Inyo County Inmate Lookup

Inyo County inmate population data is available through the Citizen RIMS platform used by the Inyo County Sheriff's Office. This is one of the least populated counties in California, covering a vast stretch of the eastern Sierra Nevada and the Owens Valley. The county seat sits in Independence. Despite its small population, Inyo County runs its own jail and booking system. You can search for current inmates online through Citizen RIMS or call the sheriff at 760-878-0370 to check custody status directly.

Inyo County Sheriff Detention Facility

The Inyo County Sheriff's Office runs the jail in Independence. This facility serves the entire county, which is the second largest in California by land area. Despite the huge geographic footprint, the Inyo County inmate population stays small. The jail has a limited number of beds and handles bookings from all law enforcement agencies operating in the county. That includes the California Highway Patrol, Bureau of Land Management rangers, and local police from Bishop and other towns. Inmates booked into the Inyo County jail go through standard processing with fingerprints, photos, and medical screening.

Because Inyo County is so remote, the jail plays an important role in holding people who might otherwise have to travel hours for processing. Bishop, the largest town in the county, sits about 40 miles north of Independence. The jail serves as the central holding point for the whole Owens Valley corridor and parts of Death Valley. Transfers to court happen at the Inyo County Superior Court in Independence. The sheriff also handles transports when inmates need to move to state prison or other facilities outside of Inyo County. Call 760-878-0370 to reach jail staff for questions about current inmates.

Inyo County Inmate Search Tools

Citizen RIMS is the main online tool for searching Inyo County inmates. This platform lets you look up people currently in the Inyo County jail by name. Results show custody status, charges, and booking information. Citizen RIMS works through a web browser and does not require you to create an account for basic searches. The system gets updated as bookings and releases happen at the Inyo County jail. It is one of the more user-friendly platforms used by California sheriff offices and gives you quick access to Inyo County inmate population data.

VINELink is another option. This statewide tool covers all California counties, Inyo County included. Search by name to see if a person is in the local jail. VINE also offers notification alerts. Register and VINE contacts you when an inmate's status changes in Inyo County. The phone line is 1-877-411-5588. For anyone in California state prison rather than the Inyo County jail, use CIRIS at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. CIRIS covers all CDCR facilities. It does not include county jail inmates. If you are not sure whether a person from Inyo County went to state prison or stayed in the county jail, try both tools.

Note: Citizen RIMS data for Inyo County may have brief delays when the system syncs with the jail's booking records.

Inyo County Records and State Law

Booking records in Inyo County are public under Government Code 6254(f). This California law requires the release of basic arrest information including names, charges, and bail amounts. The Inyo County Sheriff provides this data through Citizen RIMS and in response to direct requests. You can call, write, or visit the sheriff's office in Independence to get booking information about Inyo County inmates. The small size of the county means requests tend to get handled quickly.

Criminal history records for Inyo County residents fall under the same state rules as every other California county. Penal Code 11105 restricts access to full criminal records. The California DOJ maintains these files and only shares them with authorized people and agencies. You can get your own criminal history by submitting fingerprints and $25 to the DOJ. The Inyo County Superior Court has case records for local criminal proceedings. These include charges, hearing dates, plea agreements, and sentencing documents. Access to court records may require contacting the clerk in Independence since not all Inyo County case data is online.

Contacting Inyo County Jail Inmates

Visiting the Inyo County jail requires following the posted schedule. Call 760-878-0370 for current visiting hours and rules. The jail is in Independence, which is a small town with limited services. Plan your trip ahead of time if you are coming from Bishop, Lone Pine, or other parts of Inyo County. Visitors need photo ID and must follow the dress code. No personal items are allowed in the visiting area. Because of the jail's small size, visiting space is limited and times are strict in Inyo County.

Mail goes to the Inyo County jail at the sheriff's office in Independence. Write the inmate's full name and booking number on the envelope. Staff check all mail before it reaches inmates. Letters and photos are fine. Do not put cash or contraband in the envelope. Phone calls from inmates in the Inyo County jail use the facility's approved phone system. Family members may need to set up an account for the inmate to call. Commissary services let inmates buy snacks and supplies. Ask jail staff about the current system for adding funds to an Inyo County inmate's commissary account.

Inyo County Population Data Resources

The California DOJ answers common questions about criminal records and inmate data access on the DOJ FAQ page at oag.ca.gov.

This FAQ covers how to request your own criminal history, what shows up on a background check, and how California handles record corrections. The same rules apply to Inyo County as to every other part of the state. If you have questions that the FAQ does not answer, call the DOJ Record Review Unit at (916) 227-3849 for help with Inyo County records.

Browse Inyo County Area

Inyo County has no cities with a population over 100,000. Use the county tools above for Inyo County inmate population searches.

Counties Near Inyo County

Search inmate records in counties that share borders with Inyo County.