Imperial County jails and inmate search
Imperial County lies along the Mexican border in California's southeastern desert. Its county jail is in El Centro.
How the Imperial County jail system works
The Imperial County Sheriff's Office runs the county's adult jail in El Centro. People arrested in Brawley, Calexico, Imperial, Holtville and the rest of the county are generally booked there.
Because the county is near the border, federal agencies also work in the area. Someone held by a federal agency, such as immigration authorities, will not appear in the county's jail search.
Check the official county and Sheriff's websites for current visiting, mail and deposit rules.
Searching for someone in Imperial County
- Start with the Sheriff's official resources to confirm whether the person is in county custody.
- If the person isn't in county custody, they may be held by a federal agency. Use the federal search tools described in our guides.
- Bring a valid government-issued photo ID to any visit.
The official source is the Imperial County Sheriff's Office website. For a general walkthrough, see our guide to finding someone in jail.
Practical details for families in Imperial County
Posting cash bail
In Imperial County, cash bail is usually posted at jail facilities or bail windows designated by the Imperial County Sheriff's Office, and sometimes at the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial once a case is filed. Check the Sheriff's official bail page for current locations, hours and accepted payment types. Learn more: How to Post Cash Bail in Southern California.
Property and account money
Property stored at booking is usually released only to someone the person in custody authorizes in writing, and that person needs a photo ID. Money on the person's account has to be released by them. Check facility rules on the Imperial County Sheriff's Office website. See How to Pick Up an Inmate's Property and How to Release Money From an Inmate's Account.
Release and parking
Releases can happen at any hour. In large counties, people are sometimes released from a different facility than the one where they were housed. Downtown facilities usually rely on nearby public parking that's shared with the courts, while facilities outside downtown generally have visitor lots. See Picking Someone Up After Release From Jail and Parking and Arriving for a Jail Visit.
Cars towed after an arrest
The arresting agency issues the vehicle release. That's the city police department, the Imperial County Sheriff's Office in unincorporated areas or contract cities, or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on freeways. See Getting a Car Back After an Arrest: Impounds in Southern California.
After a court hearing
Check the Superior Court of California, County of Imperial online case search and the Sheriff's inmate search. See Who to Contact for an Update After Court.