Alameda County Jail (Oakland / Dublin, California)
Looking for someone arrested in Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton, Alameda or elsewhere in Alameda County? Most Alameda County jail custody is handled through Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Use this guide to search for an inmate, check recent bookings, find a PFN number, review bail and release information, arrange visitation, send money or mail, locate criminal court records and understand what happens after booking.
Someone Was Arrested in Alameda County. What Should You Do?
Start with the official Alameda County Sheriff's Office Inmate Locator.
You can search using the person's first and last name or, if you already know it, the person's PFN.
The locator can also help determine whether someone was booked recently, remains in custody or has entered the administrative release process.
Search the inmate
Use the official Alameda County Inmate Locator.
Save the PFN
A PFN is a useful identifying number for jail services and records.
Check custody and release status
The locator may show whether the person remains in custody or is pending release.
Check bail and court information
Jail information and Alameda Superior Court records are separate.
Confirm rules before visiting
Visitation and communication procedures can change, so confirm current jail rules before traveling.
Alameda County Jail Inmate Search
Use the official Alameda County Sheriff's Office Inmate Locator to search for someone currently in county custody.
The locator allows several search methods:
- First and last name
- PFN
- Date of birth
- Sex
- Phonetic name search if you are unsure of spelling
The Sheriff's Office notes that custody information can change as a person moves through the criminal justice process.
SEARCH ALAMEDA COUNTY INMATES →Opens the official Alameda County Sheriff's Office Inmate Locator.
Search Alameda County Bookings From the Last 24 Hours
The Alameda County inmate locator includes an option to display people booked during the last 24 hours.
This is useful when you know someone was arrested recently but do not yet know a PFN or exact custody status.
SEARCH RECENT BOOKINGS →Santa Rita Jail
Santa Rita Jail in Dublin is Alameda County's primary adult detention facility.
Santa Rita Jail
5325 Broder Boulevard
Dublin, CA 94568
The facility houses people held by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and people booked by law-enforcement agencies throughout Alameda County.
Alameda County Jail Bail Information
Bail depends on the charges, court orders and any other holds on the person.
Start with the inmate locator and current court information. If bail is available, verify the exact amount and procedure before attempting to post it.
A person may also be held without immediate bail or remain in custody because of another warrant, hold or court order.
CHECK CURRENT CUSTODY STATUS →Santa Rita Jail Visitation
Alameda County provides visitation services for people housed at Santa Rita Jail.
The county also provides an online visiting-reservation system, and video-visitation technology is currently supplied through Global Tel*Link / ViaPath.
Visiting eligibility, available times and housing-unit schedules can change. Confirm the person's current custody status and the latest visiting instructions before traveling.
VISITATION / RESERVATIONS →Santa Rita Jail Phone Calls
Alameda County currently contracts with Global Tel*Link, now operating as ViaPath Technologies, for inmate telephone and related communications services at Santa Rita Jail.
People in custody generally make outgoing calls through the jail communications system. Family members cannot call the jail and ask to be transferred directly to an inmate.
Communication services may include prepaid calling and inmate-funded calling options through the ViaPath / ConnectNetwork platform.
How to Send Money to a Santa Rita Jail Inmate
Alameda County's communications vendor provides inmate trust-fund services associated with Santa Rita Jail.
Before making a deposit, confirm the person's:
- Full legal name
- PFN
- Current custody status
Deposit vendors, fees and available funding methods can change. Use the current Alameda County jail or vendor instructions before sending money.
How to Send Mail to a Santa Rita Jail Inmate
Mail procedures can change, so confirm the current Santa Rita Jail mailing rules before sending letters, photographs, books or other materials.
At minimum, you should have the person's:
- Full name
- PFN
- Current custody location
Do not send prohibited items or assume that packages are accepted simply because ordinary correspondence is allowed.
Find an Alameda County Criminal Court Case
Jail custody records and court records are separate.
Alameda County Superior Court provides online access to criminal case information through its Odyssey Portal.
The court states that the public can search criminal case information online and that current online information generally includes cases with activity since 2005.
Copies of non-confidential criminal documents can also be requested through the court's Criminal Record Request Portal.
SEARCH ALAMEDA CRIMINAL CASES →What Does “Pending Release” Mean in Alameda County?
Alameda County's inmate locator uses the status Pending Release when a person at Santa Rita Jail has begun the administrative process required for release.
This does not mean the person will walk out immediately.
The Sheriff's Office specifically warns that the release process may take several hours.
Jail staff also check for any other legal authority that might require continued detention. A newly discovered hold can stop the release.
Can't Find Someone in Alameda County Jail?
A missing result does not necessarily mean the person was not arrested.
A recent arrest may not appear immediately while booking is completed.
Use Alameda County's phonetic-search option if you are unsure of the person's name spelling.
Some names may not appear publicly because of legal exemptions.
The person may have been released or moved to another custody system.
For inmate-information questions, contact Santa Rita Jail at (925) 551-6500.
Alameda County Jail FAQ
How do I find someone in Alameda County Jail?
Use the official Alameda County Sheriff's Office Inmate Locator. You can search by first and last name or PFN.
What is the Alameda County Jail phone number?
Call Santa Rita Jail at (925) 551-6500 for inmate-information questions.
Where is Alameda County Jail?
Santa Rita Jail is located at 5325 Broder Boulevard, Dublin, California 94568.
Is Santa Rita Jail in Oakland?
No. Santa Rita Jail is in Dublin, California. People arrested in Oakland and elsewhere in Alameda County may be housed there.
What is a PFN?
A PFN is an identifying number used in Alameda County's inmate system. The official locator allows searches using PFN.
Can I search Alameda County bookings from the last 24 hours?
Yes. The official inmate locator includes an option to display bookings from the last 24 hours.
What if I do not know exactly how the person's name is spelled?
Alameda County's locator includes a phonetic-search option when you are unsure about the spelling of a first or last name.
Why would an arrested person not appear in the inmate locator?
Booking may still be processing, the person may have been released, or the Sheriff's Office may be legally restricted from displaying the person's name in certain circumstances.
What does Pending Release mean?
Pending Release means the person has begun the administrative process required for release. Alameda County warns that this process may take several hours.
Can Pending Release be canceled?
Yes. If jail staff identify another legal hold or authority requiring detention, the person may remain in custody.
Can I visit someone at Santa Rita Jail?
Yes, subject to current eligibility, scheduling and security rules. Confirm current visitation instructions before traveling.
Who provides Santa Rita Jail phone and video services?
Alameda County currently contracts with Global Tel*Link, operating as ViaPath Technologies, for inmate telephone and video communication services.
Can I call an Alameda County inmate directly?
No. Family members cannot call the jail and be transferred directly to an inmate. Inmates make outgoing calls through the jail communication system.
Are Santa Rita Jail phone calls recorded?
Non-privileged inmate communications may be monitored or recorded. Do not discuss confidential criminal-defense matters on ordinary jail calls.
How do I send money to a Santa Rita Jail inmate?
Verify the inmate's full name, PFN and custody status first, then use the current jail-approved deposit method. Vendors and deposit procedures can change.
How do I mail an Alameda County inmate?
Confirm the current Santa Rita Jail mail instructions before sending correspondence. You should have the inmate's full name and PFN.
How do I find an Alameda County criminal case?
Use Alameda County Superior Court's criminal case portal, which directs users to the Odyssey system for criminal case information.
Can I get copies of Alameda criminal court records online?
Yes. The court provides a separate online Criminal Record Request Portal for copies of non-confidential criminal documents.
Which court handles Alameda County criminal cases?
The Superior Court of California, County of Alameda handles criminal cases, with criminal matters assigned among several court locations.
Should I rely on a private inmate-search website?
Start with the official Alameda County Sheriff's Office locator because it reflects the most recent custody information known to the Sheriff's Office.
More California Jail & Inmate Search Guides
Looking for someone outside Alameda County? Browse our other California county jail guides or search all 25 GotLockedUp jail and inmate-search guides.
Alameda County Jail & Court Resources
Search Alameda County Jail
Use the official Alameda County Sheriff's Office Inmate Locator.
Last verified: September 2026. Jail policies, addresses, phone numbers, bail procedures, visitation schedules, communication vendors, mail rules, court systems and release procedures can change. Confirm important information with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office or Alameda County Superior Court before traveling, sending money, posting bail or making other decisions.
GotLockedUp.com is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with Alameda County, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, Alameda County Superior Court, Santa Rita Jail, any court, law-enforcement agency, vendor or government entity.
Information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. An arrest or criminal charge is an allegation and does not establish guilt.