San Diego Custody Records

San Diego inmate population records are managed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. The city does not run its own jail. All arrests in San Diego go through the county system. The sheriff operates several detention facilities across the county that hold people from San Diego and surrounding cities. You can search for any inmate in San Diego County custody using the sheriff's free online tool. This page covers how to find someone in jail, what the search shows, and other ways to check inmate status in San Diego.

San Diego County Inmate Lookup

The San Diego County Sheriff runs a tool called "Who's In Jail" on its website. This is the primary way to search for San Diego inmate population data. The tool is free. Anyone can use it. Go to the San Diego Sheriff Who's In Jail page and enter a last name. You can add a first name to narrow results. The search returns current inmates only. It shows the person's name, date of birth, booking date, charges, bail amount, and which facility holds them. San Diego County runs seven detention facilities. The main ones are the San Diego Central Jail downtown, the Vista Detention Facility in North County, George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa, and the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility for women in Santee.

When San Diego police arrest someone, the booking happens at a local station first. The person then transfers to county custody, usually within a day. Once in the sheriff's system, they show up in the Who's In Jail tool. Booking data in San Diego updates throughout the day. New arrests can take a few hours to appear. If someone was just picked up, check again later. The San Diego system shows active inmates only. Once a person posts bail or gets released, their record drops off the search results.

The San Diego Sheriff's Who's In Jail search page is shown below.

If the online tool is down, call the San Diego County Sheriff at (619) 615-2700. Staff can check custody status by phone during business hours.

San Diego City Jail Status

San Diego does not operate its own city jail. The San Diego Police Department makes arrests, but all inmates go to county detention facilities for holding. This is normal in California. Most cities rely on the county sheriff for jail services. There is no separate San Diego city inmate roster to check. Everything goes through the county system. The San Diego Police Department's main station is at 1401 Broadway. If you need to ask about a recent arrest before it hits the county system, call San Diego PD's non-emergency line at (619) 531-2000. They can tell you if someone was recently booked and whether the person has transferred to county yet.

Some smaller cities in San Diego County do the same thing. Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, and other cities all route inmates through the sheriff's jail system. The county handles everything from booking to release for the entire San Diego area.

Statewide Search Options

If you cannot find an inmate through the San Diego County search, try statewide tools. CIRIS is the California state prison locator. It covers all 34 state prisons. Someone convicted in San Diego and sentenced to state prison will show up in CIRIS, not in the county jail search. Search by last name or CDCR number. The tool is free and open to anyone.

VINELink covers every county jail in California, including San Diego. Call 1-877-411-5588 or search online. VINE is good when you do not know which county holds the person. It searches across all 58 California counties at once. You can also sign up for alerts. VINE will notify you by phone, email, or text if an inmate's custody status changes in San Diego County or anywhere else in the state. The BSCC Jail Profile Survey tracks monthly jail population data for San Diego County and every other county in California.

Note: CIRIS only shows state prison inmates. For county jail records in San Diego, use the sheriff's search or VINELink.

Inmate Records Access Laws

Booking data for San Diego inmates is public. Government Code 6254(f) requires law enforcement agencies to release arrest and booking information to anyone who asks. This includes names, charges, bail amounts, and booking dates. The San Diego County Sheriff posts this data online through its Who's In Jail tool. You do not need to file a formal request to see it.

Criminal history records work differently. Penal Code 11105 keeps full criminal records restricted in California. You cannot get another person's criminal history through a public records request in San Diego. Only authorized agencies, certain employers, and the person themselves can access those files. To check your own record, submit fingerprints at a Live Scan location in San Diego and pay the $25 DOJ processing fee. There are dozens of Live Scan sites across the city. The DOJ processes most requests within a few business days.

Visiting San Diego County Inmates

San Diego County detention facilities allow visits on a set schedule. Each facility has its own hours. The San Diego Central Jail downtown has the most visiting slots. Video visits are available at most facilities and can be booked online. In-person visits require you to arrive early and bring valid photo ID. The county does not allow visits for people in intake or medical isolation. Check the sheriff's website for current schedules before you go.

Phone calls from San Diego County jail inmates use a paid system. Rates have come down in recent years, but calls are not free at the county level. State prison calls in California are free as of January 2023. Mail goes to the facility where the inmate is held. Write the inmate's full name and booking number on the envelope. San Diego County also allows electronic messages and commissary deposits through third-party services posted on the sheriff's site. Each facility in San Diego may have slightly different rules for what items you can bring or send, so check first.

Nearby City Inmate Records

These cities near San Diego also have inmate population information available. All use the San Diego County Sheriff's jail system.

For full county jail details, see the San Diego County inmate population page.