Stockton Inmate Population

Stockton inmate population records are managed by the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. The city does not run its own jail. All bookings go through the county system at the San Joaquin County Jail on South Pilgrim Street. This facility holds people arrested in Stockton, Lodi, Tracy, Manteca, and other cities across the county. You can search for Stockton inmates online right now using the sheriff's free search tool. The county also works with VINELink for custody status alerts. If you need to find someone in state prison who was convicted in Stockton, the CDCR runs a separate search tool called CIRIS. Between these two systems, you can track down most Stockton inmate population records without making a single phone call.

San Joaquin County Jail Services

Stockton sits in San Joaquin County. The county sheriff handles all jail operations for the area. There is no city jail in Stockton. When Stockton police arrest someone, the person goes to the San Joaquin County Jail at 999 West Mathews Road in French Camp. This is the main booking facility for the county. The jail holds people who are waiting for trial, serving short sentences, or being processed for transfer to state prison. San Joaquin County has a rated capacity of over 1,400 beds. The average daily inmate population often runs close to that number.

The Stockton Police Department makes arrests but does not hold inmates past the initial booking window. All custodial records for Stockton arrests end up with the San Joaquin County Sheriff. This means if you want to look up a Stockton inmate, you search the county system. The city police can confirm if they made an arrest, but for custody status and booking details, the sheriff's office is where you go. You can reach the San Joaquin County Sheriff's records division at (209) 468-4562 during business hours.

Stockton Inmate Search Online

The San Joaquin County Sheriff runs a tool called "Who's In Custody" on the county website. This free tool is the fastest way to check on a Stockton inmate. You type in a name and see results right away. The system shows the person's booking number, charges, bail amount, and housing location in the jail. It updates as new bookings come in throughout the day. You do not need an account. Just go to the site and start searching.

The San Joaquin County Who's In Custody page is shown below.

Results show only people currently in custody. Once someone is released from San Joaquin County Jail, they fall off the search results. The tool does not keep historical booking data for Stockton inmates. If you need past records, call the sheriff's records unit. They can pull older booking information for you over the phone. Partial name searches work, but a full last name gives you the best results. Common Stockton last names can return dozens of hits, so add a first name if you have one.

Note: This tool only covers San Joaquin County Jail. It does not show Stockton inmates who have been moved to state prison.

State and National Search Tools

VINELink covers all 58 California counties. It works well for Stockton inmate searches because you do not have to know which county holds the person. Just search by name across the whole state. VINE sends custody alerts too. You sign up and pick the inmate you want to track. When their status changes in San Joaquin County, VINE sends you a call, text, or email. The VINE hotline is 1-877-411-5588. It runs 24 hours a day.

For people convicted in Stockton and sent to state prison, use CIRIS. The CIRIS inmate locator covers all California state prisons. Search by name or CDCR number. Results show the current prison location, admission date, and parole hearing schedule. CIRIS does not include county jail inmates though. If the person was just arrested in Stockton, they will not appear in CIRIS. Use the county tool instead.

The BSCC Jail Profile Survey tracks San Joaquin County jail population data over time. It collects monthly booking numbers, average daily population counts, and capacity figures. This is useful if you want to see how the Stockton area inmate population has changed over the years. Researchers and local media use this data often.

Stockton Inmate Records and the Law

Booking data for Stockton inmates is public. Government Code 6254(f) requires law enforcement agencies in California to share arrest and booking information. That includes the name of the person, the charges filed, bail amount, and booking date. This is why the San Joaquin County Sheriff can post the Who's In Custody tool online. It is not a privacy violation. The law treats booking data as a public record.

Full criminal history is different. Under Penal Code 11105, the California Department of Justice controls access to criminal history records. These are not public. You cannot get a full background check on a Stockton resident through the sheriff's office or any public website. Only authorized agencies, some employers, and the person themselves can access full criminal history in California.

If you need your own record, submit fingerprints through a Live Scan location in Stockton. The fee is $25 to the DOJ. Processing takes 2 to 3 days in most cases. There are several Live Scan sites in the Stockton area.

Visiting Stockton Area Inmates

The San Joaquin County Jail allows visits on a set schedule. In-person visits happen at the jail in French Camp. You need a valid photo ID. The jail posts current visiting hours on the sheriff's website. Schedules vary by housing unit and booking status. Some Stockton inmates may be in a unit with limited visit times. Always check before you go. The drive from downtown Stockton to French Camp takes about 15 minutes.

Phone calls from San Joaquin County Jail are available through the jail's phone system. California law caps call rates from county jails. Video visits are an option as well. Family members can set up accounts to send electronic messages to Stockton inmates in the county system. Fees for messaging depend on the platform the jail uses.

Nearby Cities

These cities near Stockton also have inmate population pages with local search details.

San Joaquin County

Stockton is the county seat of San Joaquin County. The county page has full details on the jail system, search tools, and contact information.