Los Angeles Jail Mugshots

Los Angeles is the largest city in California and has its own police department, but most jail operations are handled by Los Angeles County. When LAPD makes an arrest, suspects are typically held at a local holding facility before being transferred to one of several county jail facilities. You can search for jail mugshots and booking records through the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department online portals. The Sheriff runs Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and other detention centers where Los Angeles arrestees are housed. These systems provide public access to booking photos, custody status, arrest charges, and bail information for people arrested in Los Angeles. The databases update constantly as new bookings occur throughout the city and county.

LA County Handles Los Angeles Jail Operations

The Los Angeles Police Department makes arrests within city limits. Once someone is booked, they go into the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. LAPD operates a few short-term holding facilities, but all inmates are transferred to county jails within hours. This means you need to search the Los Angeles County jail system to find mugshots and booking records for people arrested by LAPD.

Los Angeles County runs one of the largest jail systems in the nation. The main facilities include Men's Central Jail at 441 Bauchet Street and Twin Towers Correctional Facility. Other locations include North County Correctional Facility in Castaic, Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, and Mira Loma Detention Center in Lancaster. Anyone arrested in the city of Los Angeles can end up at any of these facilities based on their charges, gender, and security classification.

To search for someone arrested in Los Angeles, use the Los Angeles County Sheriff Inmate Information Center online. This database covers all county jail facilities and updates in real time. You can search by name or booking number to find custody status, charges, bail amounts, and booking photos. The system is free to use and does not require registration.

For the most recent arrests in Los Angeles, check the LA County booking log on the Sheriff's website. This page lists everyone booked into custody in the last 72 hours. It includes mugshots, charges, and booking times. The log updates every few minutes with new arrests from Los Angeles and other cities throughout the county.

LAPD Records Division

The Los Angeles Police Department maintains its own records separate from the jail system. If you need arrest reports or case files related to an LAPD arrest, you must contact the LAPD Records and Identification Division. They handle public records requests for police reports, arrest histories, and investigation files.

LAPD Records is located at 100 West 1st Street, Room P1-731, Los Angeles, CA 90012. You can call them at 213-486-8300 during business hours. The department charges fees for certified records. An arrest record request costs $23. Charge files cost $16. These fees cover the cost of searching and copying documents.

For booking photos and custody information, you still need to go through the LA County Sheriff. LAPD does not maintain an online database of jail mugshots. Once someone is booked into county custody, all their information appears in the Sheriff's system. This includes their photo, charges, bail amount, and current location within the Los Angeles jail system.

Searching for Los Angeles Jail Mugshots

Start with the person's name. You need at least a last name to search the county database. If you have both first and last names, the search works better. Common names may return multiple results from Los Angeles and other parts of the county. Look at the booking date and charges to identify the right person.

The Inmate Information Center shows booking photos for most inmates in Los Angeles County jails. Click on the person's name in the search results. A new page opens with their full record. The mugshot appears at the top. Below that you will see their charges, bail amount, court dates, and which facility is holding them.

If you know the booking number, enter it directly. This gives you the exact record without sorting through multiple matches. Booking numbers are unique to each arrest in Los Angeles County. You might find this number on court papers or bond documents.

For older records, the online system may not have the information. The active inmate database typically covers people currently in custody or recently released. If someone was arrested months ago and already released, their record might not appear online. Contact the Sheriff's Records Division for archived Los Angeles booking records.

Note: The search covers all Los Angeles County jails, not just the city. You may see results for people arrested in other cities throughout the county.

Inmate Tracking and Notifications

VINE provides free notification services for Los Angeles jail inmates. Visit vinelink.dhs.gov to register for alerts. You can get text messages or emails when an inmate is released or transferred. The service works for all Los Angeles County Sheriff facilities.

Call 877-411-5588 to reach the VINE hotline. This automated system lets you search by inmate name or booking number. You can check custody status by phone without using a computer. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week for Los Angeles and other California counties.

Los Angeles County also has an Inmate Information Line at (213) 473-6100. This number provides custody status and booking details directly from the Sheriff's Department. You can call any time day or night. The automated system tells you the inmate's current location, bail amount, and booking date.

California Public Records Law

Jail mugshots are public records in California. Government Code 6254(f) requires law enforcement to release basic booking information. This includes the person's name, physical description, date of birth, arrest date and time, booking date and time, location of arrest, charges filed, and bail amount. Los Angeles County must provide this data to anyone who requests it.

The law applies to all arrests in Los Angeles, whether made by LAPD or other agencies. Booking photos are generally available unless a specific legal exemption applies. Most Los Angeles jail mugshots appear online without restrictions. You do not need to explain why you want the information or show identification to search the databases.

Penal Code 13665 restricts how police can share mugshots on social media. Law enforcement cannot post booking photos of nonviolent crimes on social media platforms. If they do, they must remove the photos within 14 days. This law does not affect official inmate databases. The Sheriff's Inmate Information Center remains available to the public for Los Angeles County records.

Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans mugshot extortion. Some companies used to post Los Angeles booking photos and charge fees to remove them. California law now makes this practice illegal. It is unlawful to charge someone to take down their mugshot from a website. Violations can result in civil lawsuits and penalties.

Contacting Los Angeles Inmates

Los Angeles County uses GTL and ConnectNetwork for inmate communications. These third-party companies handle phone calls and video visits for people in county jails. You need to create an account to communicate with someone in custody. Each service has its own fees and procedures.

To send money to an inmate in a Los Angeles jail, use the GTL or PCS systems online. You will need the inmate's full name and booking number. Deposits typically post within a few hours. Inmates can use the funds for commissary purchases and phone calls. Visit the company websites to set up an account and make a deposit.

Video visitation has replaced in-person visits at some Los Angeles County facilities. Check the Sheriff's website for current visitation policies. You may need to schedule visits in advance through the GTL portal. Each jail has different rules about who can visit and when. Some facilities require background checks before approving visitors.

Other Los Angeles County Cities

Many other cities in Los Angeles County also use the county jail system. If you are searching for someone arrested in these cities, use the same Los Angeles County Sheriff databases. All bookings feed into the same system regardless of which local police department made the arrest.

Long Beach Glendale Santa Clarita Lancaster Palmdale Pomona Torrance Pasadena El Monte Downey

Each city has its own police department, but they all book arrestees into Los Angeles County Sheriff facilities. The Inmate Information Center covers the entire county. You can search for anyone arrested in Los Angeles or any other city within the county using the same online tools.