San Mateo County Jail Inmate Locator

San Mateo County provides online access to its jail roster through the Sheriff's Office inmate locator system. Search for inmates currently held at county facilities in Redwood City. The roster updates daily with new bookings and releases. You can look up anyone by name at no cost. Each record shows booking date, charges filed, bail amount, and custody status. California law requires counties to make this information public. San Mateo County uses a web-based tool that anyone can access from any device. All arrests within the county go through the main jail facility for processing and detention.

Search San Mateo Jail Roster

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office runs an inmate locator through their website at smcsheriff.com for public access. Look for the Inmate Locator link on their site. Type a last name or both first and last name. The system finds matches from current inmates. Each result shows the person's full name and age. You see their booking date and booking number.

Search results display all charges filed against each inmate. Bail amounts show when a judge has set them. Some inmates have no bail based on the type of charge or prior criminal history. The system also shows housing location within the jail. You can see physical descriptions and other booking details. Most arrest information is public under California Government Code 6254.

The California VINE system at vinelink.dhs.gov also tracks San Mateo County inmates and provides automatic notifications. This statewide service helps you monitor custody status changes. You can use VINE in addition to the county's own inmate locator.

The database connects to the jail management system. Updates happen throughout the day as staff process new bookings and releases. New arrests appear within hours of intake. Released inmates drop off the list shortly after they leave the facility. San Mateo County does not maintain a long-term online archive. For older booking records, you must file a public records request with the Sheriff's Office. They charge fees for copies of historical documents.

This search tool requires no login or account. It works on phones, tablets, and computers. No fees apply. San Mateo County provides this service to meet state public records requirements. Anyone can use it to verify if someone is in custody or to find basic arrest information.

San Mateo County Jail Information

The main jail facility is at 300 Bradford Street in Redwood City. Call (650) 599-3000 for questions about inmates, bail, or jail procedures. Staff are available around the clock to handle bookings and releases. The jail serves all of San Mateo County. Police departments from cities throughout the county bring arrestees here for booking and custody.

This facility holds pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates. People awaiting trial stay here until their case resolves through plea deal or trial. Inmates with sentences under one year serve their time at the county jail. Those with longer terms go to state prison after conviction. The jail has separate housing for men and women. Staff classify inmates upon booking based on charges, criminal history, and security needs.

San Mateo County Jail provides meals, medical care, and basic supplies to all inmates. The facility follows state regulations for jail operations and inmate treatment. Visitation happens by appointment. Most visits are now through video conferencing rather than in person. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list. Contact the jail for details on how to get approved. The process takes several days.

VINE Notification System

San Mateo County participates in VINE for custody alerts. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Access VINE at vinelink.dhs.gov by selecting California and then San Mateo County. Search by name to find the inmate. The system shows their current custody status. You can register for automatic notifications when their status changes. Choose phone, email, or text alerts based on your preference. VINE contacts you when the person gets released, transferred, or has a court appearance. This free service updates several times daily using data from the jail. Crime victims use VINE to stay aware of offender status. Family members also find it helpful for tracking releases. The inmate does not know you are monitoring them. Your registration is anonymous.

Sending Money to Inmates

Inmates need money in their account for commissary and phone calls. San Mateo County contracts with approved vendors for deposits. Do not send cash or personal checks to the jail. All money 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 depending on the service used.

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

Phone calls from jail are not free. Inmates make collect calls or use prepaid phone accounts. Collect calls have higher per-minute rates than prepaid options. To set up a prepaid account, visit the phone service provider's website. Add money to the account before the inmate calls. The system deducts charges from your balance with each call. All calls are recorded except those with attorneys. International calls cost significantly more than domestic calls.

Court Records and Legal Help

Jail records show who is in custody and what charges they face. Court records show what happens with those charges over time. These are separate systems. The San Mateo County Superior Court handles all criminal cases. You can search court records online through their website. Court records show hearing dates, plea deals, verdicts, and sentences. These records stay public even after someone leaves jail. They are useful for researching case outcomes and legal history.

The Public Defender's Office represents people who cannot afford a private lawyer. The court appoints a public defender at the first hearing if you qualify. You do not contact them directly. They handle misdemeanor and felony cases in San Mateo County. For civil legal issues, look for legal aid organizations in the area. These groups do not take criminal cases but can help with other legal problems like housing and family law.

To get copies of police reports or arrest records, contact the law enforcement agency that made the arrest. The Sheriff's Office has records for arrests they made. City police departments keep their own files. California law allows access to certain arrest information under the Public Records Act. Some details remain confidential for ongoing investigations or to protect victims. There may be fees for copies of documents.

Cities in San Mateo County

Daly City is the largest city in San Mateo County with over 100,000 residents. All arrests in Daly City go to the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City. The city does not operate its own detention facility. Use the county jail roster to find inmates from Daly City. Other cities in San Mateo County work the same way. Police make arrests and transport people to the county jail. The Sheriff's Office handles all custody from that point forward. This centralized system makes it easier to search for inmates since there is only one main database.

Neighboring Jail Rosters

If you cannot find someone in San Mateo County, check nearby jails. San Francisco County is directly north with its own system. Santa Clara County sits to the south and east with separate facilities. Alameda County borders to the east across the Bay.

People sometimes get arrested in one county but held in another based on where charges are filed. This happens with regional law enforcement operations or when someone has warrants in multiple jurisdictions. California also moves inmates between counties for court appearances and other legal reasons. If your San Mateo County search comes up empty, try neighboring counties. For state inmates, use the CDCR locator at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov instead of county systems.