Much of the world came to a screeching halt at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the criminal justice system was no exception. Criminal courts shut down almost entirely for several weeks before slowly beginning to open back up.
Among the vulnerable populations that were hit worst by the spread of COVID-19 were incarcerated people. Once someone in the jails or prisons was exposed, outbreaks were rampant given people being housed in such close quarters in poorly ventilated areas. For these reasons, many facilities stopped allowing people in custody personal and professional visits.
Now, on May 1st, local San Diego jails will finally resume in-person visits. These facilities—run by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department—include George Bailey Detention Facility, San Diego Central Jail, Las Colinas Detention Facility, South Bay Detention Facility and Vista Detention Facility. Those wishing to visit their loved ones should now be able to call the facility ahead of time to schedule an appointment for their in-person visit.
In-person visitation is crucial for our clients in custody. As criminal defense attorneys, being able to speak to our clients in person allows us to review the discovery together to develop trial strategy and build as strong of a defense as possible, and ensures that our clients are always informed about their cases. Personal visitation—from their friends and family—is also important to keep their spirits up and remind them that they have a whole life ahead of them outside the jail walls.
If you have a loved one in custody, and want to learn more about their options to defend against their criminal case, call us today at (619) 295-3555 to set up a thorough and confidential case evaluation.
The contents of this article and blog are for meant for informational and marketing purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Viewing and/or use of the blog does not form an attorney-client relationship. No statements in this post are a guarantee, warranty, or prediction of a particular result in your case.