Santa Barbara County Inmate Lookup
The Santa Barbara County jail roster is available online at no cost. The Sheriff's Office posts custody records showing who is in jail. You can search for inmates held at the main facility on Calle Real or other county detention centers. The roster updates daily as bookings and releases occur. Anyone can search by name to find current inmates. Each listing shows charges, booking dates, and bail information when set by a judge. VINE notification services help families and crime victims track custody changes. TouchPay and iCare Gifts provide inmate phone and package services. All of this information is free to access through the Sheriff's website.
Santa Barbara County Quick Facts
Santa Barbara Sheriff Jail Facilities
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff runs multiple jail facilities across the county. The main jail sits at 4436 Calle Real in Santa Barbara. This is the largest detention center in the county. Call 805-681-4260 for inmate questions. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They answer questions about bail, visits, and release procedures.
All arrests in Santa Barbara County lead to booking at one of these facilities. Local police and sheriff deputies bring arrestees to the main jail or other locations based on capacity and custody needs. The jails hold people awaiting trial and those serving county sentences up to one year. Medical care is provided on-site at all facilities. Inmates get meals three times per day and access to phones during set hours.
Visit rules vary by facility and housing unit. Call ahead to confirm visiting hours. Bring valid government-issued ID. Dress codes are strictly enforced. Leave personal items at home because they are not allowed past security checkpoints.
Search Santa Barbara Jail Roster
The Santa Barbara County jail roster is at sbsheriff.org/home/who-is-in-custody on the Sheriff's website. This tool shows all current inmates in real time. Type a last name to start your search. You can also search by first name or booking number.
Each listing includes the inmate's full name, age, and booking date. You will see all charges filed against them. Bail amounts appear if a judge set bail at the arraignment. Some entries show the facility where the inmate is housed. The roster updates throughout the day but may lag during busy booking periods when staff are processing multiple arrests. Check back if results seem outdated or if you think someone was recently arrested but does not appear yet.
No login is required to search the roster. The site works on mobile phones and tablets. Searches are free and you can check as often as needed to find current inmates.
VINE Notification Service
Santa Barbara County uses VINE for inmate tracking and custody alerts. This free service notifies you when an inmate gets released or moved. Call 877-411-5588 to check custody status by phone. The line works around the clock.
You can also register online at the VINE website. Pick phone, email, or text alerts. VINE will notify you automatically when custody status changes. This helps crime victims stay safe by knowing when an offender gets out of jail. Families use it to track release dates without calling the jail every day. Setting up alerts is free and takes just a few minutes. You can track multiple inmates at the same time if you need to monitor more than one person.
Booking in Santa Barbara County
Arrests in Santa Barbara County lead to the main jail or other detention facilities. Police bring people to the nearest facility for booking. The process takes a few hours. Staff collect personal data and take fingerprints. A mugshot is taken. Property gets logged and stored. Warrant checks run through state and federal systems.
After booking, inmates see a judge within 48 hours for arraignment. The judge sets bail or orders them held without bail. Some get released on their own recognizance for minor charges with no criminal history. Others must post bail to leave. Bail amounts depend on the charges, criminal history, and flight risk. Serious felonies mean higher bail or no bail at all if the person is deemed dangerous or likely to flee.
Those who cannot make bail stay in custody until trial. This can take weeks or months depending on court schedules and case complexity. Public defenders get assigned to those who cannot afford private lawyers. First appearances happen quickly.
Family can post bail at the jail. Bring cash or use a bail bondsman. Release takes time after payment clears. Ask staff how long it will take when you pay the bail.
Inmate Phone and Package Services
Inmates at Santa Barbara County jails use TouchPay for phone calls. This company charges per minute. Families can set up prepaid accounts to accept calls from inmates. Rates vary based on call type and duration.
Commissary services let inmates buy snacks, hygiene products, and writing supplies. Families deposit money into inmate accounts. Inmates use these funds to shop from an approved list. Do not send cash in the mail. Use money orders or the online deposit system. Include the inmate's full name and booking number on all deposits.
iCare Gifts lets you send care packages to inmates. These bundles include approved items like food, clothing, and hygiene products. Order through the iCare Gifts website and they ship directly to the jail. All packages are inspected before delivery to inmates.
Mail is allowed but must follow strict jail rules. Letters cannot contain contraband, cash, or prohibited content. Photos are okay if they meet guidelines. No Polaroids or explicit images. Ask jail staff if you have questions about mail rules before sending anything to an inmate.
Santa Barbara County Cities
Several cities in Santa Barbara County have large populations. Arrests in these cities lead to county jail facilities.
City police make arrests but the county runs the jails. Check the Santa Barbara County roster for anyone arrested in these cities.
Nearby Counties
Santa Barbara County borders San Luis Obispo County to the north and Ventura County to the south. Each operates its own jail system with separate rosters.
If you cannot find someone in Santa Barbara County, try these nearby counties. People arrested near borders may get booked in a different county.