San Francisco Inmate Records

San Francisco inmate population records come from a single source because the city and county are the same jurisdiction. San Francisco is one of only a few places in California where the city and county share one government. The San Francisco Sheriff's Department runs the jail system and handles all inmate data. There is no separate city jail versus county jail distinction here. Every person in custody in San Francisco sits in a facility run by the sheriff. You can search for current inmates online through the sheriff's website for free.

San Francisco Sheriff Inmate Search

The San Francisco Sheriff runs the "Find a Person in Jail" tool on its website. This is the main way to search San Francisco inmate population records. Go to the SF Sheriff Find a Person in Jail page. Enter the person's last name and first name. Results show current inmates with their booking date, charges, bail amount, and facility location. The tool only shows people in custody right now. Once someone posts bail or gets released, they drop off the list.

San Francisco County operates four jail facilities. County Jail #2 at 425 7th Street in the Hall of Justice is the main intake and booking location. County Jail #4 sits at 850 Bryant Street. County Jail #5 in San Bruno is the largest facility and holds most of the inmate population. The women's section is at County Jail #2. When someone gets arrested in San Francisco, they go through booking at the Hall of Justice first. Processing takes a few hours. The online search tool usually shows the person after booking is done.

The San Francisco Sheriff's Find a Person in Jail page is shown below.

If you have trouble with the online tool, call the San Francisco Sheriff at (415) 553-1430. Staff can check custody status by phone.

City and County Combined

San Francisco's structure is different from most California cities. The city and county are one entity. This means there is no separate city jail or county jail. The sheriff handles all of it. When the SFPD arrests someone, that person goes straight to the sheriff's jail system. There is no intermediate city holding facility. This actually makes things simpler for inmate searches. You only need to check one system in San Francisco. Other California cities require you to check both a city facility and the county facility. Not here. The sheriff's search tool covers everyone in local custody.

San Francisco closed several older jail facilities in recent years. The city shut down County Jail #3 and County Jail #6 at the San Bruno facility. The overall San Francisco jail population has gone down over the past decade. Average daily population has hovered around 1,000 to 1,200 in recent years. The BSCC Jail Profile Survey tracks this data monthly if you want historical San Francisco inmate population numbers.

Statewide Inmate Lookup

Two California tools help if the local search does not find someone. CIRIS is the state prison inmate search run by CDCR. If a person from San Francisco was sentenced to state prison, CIRIS will show their location. It does not cover county jails. Search by name or CDCR number. It is free for everyone. VINELink is the other statewide option. It covers all 58 California counties, including San Francisco. Search by name and get custody status info. VINE also lets you sign up for alerts when an inmate's status changes. Call 1-877-411-5588 to use VINE by phone.

Note: CIRIS covers state prisons only. For San Francisco jail inmates, use the sheriff's search tool or VINELink.

San Francisco Inmate Records Laws

Booking data for San Francisco inmates is public under California law. Government Code 6254(f) requires disclosure of arrest and booking information. Names, charges, bail, and booking dates are all accessible. The San Francisco Sheriff posts this through the online search tool. Anyone can access it without filing a formal request or giving a reason.

Criminal history records are restricted. Penal Code 11105 limits access to full criminal histories to law enforcement and authorized agencies. You can get your own record through the California DOJ by submitting fingerprints and paying $25. Live Scan fingerprinting is available at several locations in San Francisco including some UPS stores and private service providers. The DOJ processes most requests in a few business days. San Francisco also has a public defender's office at 555 7th Street that helps residents understand their records and expungement options.

Visiting Inmates in San Francisco

San Francisco County jails allow scheduled visits. County Jail #5 in San Bruno handles most visits since it holds the largest share of the inmate population. You need valid photo ID. Arrive early because check-in takes time. Video visits are available and can be scheduled through the sheriff's website. The schedule changes based on the housing unit, so check before you plan a trip.

Phone calls from San Francisco jail use a paid system. Rates are set by the jail's phone provider. State prison calls in California are free since 2023, but county calls still have fees. You can add money to an inmate's phone account online. Mail should go to the facility where the inmate is held. Write the full legal name and booking number on the envelope. San Francisco also allows electronic messages through the jail's approved platform. Commissary funds can be deposited online. The sheriff's website has details for each facility on what mail and packages are allowed.

Nearby City Inmate Records

Cities near San Francisco have their own county jail systems. Search inmate records in nearby areas through the links below.

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