Sonoma County Jail Inmate Database
Sonoma County operates the Main Adult Detention Facility in Santa Rosa that serves the entire county. The Sheriff's Office provides public access to jail mugshots and booking records through an online inmate search system. You can look up current custody information for people held at the facility. MADF has a capacity of 1,473 inmates and processes thousands of bookings each year from across Sonoma County. The online database updates as new arrests are processed and booked into the jail. Most searches are free and available to anyone looking for inmate information. Public access follows California law and Sheriff's Office policies for booking records in Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Jail Quick Facts
Sonoma County Inmate Search
Sonoma County provides an online inmate search tool. Visit the Sheriff's Jail Inmate Search page to look up current inmates. Enter a last name or booking number to search the database. The system shows who is in custody at the Main Adult Detention Facility in Santa Rosa.
The database updates as bookings occur. When someone gets arrested anywhere in Sonoma County, their information appears in the system after processing at the jail. You can see booking dates, charges, bail amounts, and housing assignments. The search tool provides current custody status for everyone in the facility.
To find jail mugshots and booking records, start with the person's last name. Type it into the search box and click submit. Results show all matches currently in custody. Review each result to identify the specific person based on booking dates and charges in Sonoma County.
Some records show booking photos directly in the system. Others may require you to contact the jail for mugshots. The online tool gives you enough details to locate the right inmate. You can then call the facility for additional information about their custody in Sonoma County.
Note: The search system only displays people currently in jail. Once someone is released, their record leaves the active database.
Main Adult Detention Facility
The Main Adult Detention Facility is at 2777 Ventura Avenue in Santa Rosa. Call (707) 565-1400 to reach the jail. MADF is the primary detention center for all of Sonoma County. Everyone arrested in the county gets booked at this facility regardless of which city or area the arrest occurred in.
The Sheriff's Office main headquarters is next door at 2796 Ventura Avenue. Call (707) 565-2511 for general Sheriff's Office inquiries. The jail and administrative offices work together to manage custody operations for Sonoma County.
MADF has a capacity of 1,473 inmates. This makes it one of the larger jail systems in the North Bay region. The facility houses both male and female inmates in separate units. Classification staff determine housing assignments based on charges, behavior, and security needs at the jail.
The facility provides medical care, mental health services, and programs for inmates. Educational classes and work programs help prepare people for release. Different units handle various security levels and special populations within Sonoma County custody.
Using the Online Database
Go to the Jail Inmate Search page on the Sheriff's website. You will see a search form. Enter the person's last name in the box. You can also search by booking number if you have one. Click search to run the query against Sonoma County Jail records.
Results appear as a list. Each entry shows one inmate. You see their name, booking date, charges, and facility location. Some records show bail amounts and court dates. Click on a name to view full details including booking photos in many cases for Sonoma County inmates.
If you get multiple results, use the booking date to identify the right person. Recent bookings appear first in the list. Look at the charges to confirm identity when names are common. Write down the booking number when you find the person in Sonoma County.
The booking number is unique to each arrest. Use it when calling the jail or checking for updates on the case. The number stays with that arrest throughout the entire legal process at Sonoma County facilities.
For historical records not in the active database, contact the Sheriff's Office. They maintain archived booking information. You may need to submit a public records request for older mugshots or booking reports from Sonoma County.
California Public Records Law
State law requires disclosure of arrest information. Government Code 6254(f) says booking records are public. Agencies must provide name, description, birth date, arrest time and date, booking time and date, location of arrest, charges, and bail amount. Sonoma County complies by maintaining the online inmate search for public access.
Booking photos are generally public records in California. Most mugshots can be released unless a specific exemption applies. The Sheriff follows state guidelines on what can and cannot be disclosed from Sonoma County Jail records.
Some limits exist on social media use of mugshots. Penal Code 13665 restricts law enforcement from posting booking photos on social platforms for nonviolent crimes. They must remove such posts within two weeks. This does not affect official inmate databases. Those remain public for Sonoma County.
Commercial websites cannot charge fees to remove booking photos. Civil Code 1798.91.1 bans this practice throughout California. If a company demands money to take down your mugshot, they violate state law. You can sue and get the photo removed without paying in Sonoma County or anywhere else in the state.
Inmate Communication Services
Sonoma County uses multiple third-party providers for inmate services. Securus handles phone services. JPay and Pigeonly provide additional communication options. Check the Sheriff's website or call the jail for current provider information and instructions for Sonoma County inmates.
To send money to an inmate, you need their full name and booking number. Online deposit services post funds within a few hours. Inmates can use the money for commissary items, phone calls, and approved purchases at Sonoma County Jail. Processing fees apply to most deposit methods.
Phone calls from inmates come through Securus. You may need to set up an account to receive calls. Video visitation might be available as well. Each service has its own fees and procedures. The Sheriff's website has details on how to use these systems for Sonoma County.
For release notifications, register with VINE at no cost. Enter the inmate's information to get text or email alerts when they are released or transferred. Call 877-411-5588 to sign up by phone. This service works across all California counties including Sonoma County.
Court and Bail Information
Sonoma County Superior Court handles criminal cases after arrest. The main courthouse is in Santa Rosa. Court dates are set during booking or at first appearance before a judge. Check the court's website for case information and calendars related to jail bookings in Sonoma County.
Bail amounts show in the inmate database for most cases. If bail is set, you can pay it directly to the court or use a bail bond company. Bond companies charge a percentage of the total bail amount as their fee. Once bail is posted and processed, the jail releases the inmate pending their court date in Sonoma County.
Public defenders represent people who cannot afford private attorneys. The public defender's office serves Sonoma County clients facing criminal charges. Contact them through the county website or by calling during business hours for legal assistance and representation.
Cities in Sonoma County
Sonoma County includes many cities that use MADF for bookings. Arrests made by city police departments throughout the area result in custody at the jail in Santa Rosa. All records appear in the same online database for Sonoma County.
Other cities include Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Windsor, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Cloverdale, Cotati, and Sonoma. Police departments in these cities book arrestees into the county jail. State Highway Patrol arrests on local highways also go through MADF. All bookings feed into the same system regardless of which agency made the arrest in Sonoma County.
Nearby Counties
If you cannot find someone in Sonoma County Jail, check neighboring 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 legal issues in California.
Marin County Napa County Mendocino County Lake 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.