California Jails & Inmate Search
✓ Last Updated: October 2026
Find county jail and inmate-search information for major California counties. Choose a county below for official inmate-locator links, custody information, jail phone numbers, booking, bail, visitation, facility locations, money, mail, court and release guidance.
California County Jail & Inmate Search Guides
California county custody searches are generally handled by county sheriffs and local corrections systems. Select the county where the person was arrested or is believed to be held.
Los Angeles County Jail
County inmate-search, booking, jail-location, visitation, bail and custody information for Los Angeles County.
View Los Angeles County Guide → SANTA ANA • ORANGE COUNTYOrange County Jail
Orange County inmate lookup, Theo Lacy and county detention information, visitation, phone, booking and release guidance.
View Orange County Guide → SAN DIEGO • SAN DIEGO COUNTYSan Diego County Jail
Sheriff's Who's In Jail search, inmate information, custody location, San Diego Central Jail and county detention facilities.
View San Diego County Guide → RIVERSIDE • RIVERSIDE COUNTYRiverside County Jail
Riverside County inmate-search, detention-facility, booking, visitation, bail and release information.
View Riverside County Guide → SAN BERNARDINO • SAN BERNARDINO COUNTYSan Bernardino County Jail
County inmate lookup, West Valley detention information, jail locations, visitation, phone and custody guidance.
View San Bernardino County Guide → SACRAMENTO • SACRAMENTO COUNTYSacramento County Jail
Sacramento inmate-search, Main Jail information, booking, visitation, bail, court and release guidance.
View Sacramento County Guide → OAKLAND / DUBLIN • ALAMEDA COUNTYAlameda County Jail
Official inmate locator, Santa Rita Jail, PFN, recent bookings, visitation, custody and release information.
View Alameda County Guide →How to Find Someone in a California County Jail
Start with the county where the arrest occurred or where the person is believed to be held. California counties operate separate jail and custody systems, and large counties may operate several detention facilities.
Identify the county
Determine the arrest location or likely county of custody.
Open the county guide
Select the relevant GotLockedUp California county guide above.
Use the official locator
Follow the county sheriff or corrections department's official inmate-search link.
Confirm the current jail
Check the inmate record for the person's current housing or detention facility before traveling.
Review custody information
Check booking, bail, visitation, phone, money, mail, court and release information for that county.
Inmate Locator, Who's In Jail & Custody Information
California counties use different names for their inmate-search systems. You may see terms such as inmate locator, inmate search, who's in jail, custody search or inmate information. Start with the official county system linked from the appropriate guide.
Inmate Search & Locator
Search by name or another identifier supported by the county's official system.
Current Jail Location
Confirm the detention facility before visiting because some counties operate multiple jails.
Booking & Release
Available records may show booking, custody, charges, bail or release-related information.
California Jail Search Questions
How do I find someone in a California county jail?
Identify the county where the person was arrested or is believed to be held, then use that county's official inmate-search or custody-locator system. The county guides above link to relevant official resources.
Is there one inmate locator for all California county jails?
No. County jail custody is administered locally, so inmate-search systems vary by county.
What does “Who's In Jail” mean?
Some sheriff's departments use “Who's In Jail” as the name or description of an online custody-search service. The terminology varies by county.
Why might a recent arrest not appear yet?
Transportation, identification, medical screening, intake and booking can take time. Check the official county system again or contact the appropriate jail if current custody information is important.
How do I know which detention facility is holding someone?
Use the person's official custody record to identify the current housing facility when that information is available. Do not assume the person is housed in the city where the arrest occurred.
More California County Jail Guides Are Coming
GotLockedUp currently covers Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Sacramento and Alameda counties. Additional California county guides will be added as the directory expands.
Reach People Searching California Jail & Criminal-Defense Information
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Search county jail and inmate-information guides across the United States.
GotLockedUp.com is an independent informational website and is not affiliated with the State of California, any California sheriff's office, corrections department, jail, court, law-enforcement agency or government entity.
Jail policies, custody information, addresses, phone numbers, visitation rules, vendors and release procedures can change. Confirm important information with the appropriate official county or government source.
Information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.