San Diego County Inmate Lookup

San Diego County operates seven detention facilities with an average daily population around 5,000 inmates. The Sheriff's Department manages jail operations throughout California's second largest city and surrounding areas. You can request jail mugshots and booking records through the Sheriff's office. While specific online search details may vary, you can call for custody information any time. San Diego Central Jail at 1173 Front Street handles many bookings. The system serves San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, and other communities. Booking information becomes public under California law once someone is arrested. Contact the Sheriff to find inmates in San Diego County.

San Diego County Detention Facilities

San Diego Central Jail is the main facility. It sits at 1173 Front Street in downtown San Diego. Call (619) 615-2700 to reach the facility. For inmate booking information, call (619) 313-5610. These lines operate 24 hours a day. Staff can tell you if someone is in custody at San Diego County facilities.

Visit the San Diego County Sheriff's jail information page for general details. This page provides information about facilities, visiting, and contacting inmates. Have the person's name ready when you call. Staff will check their system and provide basic information about custody status in San Diego County.

The Sheriff operates seven detention facilities throughout the county. Each serves different populations and areas. Inmates get assigned to facilities based on their charges, security classification, and location of arrest. San Diego County manages a large jail system that handles thousands of bookings each month.

Note: Phone calls from inmates come from 727-349-1561. This number may get filtered as spam by your carrier. Add it to your contacts if you expect calls from someone in San Diego County jail.

Finding Jail Records

Call (619) 313-5610 for inmate booking information. This is the fastest way to check custody status. Have the person's full name ready. Staff will search their database and tell you if the person is in any San Diego County facility. They can provide booking dates, charges, and bail amounts over the phone.

For public records requests, contact the Sheriff's Records Division. They handle requests for booking reports, arrest records, and mugshots. You can submit a written request for copies of documents. Some requests may involve fees for copying and processing in San Diego County.

California law requires disclosure of basic booking information. Government Code 6254(f) lists what must be public. This includes names, physical descriptions, birth dates, arrest times and dates, booking times and dates, arrest locations, charges, and bail amounts. San Diego County must provide these details when someone requests them.

Mugshots are generally public records in California. Law enforcement can release booking photos unless a specific exemption applies. San Diego County should provide mugshots upon request. You do not need to explain why you want the photo or provide identification to make a public records request.

California Public Records Laws

Penal Code 13665 restricts how police share mugshots on social media. Law enforcement cannot post booking photos of nonviolent offenses on platforms like Facebook. If they do post such photos, they must remove them within 14 days. This law does not prevent release of mugshots through official channels or in response to public records requests in San Diego County.

Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans mugshot extortion. Some websites used to post booking photos and charge fees to remove them. This is illegal in California. People can sue companies that demand payment to take down their mugshot. San Diego County does not charge to remove photos from official records.

Arrest records can be sealed under certain conditions. Penal Code 851.87 through 851.92 allow people to seal records when charges were not filed or were dismissed. If an arrest gets sealed, the booking record is no longer public. The person can deny the arrest occurred. Sealed records do not appear in background checks or public databases in San Diego County.

Contacting Inmates

San Diego County uses Securus Technologies for inmate phone calls. Friends and family can set up prepaid accounts. Visit the Securus website to register. You need the inmate's name and booking information. Calls are monitored and recorded except conversations with attorneys in San Diego County jails.

JailATM handles commissary deposits. Go to their website to send money to an inmate. Funds typically post within 24 hours. Inmates use commissary accounts to buy snacks, hygiene items, and other approved products. Each deposit may have a processing fee in San Diego County.

Video visitation may be available depending on facility and custody status. Check the Sheriff's website for current visiting policies. Some San Diego County facilities use remote video systems. You might need to schedule these in advance. In-person visits have specific hours and rules at each facility.

Mail can be sent to inmates at their facility address. Use the inmate's full name and booking number. Include your return address. All incoming mail gets inspected before inmates receive it. Contraband will be rejected. Check the Sheriff's website for rules about what you can mail to San Diego County inmates.

Inmate Release Notifications

VINE provides custody status updates. Visit vinelink.dhs.gov or call 877-411-5588. This free service lets you register for alerts about San Diego County inmates. Enter the person's name to track them. VINE sends text or email messages when someone is released or transferred.

The system works across California. If an inmate gets moved to another county, VINE updates your alerts. This helps victims and others stay informed about custody changes. The service operates 24 hours a day. You can register as many names as you want in San Diego County and other jurisdictions.

Making a Public Records Request

California's Public Records Act gives residents the right to inspect public records. Government Code 7920 through 7931 lays out the rules. Agencies have 10 days to respond to requests. They must tell you whether they have the records and when you can access them. San Diego County follows these requirements for all records requests.

Be specific in your request. Include names, dates, and case numbers if you have them. Vague requests take longer to process. San Diego County may ask you to clarify what you need. Narrowing your request helps staff find the right records faster.

Some records have exemptions. Privacy laws protect certain information. Ongoing investigations may not be fully available. San Diego County will tell you if exemptions apply. You can appeal if you think the county wrongly denied access to records.

Note: Public records requests can involve fees for copying and staff time. San Diego County will estimate costs before processing large requests. You can adjust your request to reduce fees if needed.

Cities in San Diego County

San Diego County includes many cities along the coast and inland valleys. Major cities include San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, and Vista. All local police departments book arrestees into Sheriff's jails. The same system covers everyone regardless of which agency made the arrest in San Diego County.

San Diego Chula Vista Oceanside Escondido Carlsbad El Cajon Vista San Marcos Encinitas National City La Mesa Santee

Whether someone is arrested by city police or the Sheriff's patrol, they end up in a San Diego County jail. You do not need to know which agency made the arrest to find booking information in San Diego County.

Nearby Counties

If someone is not in San Diego County jails, check neighboring counties. People are sometimes arrested in one place and booked elsewhere. Outstanding warrants can cause transfers between jurisdictions in California.

Imperial County Riverside County Orange County

Each county runs its own jail system. You must contact each Sheriff's office separately. VINE can search multiple counties if you are not sure where someone is being held in California.