Santa Barbara County Jail Custody Search
Santa Barbara County operates two jail facilities that hold inmates from throughout the region. The Sheriff's Office maintains the Main Jail in Santa Barbara and the North Branch Jail in Santa Maria. Both facilities process thousands of bookings every year. You can search for jail mugshots and inmate information through the official Who Is In Custody online database. This system provides access to current booking records, custody status, and arrest details. The Main Jail alone has a capacity of 819 beds and handles most bookings in Santa Barbara County. Public access to these records follows California law and Sheriff's Office policies for inmate information searches.
Santa Barbara County Jail Quick Facts
Who Is In Custody Database
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office provides a public database called Who Is In Custody. Visit the Sheriff's inmate search page to look up current inmates. The system searches both jail facilities at once. Enter a last name to see all matches. Results show the person's full name, booking date, charges, and facility location.
The database updates regularly as bookings occur. When someone gets arrested anywhere in Santa Barbara County, their information appears in this system after processing. You can see whether they are at Main Jail or North Branch. The record includes bail amounts, housing assignments, and scheduled court dates for most inmates in Santa Barbara County.
To find jail mugshots and detailed booking records, start with the online search. Type in the last name and click search. The system returns all current inmates with that surname. Review each result to find the specific person you need. Look at booking dates and charges to confirm identity when names are common in Santa Barbara County.
Some records show mugshots directly in the system. Others may require you to contact the jail for booking photos. The online database gives you enough information to identify the right inmate. You can then call the facility where they are held for additional details about their custody in Santa Barbara County.
Note: The Who Is In Custody database only shows people currently in jail. Once someone is released, their record leaves the active system.
Jail Facility Locations
The Main Jail sits at 4436 Calle Real in Santa Barbara, California. Call (805) 681-4260 to reach this facility. Main Jail has 819 beds and handles most bookings for Santa Barbara County. It processes arrests from the southern part of the county including the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, and surrounding areas.
North Branch Jail serves the northern part of the county. The phone number for North Branch is (805) 554-3100. This facility handles bookings from Santa Maria and the northern region of Santa Barbara County. Inmates may be housed at either location based on where they were arrested and the jail's current capacity.
Both jails operate under the same Sheriff's Office administration. They share records and coordinate custody operations. If you do not know which facility holds someone, call the Records Division at (805) 681-4180. They can search the system and tell you where the person is located in Santa Barbara County.
Main Jail provides medical care, programs, and services for inmates. Classification staff determine housing based on charges, behavior, and security needs. The facility has specialized units for different populations. Work programs and educational classes help prepare inmates for release from Santa Barbara County custody.
Finding Booking Information
Go to the Who Is In Custody page on the Sheriff's website. The search box lets you enter a last name. Some systems also let you search by first name or booking number. Start with whatever information you have about the person in Santa Barbara County.
Results appear in a list format. Each row shows one inmate. You will see their name, booking date, facility location, and charges. Click on a name to see more details. The full record might include mugshots, bail amount, court dates, and release conditions for Santa Barbara County inmates.
If you get too many results, try adding a first name or middle initial. This narrows the search. When you find the right person, write down their booking number. Use this number when calling the jail or checking for updates on their case in Santa Barbara County.
For older records not in the active database, contact the Records Division. They maintain archived booking information. You may need to submit a public records request for historical jail mugshots or booking reports from Santa Barbara County.
Public Access Under State Law
California requires disclosure of arrest records under Government Code 6254(f). This statute says booking information is public. Agencies must provide name, description, birth date, arrest time and date, booking time and date, location of arrest, charges, and bail amount. Santa Barbara County complies by maintaining the Who Is In Custody database for public searches.
Booking photos are generally public records in California. Most mugshots can be released unless a specific exemption applies. The Sheriff follows state law on what can and cannot be disclosed from Santa Barbara County Jail records.
Limits exist on social media use of mugshots. Penal Code 13665 says law enforcement cannot post booking photos on social platforms for nonviolent crimes. They must remove such posts within 14 days. This does not affect the official inmate database. That remains public for Santa Barbara County.
Commercial websites cannot charge fees to remove booking photos. Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans this practice in California. If a company demands payment to take down your mugshot, they break the law. You can sue and get the photo removed without paying in Santa Barbara County or anywhere else in the state.
Inmate Communication and Deposits
Santa Barbara County jails use various third-party services for inmate needs. Phone services, video visits, and money deposits all go through approved vendors. Check the Sheriff's website for current providers and instructions on how to use their systems for Santa Barbara County inmates.
To send money to an inmate, you typically need their full name and booking number. Online deposit services charge processing fees. Funds usually post to the inmate's account within a few hours. They can use the money for commissary items, phone calls, and other approved purchases at Santa Barbara County jails.
Video visitation may be available as an alternative to in-person visits. Each facility has its own rules and schedules. You need to register and schedule visits in advance. The Sheriff's website has details on how to set up video visits with inmates in Santa Barbara County.
Important visiting restriction: People who were incarcerated within the last 12 months or who are on felony probation cannot visit inmates. This policy applies to all Santa Barbara County jail facilities.
For release notifications, use VINE at no cost. Register with the inmate's information to get alerts when they are released or transferred. Call 877-411-5588 to sign up by phone. This service covers all California counties including Santa Barbara County.
Court and Bail Procedures
Santa Barbara County Superior Court handles criminal cases after arrest. The main courthouse is in Santa Barbara with branch locations in Santa Maria and Lompoc. Court dates are set during booking or at first appearance before a judge. Check the court's website for case calendars and hearing schedules related to jail bookings in Santa Barbara County.
Bail amounts appear in the inmate database for most cases. If bail is set, you can post it through the court or use a bail bond company. Bond companies charge a percentage of the total bail amount. Once bail is paid and processed, the jail releases the inmate pending their court date in Santa Barbara County.
Public defenders represent people who cannot afford private attorneys. The public defender's office serves Santa Barbara County clients facing criminal charges. Contact them through the county website or by calling the main office during business hours for legal assistance.
Cities in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County covers a large area along the Central Coast. The county includes several cities and unincorporated communities. Arrests in any of these areas result in bookings at one of the county jail facilities. All records appear in the same Who Is In Custody database for Santa Barbara County.
Other cities include Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, and Solvang. Police departments in these cities book arrestees into county jails. State Highway Patrol arrests on local highways also go through the Sheriff's facilities. All bookings feed into the same system regardless of which agency made the arrest in Santa Barbara County.
Nearby Counties
If you do not find someone in Santa Barbara County Jail, check adjacent counties. Warrants from other areas can affect where someone is held. People are sometimes arrested in one county and transported to another based on outstanding warrants in California.
Ventura County San Luis Obispo County Kern County
Each county operates its own jail system with separate databases. You need to search each one individually. VINE can search across multiple counties at once if you are unsure where someone is being held in California.