San Francisco Jail Roster Search

San Francisco County operates its jail roster through the Sheriff's Department online inmate locator. Search for inmates currently held in San Francisco jails at no cost. The roster updates in real time as new bookings occur and releases happen. You can look up anyone by name to see booking information, charges, and custody status. California law requires this data to be public. San Francisco provides access through a web-based search tool that works on any device. The county runs multiple jail facilities that all feed into one central database for public searches.

Find a Person in San Francisco Jail

The San Francisco Sheriff's Department runs an inmate locator at sfsheriff.com/find-person-jail for public searches. Type a last name or first name to search. The tool finds matches from all San Francisco jail facilities. Each result shows the person's full name and booking date. You see their booking number and current housing location.

Search results list all charges for each inmate. Bail amounts appear when set by a judge. Some inmates have no bail depending on the charge or their criminal history. The system also shows expected release dates when available. This helps you know when someone might get out.

The database updates constantly throughout the day. New bookings appear within hours of intake. Released inmates drop off the list soon after they leave. San Francisco does not keep a long-term archive online. For older records, you must contact the Sheriff's Records Division. They charge fees for document copies.

This search tool is free to use. No login or account is required. It works on phones, tablets, and desktop computers. San Francisco provides this service to comply with California public records laws. Anyone can verify if someone is in custody or find basic booking information.

San Francisco County Jails

San Francisco operates multiple jail facilities. The main jail is County Jail Number 5 at 425 7th Street. This facility handles most bookings and houses a large portion of the inmate population. Call (415) 553-1430 for general jail information. Staff work around the clock to process bookings and releases.

San Francisco is unique because it is both a city and a county. The Sheriff's Department runs all jail operations. Police make arrests and bring people to jail for booking. The Sheriff takes custody from that point forward. All inmates end up in the same database regardless of which facility holds them. This makes searching easier since you only need to check one system.

Inmates stay in San Francisco jails while awaiting trial or serving short sentences. The county holds people with terms under one year. Those sentenced to longer terms go to state prison. San Francisco jails provide meals, medical care, and basic supplies. The facilities follow state regulations for inmate treatment and jail operations. Different units house inmates based on security needs and gender.

VINE Custody Tracking

San Francisco County participates in VINE. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Use VINE at vinelink.dhs.gov to track inmate status. Select California, then San Francisco County. Search by name to find the inmate. You can register for automatic alerts when their status changes. Pick phone, text, or email notifications. VINE sends alerts when the person is released, transferred, or has a court date. This free service updates several times daily using jail data. Crime victims use it to stay informed about offenders. Family members also find it helpful. The inmate does not know you are tracking them.

Sending Money to San Francisco Inmates

Inmates need money for commissary purchases and phone calls. San Francisco County uses approved vendors for deposits. Do not send cash or personal checks to the jail. All transfers must go through official channels. Most vendors let you pay online with a credit card or debit card. You need the inmate's full name and booking number. Processing fees apply to each transaction. Money posts to the inmate's account within one to three business days.

Inmates use account funds to buy snacks, hygiene products, and personal items from the commissary. The commissary operates on a weekly schedule. Inmates place orders and receive items a few days later. They also pay for phone calls with account funds. Without money in their account, inmates get only what the jail provides for free. This includes basic meals, soap, and essential hygiene items.

Phone calls from San Francisco jails are not free. Inmates make collect calls or use prepaid phone accounts. Collect calls have higher rates. Prepaid accounts cost less per minute. Set up a phone account through the jail's service provider. Add money before the inmate calls. The system deducts charges from your balance. All calls are recorded except those with attorneys. International calls cost more than domestic ones.

Jail Visitation Information

Visiting rules in San Francisco jails have changed in recent years. Most visits are now through video conferencing. You schedule a video visit online through the approved system. There is a fee per visit session. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list to participate. The inmate submits your name for approval. The jail processes requests within a few days. Some people get denied based on their criminal history or relationship to the case. In-person visits are limited and require advance scheduling. Call the jail for current visitation policies. Rules change based on security needs and facility operations.

San Francisco City and County

San Francisco is both a city and a county in California. This is different from most places where the city and county are separate. All arrests in San Francisco go through the Sheriff's Department jail system. There is no separate city jail. The San Francisco Police Department makes arrests and the Sheriff's Department handles custody. This unified system makes it simpler to search for inmates since there is only one jail roster to check.

Neighboring County Jail Rosters

If you cannot find someone in San Francisco County, try nearby jails. San Mateo County is directly south with its own system. Marin County sits north across the Golden Gate with a separate roster. Alameda County is east across the Bay with multiple facilities.

People sometimes get arrested by one agency but held in another county. This happens with regional task forces or when charges are filed in multiple jurisdictions. California also moves inmates between counties for court appearances. If your San Francisco search comes up empty, expand to neighboring areas. For state inmates, use the CDCR database at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov instead of county tools.