Jail records, court & arrest records, mugshots and even judicial reports
Use this website for informational purposes only.
California's correctional system is among the largest in the United States and comprises a number of state prisons, county jails, city jails, and federal prisons. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) manages all state prisons, while county jails are managed by the individual counties' Sheriff's Departments, and city jails by their respective city's Police Departments. Federal prisons are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).
Each facility has its own systems for maintaining order, discipline, and security. The overarching goal is to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment for both staff and inmates while also focusing on rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
The CDCR operates 35 state prisons, including 3 women's facilities. Some of the largest and most well-known include:
Each prison has its own unique capacity and level of security, ranging from minimum to supermax. More updated information can be found on the CDCR's website.
California has 58 counties, each with its own county jail system. These facilities hold inmates awaiting trial or serving sentences of less than one year. Larger counties such as Los Angeles County, San Diego County, and Orange County have multiple jail facilities.
City jails are typically small facilities managed by local police departments. They're designed for short-term holding of arrested individuals before their transfer to a county jail.
California is also home to several federal prisons, which house individuals convicted of federal crimes. These include:
There are multiple online and offline ways to locate individuals in the California correctional system.
The CDCR Inmate Locator is an online tool for finding inmates in California state prisons. The service is available 24/7 and requires the inmate's CDCR number or their full name and date of birth.
For offline searches or more detailed information, you can contact the CDCR Identification Unit by phone at (916) 445-6713, during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.).
Each county jail in California typically has its own online inmate locator. Here are a few examples:
For offline searches, you can contact the Sheriff's Office in the respective county.
City jails may not always have online inmate locators, and in these cases, you'll need to contact the local police department directly for information.
The BOP Inmate Locator is an online tool for locating inmates in federal prisons, including those in California. For offline searches, you can contact the specific federal prison or the BOP's central office.
Remember that while these tools can help you locate an inmate, additional steps may be needed to visit or communicate with them, including securing permissions and following specific facility protocols. Always check with the correctional facility for their rules and procedures.
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