Here are some facts about the Vista Detention Facility (Vista Jail) that are of interest.
The Vista Detention Facility (VDF) is directly across Melrose Drive from Vista Bail Bonds and is classified as a Type II Facility by the Corrections Standards Authority. Vista Detention Facility sits on several acres of undeveloped land which is owned and operated by the County of San Diego. Vista Detention Facility serves as the primary point of intake for male and female prisoners in North San Diego County. The facility is just one building in the massive North County Regional Center complex. Other buildings include the North County Superior Courts , the Vista Sheriff Station, the Traffic Court, and the North County Law Library. All buildings with the exception of the Law Library and Traffic Court are physically connected.
Opened in 1978, the Vista Detention Facility has been retrofitted twice. In 1989, the Vista Detention Facility expanded to add an additional 576 beds making it a total of 820 beds. Controlling the facility is Central Control which has the capacity of electronically controlling all jail operations in the event of an emergency or major system failure. The Vista Detention Facility is comprised of two floors with a total of four levels counting the mezzanines and basement. Vista Detention Facility is the only facility in San Diego County that receives and houses both male and female pretrial arrestees on both felony and misdemeanor charges. Correction Standards Authority rated the Vista Detention Facility capacity at 820 beds with the average daily population during the fiscal year 2008-09 being 807 inmates.
The population of Vista Detention Facility consist primarily of mainline inmates and inmates waiting transfers to other facilities. Vista Detention Facility has a special handling inmate population consisting of those with serious medical challenges, those under psychiatric care, as well as defendants facing high-publicity trials. The Vista Detention Facility provides a wide range of medical and psychiatric services including infectious disease control, x-rays, and dental care. Services are provided by physicians, psychiatrist, dentists, nurse and clinical social workers.
During the fiscal year 2008-09, there were 24,663 bookings initiated at Vista Detention Facility. The Vista Detention Facility size is 170,000 sq ft and staffed by 134 sworn employees and 101 professional staff members.