San Francisco County Jail Lookup

San Francisco County inmate population records are searchable through the San Francisco Sheriff's Office website. San Francisco is unique in California because it serves as both a city and a county. The sheriff runs the county jail system and posts an online tool called "Find a Person in Jail" on the department site at sfsheriff.com. VINE also covers San Francisco County for custody status checks and alerts. You can reach the jail by phone at (415) 553-1430. San Francisco processes thousands of bookings per year and the public can search the current inmate roster for free at any time.

San Francisco Sheriff Jail System

The San Francisco Sheriff's Office operates the county jail. The main facility is County Jail #2 at the Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street. There are additional housing units at other locations the sheriff manages around the city. Because San Francisco is a consolidated city-county, there is no separate city police jail. All people arrested in San Francisco end up in the sheriff's custody for booking and housing. The San Francisco Police Department makes arrests but then transfers individuals to the county jail for processing.

The San Francisco County inmate population tends to be smaller than many other major California counties. This is partly because of the city's size and partly because of local policies on pretrial release and diversion programs. San Francisco has been a leader in criminal justice reform efforts. The county eliminated cash bail for most charges. Programs like pretrial diversion and supervised release keep the jail population lower than it might otherwise be. Still, the jail holds hundreds of inmates at any given time, including people facing serious charges, those with holds from other jurisdictions, and individuals serving short county sentences.

San Francisco County also houses federal inmates on occasion through agreements with federal agencies. These inmates appear in the same jail system and show up in the sheriff's search tool alongside county inmates.

San Francisco Inmate Population Search

The sheriff's website has a tool called "Find a Person in Jail" at sfsheriff.com. This is the primary way to search San Francisco County inmate population data. Enter a name and the system returns anyone currently held in the county jail who matches. Results include the inmate's name, booking number, charges, and bail information. The tool is free and open to anyone. No account is needed. The page draws directly from the booking system so the data stays current as new arrests come in and people are released.

VINELink provides an alternative search path for San Francisco County inmates. VINE covers every county in California. You can call 1-877-411-5588 or go to the website. VINE is useful when you want to check multiple counties at once. Maybe a person was arrested in San Francisco but you are not sure. VINE lets you search statewide. It also sends alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. Register with the person's name and VINE will call, text, or email you if there is a change in San Francisco County or anywhere else in California. For state prison inmates, the CIRIS search system from CDCR is the right tool. CIRIS does not overlap with the San Francisco County jail roster.

San Francisco County Records and Law

Booking records in San Francisco County are public. Government Code 6254(f) is the California law that makes arrest data available to anyone. Names, charges, bail amounts, and booking dates for San Francisco County inmates can be accessed through the sheriff's search tool, by phone at (415) 553-1430, or in person at the Hall of Justice. This applies to all bookings processed through the San Francisco County jail. Written requests for booking data are accepted as well, though the online tool gives you the same information faster.

Full criminal histories work differently. Penal Code 11105 limits access to complete criminal records in California. The DOJ controls who sees these files. You cannot pull another person's criminal record in San Francisco County or anywhere else in the state. To view your own record, send fingerprints and a $25 fee to the California DOJ Record Review Unit. The San Francisco Superior Court handles court case files separately. Criminal case records are available through the clerk's office at the Hall of Justice. Many San Francisco County court records can also be accessed through the court's online portal. The court provides a case search tool that covers civil, criminal, and family law matters heard in San Francisco County.

Note: San Francisco's elimination of cash bail for many offenses means bail amounts may show as zero for a number of inmates in the search results. This does not mean the person can leave. They may still be held on other grounds.

Visiting San Francisco Jail Inmates

Visits at the San Francisco County jail happen at the facility holding the inmate. The Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street is the main location. Check the sheriff's site for visiting hours and rules. Visitors need a valid photo ID. The jail has a dress code, and personal belongings must be stored in lockers before entering the visiting area. San Francisco County also offers video visits as an option for people who cannot come in person. The video system runs through a vendor approved by the sheriff's office.

Mail for San Francisco County inmates goes to the jail at 850 Bryant Street, San Francisco, CA 94103. Put the inmate's full name and booking number on the envelope. Jail staff opens and inspects all mail. Letters, greeting cards, and photographs are generally allowed. Do not send money through the mail. Commissary funds are handled through a separate deposit system. You can add money at the jail lobby kiosk or through the approved online vendor. Phone calls from San Francisco County inmates go through the jail's phone system. Rates and account setup details are posted by the vendor. Families can set up accounts to accept calls or fund prepaid accounts for inmates to use.

San Francisco Inmate Search Tool

The San Francisco Sheriff's "Find a Person in Jail" page at sfsheriff.com is the main portal for looking up people in San Francisco County custody.

The search page asks for a name and returns matching inmates held in the San Francisco County jail. You see the booking number, charges, and custody status for each result. The data comes from the sheriff's live booking system. San Francisco County updates the roster throughout the day as bookings and releases happen. The tool works from any device and does not require a login or payment.

San Francisco County Cities

San Francisco is a consolidated city-county, so the city and the county are one and the same. All jail services in San Francisco go through the county sheriff.

Counties Near San Francisco

Search inmate population records in counties that border San Francisco County.