Toronto South Detention Centre: Visits, Address & Funds Guide

When a family member enters the provincial system, the questions pile up fast: How do I reach them? When can I see them? Can I send money, and how? Toronto South Detention Centre handles Ontario’s shorter-stay inmates under a single roof—1,650 beds of maximum security in Etobicoke—and the visiting setup here runs entirely on video. This guide lays out the official hours, contact details, and the actual steps families take to move money in and stay connected.

Capacity: 1,650 beds · Security Level: Maximum security · Operator: Government of Ontario · Phone: 416-354-4030 · Sentence Length: Up to 2 years less a day

The table below summarizes key operational details from official Ontario government sources.

Is Toronto South Detention Centre a Jail?

Most people use “jail” and “detention centre” interchangeably, but in Ontario’s system the distinction matters. Toronto South Detention Centre (TSDC) is a provincial adult correctional facility that handles inmates serving sentences of two years less a day or shorter. Federal penitentiaries under the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) hold people sentenced to two years or more. The TSDC sits in that provincial lane—maximum security, run by Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General, built to replace the aging Toronto Jail complex.

Difference between jail and detention centre in Ontario

Provincial correctional facilities like TSDC serve a specific function: housing people on shorter provincial sentences, remand detainees awaiting trial, and those transferred from municipal lockups. TSDC’s 1,650-bed capacity makes it one of the larger provincial facilities in Ontario. The “detention centre” label reflects its broader mandate—holding people at various stages of the legal process, not just those convicted. Maximum security protocols apply throughout, but the population mixes sentenced inmates with those still in the system.

How Do I Send Money to Toronto South Detention Centre?

Getting funds to someone inside TSDC takes more than a quick e-transfer—facilities here don’t work like a regular bank account. Families have several pathways, each with different timelines and requirements.

Methods for family and friends to transfer funds in Canada

The most common route is SynergyDeposits.ca, which accepts Interac e-Transfer or PayPal and transmits funds electronically to the facility. Online deposits typically verify within 1–3 business days. Phone deposits go through 1-866-713-4761 around the clock, with funds activating at the kiosk within 72 hours.

In-person deposits require government-issued photo ID, the inmate’s full name, and their ID number. The lobby kiosk or front desk handles these during operating hours—expect same-day or next-day availability. Mailed money orders work too, but they need the inmate’s full name and ID on the order, addressed c/o the institution. Canadian money orders sit in a 10 working day processing hold before the inmate can access them.

Toronto South Detention Centre Address and Contact Info

Finding the place matters less than knowing how to reach it—TSDC’s address and phone are the two numbers families need most. The facility sits at 160 Horner Ave., Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0C2, near the Mimico area in Toronto’s west end.

Phone and location details

• Address: 160 Horner Ave., Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0C2 (Ontario Government)
• Main phone: 416-354-4030 ext 1007 (INFO-GO Ontario)
• Fax: 416-212-6412

The cross streets near the facility help confirm location—it’s in the Mimico pocket of Etobicoke, accessible by transit with some planning. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early and call ahead; contact details change and schedules shift, especially for evening visits.

Toronto South Detention Centre Visiting Hours and Rules

All visits at TSDC happen by video—no in-person contact visits. This is the most important thing to know before planning your trip. The facility runs a structured schedule across three daily windows.

Public visiting schedules

Public visits under non-direct supervision run in these slots:

• 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Daytime visits require a same-day appointment—call at least one hour before the window you want. Evening visits on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday follow a unit-based schedule: Maximum units (2, 3, 4) get 5:30–6:30 p.m., Medium units (5, 7, 12) get 6:30–7:30 p.m. Thursday daytime visits are organized differently: Medium units 10–11 a.m., Minimum units 1–2 p.m., Maximum units 2–3 p.m.

Ontario’s general visiting policy requires facilities to offer at least four hours of visiting time daily, seven days a week. TSDC complies through its multi-window video system, but the exact end time on the final evening slot differs between sources—some report 6 p.m., others 7 p.m. Call ahead to confirm the current schedule.

Visitation rules and procedures

• All visits are conducted by video (Ontario Government)
• Same-day appointment required for daytime visits; call at least 1 hour prior (Ontario Government)
• Evening visits scheduled 24 hours in advance; call Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
• Professional visits (legal counsel, faith leaders, probation officers) run separate windows: 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m., 1 p.m.–3:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m.
• Special visits may be granted for compassionate grounds, out-of-town visitors, or relatives unable to attend regular hours

Arrive early for your scheduled video visit—any disruptions or late arrivals can mean losing your slot. Public transport and family access are officially factored into Ontario’s visiting policy, though practical transit options near Horner Avenue in Mimico require some route planning.

What Happened to the Don Jail in Toronto?

The Don Jail was Toronto’s historic municipal and provincial facility, operating for decades in the downtown core before the system consolidated into modern suburban centres. TSDC in Etobicoke is its direct provincial replacement.

Transition to new facilities

The Don Jail, officially known as the Toronto Jail or Don Correctional Centre, was decommissioned as Ontario shifted toward larger, more specialized detention facilities outside the downtown core. TSDC opened as the replacement—built to modern standards, with single-occupancy cells, improved healthcare access, and a structured video-visit system that the aging Don Jail never had.

The Don Jail building itself remains in Toronto’s urban landscape, now repurposed and integrated into Sinai Health’s campus area. TSDC absorbed its provincial population—adult males serving shorter sentences and remand detainees—while adding the capacity and infrastructure that a growing Greater Toronto Area demanded.

The move reflects a broader Ontario trend: replacing aging urban correctional facilities with modern suburban centres designed for better inmate programming, healthcare services, and family access. TSDC’s focus on special needs accommodations and its electronic funds transfer system represent improvements over what the Don Jail offered, though video-only visiting remains a constraint for families accustomed to in-person contact.

How to Visit or Send Money to TSDC: Step-by-Step

Whether you’re planning a video visit or moving funds to an inmate’s account, Ontario’s provincial system has specific steps. Here’s how it works in practice.

1. For video visits: Call the facility at 416-354-4030 ext 1007 at least one hour before your desired time slot. Daytime visits are same-day appointments only—there’s no advance booking for regular public visits. Evening visits on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday require scheduling 24 hours ahead. You’ll connect via the facility’s video system at your appointed time.
2. For online deposits via SynergyDeposits.ca: Go to SynergyDeposits.ca, create an account if needed, select the facility, and enter the inmate’s full name and ID number. Choose Interac e-Transfer or PayPal. Funds verify in 1–3 business days and credit to the inmate’s account at TSDC.
3. For phone deposits: Call 1-866-713-4761 (available 24/7). Have a credit card ready. Provide the inmate’s information and confirm the deposit amount. Funds take up to 72 hours to activate at the facility kiosk.
4. For in-person deposits: Visit the facility lobby with government-issued photo ID and the inmate’s full name and ID number. Use the lobby kiosk or front desk during operating hours. Availability is typically same-day or next-day.
5. For mailed money orders: Obtain a money order payable to the facility. Write the inmate’s full name and ID number on the order. Address it c/o Toronto South Detention Centre, 160 Horner Ave., Etobicoke, ON M8Z 0C2. Expect a 10 working day processing hold before the inmate can access funds.

What We Know for Sure — and What We Don’t

TSDC is well-documented in some areas, but gaps remain. Here’s how the facts stack up.

• 1,650-bed maximum security facility at 160 Horner Ave., Etobicoke (Infrastructure Ontario, Ontario Government)
• Phone: 416-354-4030 ext 1007; fax: 416-212-6412 (INFO-GO Ontario)
• Provincial sentences up to 2 years less a day; adult male inmates
• Visits conducted by video; professional visits 9 a.m.–11:30 a.m., 1–3:30 p.m., 5–8 p.m. (Ontario Government)
• Public video visits: 10 a.m.–11:30 a.m., 2–4 p.m., 5–6 p.m.
• Daytime visits by same-day appointment; call at least 1 hour prior
• SynergyDeposits.ca accepts Interac e-Transfer and PayPal for inmate funds
• Phone deposit line: 1-866-713-4761, 24/7
• In-person deposits require government photo ID and inmate’s ID number
• Mailed money orders: 10 working days hold
• Replaced the historic Don Jail in Toronto’s provincial system
• Operated by Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General

What’s still unclear

• Exact TSDC-specific deposit limits or weekly spending caps (facilities vary)
• Healthcare fax number for inmate medical requests
• Confirmed direct supervision unit visiting hours beyond partial Thursday schedule
• Current status of any direct in-person visit options post-2023

The pattern is clear: TSDC’s infrastructure and official policies are solid Tier 1 sources, but practical deposit limits, healthcare contact details, and current visit schedule confirmations require direct outreach to the facility.

Visiting hours are normally held for a minimum of four hours each day, seven days a week.

— Ontario Ministry of the Solicitor General (Official Government Policy)

Daytime visits at TSDC are by same-day appointment only. Call at least 1 hour prior to confirm availability and schedule a visit.

— Ontario.ca (Official Facility Page)

TSDC is a modern maximum-security facility that replaced Toronto’s historic Don Jail with a cleaner, more structured approach to inmate services and family contact. The shift to fully video-based visits changes the practical calculus for anyone planning to stay connected—there’s no walking in cold, no waiting room, no physical handover of anything. The system rewards families who plan ahead, use the Synergy deposit system for fund transfers, and confirm visit slots by phone before showing up. For anyone navigating this for the first time, that single habit—calling before you go—is the one thing that separates a smooth visit from a wasted trip.

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Toronto South Detention Centre forms part of Ontario’s network alongside the Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene, where similar video visiting hours apply to inmates.

Frequently asked questions