Search California Inmate Records
California tracks inmate population data through state and county systems. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation runs a free online tool called CIRIS that lets you search for people held in state prisons. All 58 counties also run their own jails with separate search tools. Most county sheriffs post current inmate lists on their sites. You can find who is in custody at both levels right now. This page walks you through each system so you can search California inmate records and locate people in custody fast.
California Inmate Population Quick Facts
California State Inmate Locator
CDCR runs the California Incarcerated Records and Information Search. Most people call it CIRIS. This tool is free and open to anyone in the public. You search by name or CDCR number to find people held in state prison. Results show the inmate's name, age, and current California prison location. You also get the admission date, commitment county, and parole hearing schedule. CIRIS covers all 34 state prisons in California plus several community correctional facilities. It does not include county jail inmates though. For local jail data in California, you need to search each county on its own. The system gets updates often, but short delays can happen when inmates transfer between California prisons.
You can start a search at the CIRIS inmate locator page shown below.
The CIRIS page asks for a last name at minimum. A first name helps narrow things down. You can also search by CDCR number if you have it. Some people will not show up in this tool. Inmates at reception centers in California may not appear yet. Anyone in witness protection stays hidden from public search results. If you can not find a person through CIRIS, call the CDCR ID Unit at (916) 445-6713. Staff work Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. They check records that the online tool might miss. Since January 2023, phone calls from California state prison inmates are free of charge. Each call can last up to 15 minutes. Families also send electronic messages for five cents each through CDCR family resources.
Note: CIRIS only covers state prison inmates and does not include California county jail population data.
California County Jail Records
Each of the 58 counties in California runs its own jail. The county sheriff manages daily operations for these facilities. Most California sheriffs offer some form of online inmate search on their website. The tools vary quite a bit. Some counties use a simple name search built right into the sheriff's site. Others rely on third-party systems like Citizen RIMS, ATIMS, or CrimeGraphics to handle their inmate population data. The Board of State and Community Corrections tracks California jail population data through its Jail Profile Survey. This survey has run since the mid 1970s and collects monthly data from every county on jail capacity, average daily population, and booking numbers. Los Angeles County has the largest jail system in the state and holds more than 12,000 people on any given day across multiple facilities. Smaller counties like Alpine and Sierra do not have their own jails at all. Alpine sends inmates to El Dorado or Calaveras County. Sierra contracts with Nevada County for jail space. Five California counties still lack online jail rosters: Colusa, Modoc, San Benito, Trinity, and Yolo. For those counties, call the sheriff or use VINE to check inmate population status.
The BSCC Jail Profile Survey page at app.bscc.ca.gov lets you pull statewide California jail population data.
VINELink works in all 58 California counties. Call 1-877-411-5588 or go online to check custody status for any inmate. VINE also sends alerts when an inmate's status changes anywhere in California.
Criminal Records in California
The California Department of Justice handles criminal history records for the state. These are different from the jail rosters you see on sheriff websites. A criminal history in California includes arrests, charges, court outcomes, and sentences. It shows a full picture of a person's past encounters with the law. Under Penal Code 11105, the DOJ controls who gets access to these files. Criminal history records are not public in California. The state does not allow requests under the California Public Records Act for criminal histories. Only certain people and agencies may view them. You can check your own record though. Submit fingerprints and pay a $25 processing fee through the DOJ Record Review page. Processing takes 2 to 3 days in most cases, though some requests need up to 2 weeks.
Below is the DOJ Record Review page where California residents start a personal records request at oag.ca.gov.
The DOJ keeps records in California until a person reaches 100 years of age. That is the standard retention period. Expungement does not erase a record in California. The entry changes to show the case was dismissed, but the record itself stays on file. Under Penal Code 11142, giving a copy of someone's criminal record to an unauthorized third party is a misdemeanor in California. If you believe your record has errors, Penal Code 11120 through 11127 outlines how to challenge inaccuracies. Call the DOJ Record Review Unit at (916) 227-3849 for help with California inmate population records or criminal history questions.
Note: Criminal history records in California are restricted, but basic booking data and inmate population rosters are public.
California Inmate Search Steps
Finding an inmate in California starts with one question. Is the person in state prison or county jail? For state prison, go to CIRIS first. Type the last name and hit search. For county jail searches in California, go to the sheriff's website for that county. Most have an inmate lookup tool right on the homepage. Not sure which county to check? Try VINELink. It covers all of California at once. You search by name across every county jail in the state. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It was built for crime victims, but anyone can use it to search California inmate population data. Go to the site and pick California from the state list. Enter a name and you see if that person is in any county jail.
The DOJ FAQ page answers common questions about California criminal records and inmate data access rules.
The main ways to search for California inmate population records include several tools. Each one serves a different purpose and covers different parts of the system.
- Use CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov for California state prison inmates
- Check your county sheriff's website for local jail inmate population data
- Search VINELink at vinelink.com for statewide California jail results
- Call the CDCR ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 for hard-to-find cases
- Contact your county sheriff directly by phone if online tools are down
Most inmate searches in California are free. CIRIS costs nothing. County jail lookups are free too. Only personal criminal history requests carry fees.
California Inmate Population Laws
California has several laws that control inmate records and public access to them. Government Code 6254(f) is the main rule for public disclosure of arrest information in California. Under this law, booking data is public. That means a person's name, charges, bail amount, and booking details are all available. This is why county sheriffs can post California jail rosters online for the public to view. It does not mean all records about an inmate are open though. Full criminal history stays restricted in California. Penal Code 2081.5 sets rules for CDCR inmate case records, also called C-Files. These contain the inmate's central file with sentencing documents, medical notes, and behavioral reports. C-Files are not public in California. Families and attorneys can request limited access through CDCR directly. The Board of Parole Hearings uses C-File data when it reviews cases for release. For people who want to challenge what is in their California inmate record, the state provides a clear process through the DOJ under Penal Code sections 11120 to 11127.
California law treats current inmate population records differently from criminal histories. Jail rosters and custody status are public. Past records and personal files are restricted. Know the difference before you search for California inmate population information.
Browse California Inmate Records
Pick a county below to find local jail search tools and sheriff contact details. Each California county page covers that area's inmate population search options and office hours.
View All 58 California Counties
California City Inmate Records
Most California cities route jail services through their county sheriff. Some larger cities run their own temporary holding facilities. Pick a city to see which county handles inmate population records for that area.