Search California Jail Roster
California maintains jail roster records through county sheriff offices and the state prison system. You can search for inmates in all 58 counties. Each county keeps its own list of people in custody. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs a statewide search tool for state prisons. County jails hold people before trial and those serving short terms. State prisons house inmates with longer sentences. Both systems let you look up inmate records online at no cost.
California Jail Roster Quick Facts
CDCR Inmate Locator Database
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates the state prison system. They run a free online tool called CIRIS. This stands for California Incarcerated Records and Information Search. The system lets you find people in state custody. It shows current and past inmates.
You can search CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov right now. Type a last name or CDCR number. The search gives you the person's name and age. You see their current spot or last known place. It shows commitment counties and when they came in. The tool lists Board of Parole Hearing dates too. All results are free in California.
CIRIS does not show county jail rosters. It only covers state prisons run by CDCR. For county jail inmates, you need to check with the local sheriff. Each of California's 58 counties runs its own jail system with separate records.
The CDCR inmate locator is updated daily with new bookings and releases from state facilities across California.
County Jail Roster Access
California has 58 counties and each one keeps a jail roster. County sheriffs run local jails. These hold people waiting for trial or serving time under one year. Most counties post their jail roster online for free. Some use third-party tools like CitizenRIMS or Zuercher Portal.
Los Angeles County runs the largest jail system in the state. Their inmate search is at app5.lasd.org/iic and shows current inmates across all LA County facilities. San Diego County offers a roster at apps.sdsheriff.net/wij with booking info and release dates. Orange County requires an account to access their database at apps.ocsheriff.gov but the service is still free once you sign up.
Many smaller counties use simpler systems. Some post daily booking logs as PDF files. Others use real-time web portals where you type a name and get instant results. A few counties do not have online rosters at all. In those cases, you call the jail or use VINE.
Search methods vary by county in California. Some let you search by name, booking date, or booking number. Others only allow name searches. Most show the charge, bond amount, and booking date for each person in custody.
VINE Notification System
VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. This is a free tool used in all 58 California counties. It tracks inmates and sends alerts when someone gets out. You can use VINE to look up inmates or sign up for alerts about custody changes.
The California VINE portal is at vinelink.dhs.gov where you search for inmates statewide. Pick California from the map or menu. Type the person's name or offender ID. The site shows if they are in custody and where. You can also call 877-411-5588 to search by phone any time.
VINE is helpful in counties that do not post rosters online. It covers both county jails and state prisons in California. The system updates when an inmate moves or gets released. Victims and family members often use VINE to stay informed about custody status changes throughout California.
California Public Records Law
Jail rosters are public in California. The California Public Records Act gives people the right to see government records. This law is in California Government Code sections 7920-7931 and it requires agencies to share public info with citizens.
California Government Code section 6254(f) lists what arrest info must be released to the public. This includes the person's name, date of birth, and physical description. It also covers time and date of arrest, booking location, and the charges. Bond amount and current location are public too. Sheriff offices must give out this data when asked.
Some details stay private under state law. Criminal history records from the Department of Justice are not public. These are controlled by California Penal Code section 11105 and only go to law enforcement or the person named in the record. Basic jail roster info is public but full criminal history is not.
You can request public records from the California Department of Justice at oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/pra using their online form. The agency has 10 days to respond to your request. They may take a 14-day extension if needed. Copy fees are 10 cents per page for paper records in California.
Inmate Services and Communication
California jails use third-party vendors for phone calls, video visits, and money deposits. These are private companies that contract with county sheriffs. The services cost money but they let you stay in touch with people in custody.
Securus Technologies and GTL provide phone services in many California counties. Inmates use these systems to make calls. You can set up a prepaid account to receive calls. JPay and TouchPay handle money transfers so you can send funds to an inmate's account for commissary purchases.
Some counties use ICSolutions or SmartDeposit for inmate funds. Others work with iCare Gifts to let people send care packages. Each vendor has its own fees and rules. Check with the county jail to see which services they use before you send money or set up calls.
Video visitation is common now in California jails. GTL Visit Me and Securus video systems let you visit inmates online from home. This costs less than driving to the jail and you can do it more often. Some jails still offer in-person visits too.
California Sex Offender Registry
California runs a public sex offender database under Megan's Law. The registry is at meganslaw.ca.gov and shows registered sex offenders in the state. This is separate from jail rosters but related to public safety records in California.
Megan's Law became state law in 1996. It requires the California Department of Justice to notify the public about registered sex offenders. The website lets you search by name, address, or zip code. You can see photos and details about offenders living near you.
The registry does not replace jail roster searches. Someone can be on the registry and not in custody. Or they can be in jail and not on the registry. Both tools serve different purposes for tracking people in California's criminal justice system.
Statutes Governing Jail Records
Several California laws control how jail rosters work and what info gets shared. These statutes protect public access while keeping some details private. You should know these laws if you need to request records or understand what you can see online in California.
California Government Code sections 7920-7931 establish the California Public Records Act. This is the main law that lets citizens see government records including jail rosters. County sheriffs must follow this law when they get requests for inmate information.
Arrest and booking details are public under the law. You can get info about when someone was booked, what they were charged with, and their bond amount. Physical descriptions and booking photos may be available depending on the county. Release info is public too once it happens in California.
California Penal Code section 3003 deals with parole placement. This law says an inmate on parole cannot be sent back to a spot within 35 miles of a victim's home. It affects where people go after release from custody.
Note: These laws apply across all of California's counties and state prison facilities.
Victim Notification Services
California offers free services for crime victims who want to track inmates. The CDCR runs a victim services program that sends alerts about custody changes. You can sign up at e1707.cdcr.ca.gov to get notified when an inmate moves or gets released from state prison.
The Office of Victim and Survivor Services helps people stay informed. Call their toll-free line at 1-877-256-6877 for help with registration. You can also email victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov with questions about tracking an inmate in the California state system.
VINE works for county jails in California. The VINE system at vinelink.dhs.gov lets you register for text or email alerts. You get a message when someone leaves custody. This service covers all county jails and state prisons across California. It is free to use and available 24 hours a day.
How to Find Inmates in California
Start by figuring out if the person is in county jail or state prison. County jails hold people before trial and those serving less than a year. State prisons house inmates with longer sentences. The type of facility changes where you search in California.
For state prisons, go to ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov and use the CDCR inmate locator. Type the last name or CDCR number in the search box. Results show up right away with current location and status. This tool is free and works on any device with internet access.
For county jails, you need to know which county made the arrest. Each county has its own roster. Big counties like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Orange post searchable databases on their sheriff websites. Smaller counties may use VINE or PDF booking logs instead of live search tools.
If you do not know which county, try VINE first. The VINE portal at vinelink.dhs.gov searches all California jails and prisons at once. Pick California and type the name. The site tells you if the person is in custody and where they are located right now.
Some searches need more details to work. Common name searches may return many results. Adding a date of birth or middle name helps narrow it down. Booking numbers work best if you have one from court papers or a prior search in California.
Additional Inmate Search Tools
Several other tools help with jail roster searches in California. TouchPay at touchpayonline.com offers an inmate locator along with its payment services. This can help if you know the person is in a jail that uses TouchPay for phone or commissary funds.
ICSolutions at icsolutions.com provides inmate calling services to many California jails. Their site has a facility locator that shows which jails use their system. This helps you find the right county database to search for jail roster info.
SmartDeposit serves Glenn County and Amador County in California. You can check smartdeposit.com to search for inmates in those facilities. The site at icaregifts.com lets you send packages to inmates and also has a lookup tool for participating California jails.
Browse California Jail Rosters by County
Each of California's 58 counties operates its own jail with a separate roster. Select a county below to find local jail contact info, inmate search links, and sheriff office details for that area.
View All 58 California Counties
Jail Roster Search in Major California Cities
Residents of California cities are booked into their county jail when arrested. Pick a city below to learn which county handles bookings and how to search the jail roster for that area.