Free family resource

Find a loved one in a Southern California jail

Plain-language guides to every county jail system and major city jail from San Luis Obispo to San Diego, with links to the official inmate search for each.

Browse by county

Los Angeles County

12 jail pages · County seat: Los Angeles

San Bernardino County

6 jail pages · County seat: San Bernardino

Santa Barbara County

2 jail pages · County seat: Santa Barbara

San Luis Obispo County

1 jail page · County seat: San Luis Obispo

Guides for families

How to Find Someone in a Southern California Jail

A step-by-step guide to finding a loved one in county or city custody anywhere in Southern California.

How to Send Money to Someone in Jail

How commissary and phone accounts work in Southern California jails, and how to avoid fees and scams.

Visiting Someone in a Southern California Jail

What to expect when you visit a county jail: scheduling, ID, dress codes and video visits.

Sending Mail to Someone in Jail

How to address letters, what you can and can't send, and why mail gets returned.

Bail Basics in California

A plain-language overview of how bail, release on your own recognizance and arraignment work in California.

What Happens After an Arrest in Southern California

A timeline from arrest to booking, first court date and release, so families know what to expect.

County Jail vs. State Prison vs. Federal Custody

Learn the difference between county jails, California state prisons and federal facilities, and where to search for each.

Parking and Arriving for a Jail Visit

What to expect when you drive to a Southern California jail for a visit: parking, arrival times, what to leave in the car and accessibility.

Picking Someone Up After Release From Jail

How jail release timing works in Southern California, where people come out and how to plan a safe pickup, including late at night.

Medical and Mental Health Care in County Jail

How medical care works for people in Southern California county jails, how families can share health concerns and what privacy rules apply.

Prescriptions and Medications in Jail

Whether jails accept outside medications, how prescriptions are verified, and how to get medications at release in Southern California.

Eyeglasses, Contact Lenses and Dentures in Jail

How Southern California jails handle eyeglasses, contacts, dentures and hearing aids, and what to do if they're lost or broken.

How to Pick Up an Inmate's Property

How to collect someone's clothing, wallet, keys and phone from a Southern California jail, including the release forms and ID you'll need.

Getting a Car Back After an Arrest: Impounds in Southern California

What happens to a vehicle after an arrest, how to get a vehicle release from the arresting agency and what tow yard fees to expect.

How to Post Cash Bail in Southern California

Where and how to pay cash bail at Southern California jails and courts, what ID you'll need, and how the money is refunded.

Who to Contact for an Update After Court

How families can find out what happened at a court hearing, from online court case searches to the defense attorney.

How Jail Commissary Works

How commissary ordering works in Southern California county jails: what people can buy, schedules, limits and help for people without money.

How to Release Money From an Inmate's Account

How a person in custody can release funds to family, and what happens to the money on their books when they're released or transferred.

Free and Low-Cost Legal Help in Southern California

Where families can find free or affordable legal help, including legal aid, law school clinics, bar referral services and court self-help centers.

Working With a Public Defender: What Families Should Know

How public defenders are appointed in California, how families can reach them and what information they can and can't share.

Hiring a Private Criminal Defense Attorney: Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of hiring a private defense lawyer instead of using a public defender, how fees work and how to check a lawyer's license.

Bail Bonds: When to Call a Bail Agent, and the Pros and Cons

How bail bonds work in California, when it makes sense to contact a bail agent, the pros and cons, and how to check a bail agent's license.

The First 24 Hours After an Arrest in Southern California

A step-by-step guide for families: locate a loved one, understand booking and release options, prepare for court, and avoid rushed financial decisions.

How Immigration Bail Bonds Work and How ICE Detention Differs From County Jail

A plain-language guide for Southern California families: how ICE detention differs from city and county jails, how to find someone, and how immigration delivery bonds are set, paid and refunded.

How Southern California jails work

In Southern California, each county Sheriff runs the county jails. Several large cities also run short-term city jails. Someone arrested by city police may be held at a city jail for a day or two, then released or moved to the county. Knowing which agency made the arrest is usually the fastest way to find someone.

Every county Sheriff in the region offers a free official inmate search. You never need to pay a website to find out whether someone is in a county jail. Start with our step-by-step search guide or the full A–Z list of jails.