Sunnyvale Jail Records
Sunnyvale is a major city in Santa Clara County located in Silicon Valley with over 155,000 residents. When Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety arrests someone, that person goes into the Santa Clara County jail system run by the Sheriff's Office. The county operates the fifth largest jail system in California with an average daily population around 2,900 inmates. Sunnyvale arrestees typically get booked at Main Jail in downtown San Jose or Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas depending on gender and security classification. You can search for jail mugshots and inmate records through the Santa Clara County Sheriff's online database. This free public search tool provides booking photos, arrest charges, custody status, and bail information for people arrested in Sunnyvale. The system updates as new bookings process through county jails without requiring registration or payment to access public records.
Sunnyvale Jail Quick Facts
Santa Clara County Jail System
The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office operates the jail system for Sunnyvale. Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety makes arrests but does not run a jail facility. Arrestees from Sunnyvale go into county custody at one of two main jails. The Main Jail is at 150 West Hedding Street in San Jose. Call (408) 299-2305 for information. Elmwood Correctional is at 701 South Abel Street in Milpitas. Their number is (408) 957-5900.
Search for Sunnyvale jail mugshots at eservices.sccgov.org/OVR/findinmate/Find. This online database covers all inmates in Santa Clara County custody. You can look up anyone arrested in Sunnyvale. Enter a name to find booking photos and arrest details. Results show charges, bail, and which jail houses the inmate.
Santa Clara County operates the fifth largest jail system in California. The average daily population is around 2,900 inmates. All Sunnyvale arrests process through this county system. The Sheriff determines housing based on gender, charges, and security needs.
The OVR system goes down for maintenance on Mondays from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM. Plan searches outside this window if you need immediate access. Third-party services like GTL handle phone calls and video visits for Sunnyvale inmates in county custody.
How to Find Sunnyvale Inmate Records
Go to the Santa Clara County inmate search page. Enter the person's first name and last name. The system searches both Main Jail and Elmwood Correctional. You do not need to know which facility holds the inmate.
Results show matching inmates with booking details. Click on a name to view the full record. The page displays a booking photo if available. You will see charges, bail amount, booking date, and current jail location. Information updates when custody status changes.
If you know when someone was arrested in Sunnyvale, use the booking date to narrow results. Common names can return multiple matches. Check the age and physical description to identify the right person.
The database shows current inmates in county custody. Once someone is released, they may drop from the active search. For older Sunnyvale booking records, contact the Sheriff's Records Division at (408) 808-4705.
Note: The search system undergoes maintenance every Monday from 12:30 AM to 2:00 AM. It will be unavailable during this time. Try your search at other hours if the system is down.
Inmate Tracking Services
VINE offers free notifications for Santa Clara County inmates. Visit vinelink.dhs.gov to register for alerts. You can get texts or emails when someone arrested in Sunnyvale is released or transferred. The service tracks custody changes at both county jails.
Call 877-411-5588 to access VINE by phone. This automated hotline operates 24 hours a day. Search by name or booking number. The system tells you if someone is still in custody at a Santa Clara County jail.
For direct questions about Sunnyvale inmates, call Main Jail at (408) 299-2305 or Elmwood at (408) 957-5900. The Records Division at (408) 808-4705 can help with older booking information.
California Jail Records Law
Government Code 6254(f) requires disclosure of basic booking information. Law enforcement must release name, physical description, date of birth, arrest time and date, booking time and date, arrest location, charges, and bail amount. This applies to all Sunnyvale arrests processed through Santa Clara County jails.
Jail mugshots count as public records in California. The Sheriff can release booking photos to anyone. The Santa Clara County database includes mugshots for Sunnyvale arrestees. No identification or reason is needed to search.
Penal Code 13665 restricts posting mugshots on social media for nonviolent crimes. Law enforcement must remove such posts within 14 days. This does not affect the Sheriff's official database. Sunnyvale booking records remain searchable online.
Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans charging fees to remove mugshots from websites. Companies cannot post Sunnyvale booking photos and demand payment for removal. California law treats this as unlawful extortion.
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety
Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety handles law enforcement and fire services for the city. Their headquarters is at 700 All America Way in Sunnyvale. For general information, call (408) 730-7100. The department makes arrests but does not operate a jail.
When Sunnyvale officers arrest someone, they transport that person to a Santa Clara County jail for booking. The Sheriff takes custody and processes the arrestee. All mugshots and arrest records enter the county jail system. This is why you search Santa Clara County jail records to find Sunnyvale booking information.
For court records related to Sunnyvale arrests, check with the Santa Clara County Superior Court. The Hall of Justice at 190 West Hedding Street in San Jose handles criminal cases. You can search the court's online database for case filings.
Contacting Sunnyvale Inmates
Santa Clara County jails use GTL for inmate phone calls and video visits. Check the Sheriff's website for current procedures and fees. Each service charges for communications with people in county custody.
To send money to someone arrested in Sunnyvale, you need their full name and booking number. Find this in the inmate search. Online deposits typically post within a few hours. Inmates can use funds for commissary items and phone calls.
Visit the Sheriff's website for visitation schedules and rules at Main Jail and Elmwood. Some visits may be in person while others use video. Check current policies before planning a visit. Sunnyvale arrestees could be at either facility so verify housing location first.
Other Santa Clara County Cities
Other Santa Clara County cities use the same jail system as Sunnyvale. If you are searching for someone arrested in San Jose, Mountain View, or other county cities, use the Santa Clara County Sheriff inmate search. All local police book into county jails.
The online database covers all of Santa Clara County. Search results include bookings from Sunnyvale and other cities. The system does not separate records by arrest location. Enter a name to find custody information regardless of which department made the arrest.