2:30pm. Call (619) 661-6500, ext. 7900, to confirm before you travel, since schedules can change without notice.
VisitationYes. CDCR Form 106, the Visitor Questionnaire, must be signed by the incarcerated person and mailed to RJD's Visiting Sergeant/Lieutenant for a background check before you're added to the approved visitor list. Once approved, you schedule visits yourself through CDCR's VSA system.
VisitationCDCR doesn't publish a single downloadable family handbook PDF. Its Prepare to Visit section on cdcr.ca.gov walks through ID requirements, attire rules, what you can bring, and what happens during processing, as a set of live webpages instead of one document.
AboutAs of this guide's last verification, RJD is still on ViaPath Technologies. CDCR's published rollout schedule has it transitioning to Securus Technologies on August 10, 2026.
Phone Calls480 Alta Road, San Diego, CA 92179. Always include the recipient's full name and CDCR number.
MailRJD is a multi-mission CDCR institution in San Diego housing Level I through IV general population and Sensitive Needs Yard inmates. It's also a designated facility for inmates with severe mental illness or developmental disabilities and provides officer coverage for inmates treated at community hospitals in San Diego County.
AboutRJD is named for the late Assemblyman and Judge Richard J. Donovan, who sponsored legislation to build a state correctional facility in the San Diego area. He passed away before the institution was completed.
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All information on this page comes directly from official government and facility sources. How we verify information › Last verified July 15, 2026. Official source: cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator/rjd ›