California Inmate Search
CDCR CIRIS, All 58 County Jail Rosters and Free Official Tools (2026)California runs one of the largest correctional systems in the country across two separate database systems: CDCR state prisons and 58 independent county jail rosters. This guide tells you exactly which tool to use, why searches fail, and how to locate anyone in California custody for free.
To find someone in a California state prison, use CIRIS, the official CDCR inmate search tool. Search by full legal name or CDCR number. For county jails, each of California’s 58 counties runs its own roster through the local sheriff’s department. If a recent arrest produced no results in CIRIS, check the county system first. Not sure which applies? See our county jail vs state prison guide.
CDCR ID Unit phone: (916) 445-6713, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.
Why Your Search Returned Nothing
This is the most common frustration for families. Here are the real reasons searches fail and exactly how to fix each one.
| What Happened | Why It Happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Searched CIRIS but they are still in county jail | CIRIS only covers CDCR state prisons. County inmates never appear there. | Search the county sheriff roster for the county where the arrest happened. |
| Used a nickname or shortened name | CDCR uses legal names from court records. “Tony” won’t match “Anthony.” | Use the full legal first name and exact last name spelling from a government ID. |
| Searched during the transfer gap after sentencing | After sentencing, a person leaves county jail but isn’t in CIRIS yet. Classification and transport take time. | Check both systems. Call (916) 445-6713 for records not yet online. |
| Person is at a reception center (not yet classified) | Inmates arriving at reception centers such as Wasco WSP-RC or CIM may not appear in CIRIS until initial processing ends. | Wait and check again after a few weeks. Call the CDCR ID Unit if the situation is urgent. |
| Assumed one search covers all California jails | California has 58 separate county jail systems. No single database covers all of them. | Search each county individually through that county’s sheriff website. |
| Did not check federal custody | Federal charges route people to BOP facilities entirely outside CDCR’s system. | Search bop.gov if charges involved federal crimes or if county and CIRIS both return nothing. |
Which California System Should You Search?
Use this table to decide instantly. Find your situation in the left column, then go directly to the correct database.
| Your Situation | Where to Search | Database |
|---|---|---|
| Arrested within the last few days | County Jail | County sheriff website for the arrest county |
| Awaiting trial, bail hearing, or arraignment | County Jail | County sheriff roster (not CDCR) |
| Sentenced to a felony term, transferred to prison | State Prison | CIRIS at cdcr.ca.gov |
| Recently sentenced but not in either database yet | County Jail + State Prison | Check both; call (916) 445-6713 if neither shows a result |
| Charged with a federal crime (drug trafficking, bank robbery, etc.) | Federal BOP | bop.gov federal inmate locator |
| Possible immigration hold or ICE detention | ICE / Federal | ICE Detainee Locator at ice.gov |
| Non-serious/non-violent offense under AB109 | County Supervision | County probation department (not CDCR parole) |
California Inmate Search by Name
Most families search by name. Here is what to enter and what to do when the name search fails.
Searching CIRIS by Name
Enter the last name first. Add the first name to narrow results. Use the full legal name from court documents. CIRIS also accepts a CDCR number if you have it from paperwork. Results match on exact spelling, so try alternate spellings if the first attempt returns nothing.
Searching County Jails by Name
County systems vary. Los Angeles and San Diego accept last name plus first name. Some counties also accept a booking number or date of birth. If the name search fails in one county, try adjacent counties. A person arrested in a city may be booked in a neighboring facility.
When Names Do Not Match
Legal name mismatches are the most common search failure. Try: full first name instead of a nickname, maiden name, alternate last name spelling, first initial plus last name. If the search still fails, call the CDCR ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 with the person’s date of birth for a manual check.
California CDCR State Prison Search
What CIRIS Shows You
- Full legal name and CDCR number
- Current facility location
- Age and commitment county
- Admission date to CDCR custody
- Board of Parole Hearing dates and outcomes
What CIRIS Does Not Show
- Charges or offense details
- Sentence length or release date
- Detailed housing unit assignment
- Juvenile records (restricted by law)
- County jail inmates (separate system)
California County Jail Search by County
Each county operates its own jail roster. Click a county below to go directly to the official inmate search for that county. Gold counties have the highest search traffic and dedicated guides where available.
Phone Only counties require a direct call to the sheriff’s department. Always verify URL and availability at the official county sheriff website before calling. External links verified August 2026.
How California Custody Works
Arrest
Local police or sheriff books the person into county jail. A booking number is assigned.
County RosterPre-Trial
Arraignment, bail hearings, and trial occur while person stays in county custody.
County SheriffSentenced
Short sentences stay in county. Felony terms over one year go to CDCR state prison intake.
County or CDCRState Prison
Transferred to a reception center, classified, then assigned to a permanent CDCR facility.
CIRIS DatabaseStep-by-Step: Find Anyone in California Custody
Determine which system holds them
Was the arrest recent? Start with the county jail. Was the person sentenced to a felony term and transferred? Go to CIRIS. Not sure? Our county vs state prison guide explains which system applies to your situation and when a person moves between them.
Search the county roster first for recent arrests
Find the sheriff’s website for the county where the arrest happened and use the links in the county grid above. Use the full legal name. If no result appears, call the jail directly. Booking records can take a few hours to post, especially at large facilities such as Los Angeles County.
Search CIRIS for state prison inmates
Go to ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Accept the terms notice, then enter the last name. Add a first name or CDCR number to narrow results. CIRIS returns current facility, CDCR number, age, commitment county, admission date, and any scheduled Board of Parole Hearing information. It is free and runs 24/7.
Try name variations if searches return nothing
Use the full legal name, not a nickname. Try alternate spellings of the last name. If recently sentenced, the person may be at a reception center (Wasco WSP-RC or CIM are common intake facilities) and may not appear in CIRIS yet during that initial processing window. Call (916) 445-6713 during business hours for a manual records check.
Check federal custody if state and county both return nothing
If both CDCR and county searches fail, the person may be in federal custody. Use the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator at bop.gov to search by name or register number. If an immigration hold is possible, contact ICE directly. Federal charges include drug trafficking across state lines, bank robbery, and federal weapons offenses.
What Information California Inmate Records Show
CDCR State Prison (CIRIS)
- Full legal name and CDCR number
- Age and date of birth
- Current facility name and location
- Commitment county
- Admission date to CDCR
- Board of Parole Hearing dates
- Parole hearing outcomes
County Jail (Varies by County)
- Full name and booking number
- Booking date and time
- Charges listed at time of booking
- Bail or bond amount
- Current custody status
- Facility or housing unit
- Mugshot (where published)
California Mugshot and Booking Records
Whether a mugshot appears in a California inmate search depends entirely on the county or agency. Los Angeles County’s LASD Inmate Information Center includes booking photos for most current inmates. San Diego’s Who’s In Jail portal also publishes mugshots where available. Some smaller counties do not publish photos online at all.
For state prison inmates, CDCR’s CIRIS tool does not display photos in public search results. Booking information for state inmates, including the original arrest mugshot, would have been captured at the county level before transfer.
If you are searching for recent arrest records or booking photos, the county sheriff website for the county where the arrest occurred is the correct starting point. California Government Code 7923.610 requires agencies to share arrest and booking data publicly, which is why most county rosters are free and openly searchable.
Three California Quirks Competitors Miss
Reception Centers Create a Search Blackout
When someone is sentenced to state prison in California, they typically go first to a reception center. Wasco State Prison and California Institution for Men are common intake points. During this period, the person may not appear in CIRIS yet. Families searching in the first few weeks after sentencing often find nothing and assume an error. This is normal processing, not a system failure. Call the CDCR ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 during this window.
AB109 Splits Supervision Between State and County
Under California’s 2011 Public Safety Realignment Act (AB109), people convicted of non-serious, non-violent, and non-sex offenses now go to county Post-Release Community Supervision (PRCS) rather than state CDCR parole. This means CIRIS may show someone as released even though they remain under active supervision. Their records sit with the county probation department, not CDCR. Many families search the wrong system entirely because of this split.
State Prison Phone Calls Have Been Free Since January 2023
Since January 1, 2023, all outgoing calls from California state prisons are free of charge, funded by the state. Each call lasts up to 15 minutes. Many competing guides still warn families about phone costs that no longer apply at CDCR facilities. County jails operate separate phone systems and may still charge. Electronic messages through CDCR’s family resources portal cost five cents each. If you are being charged for calls from a state prison, check the account setup with CDCR.
Active CDCR Facilities
Major active California state prisons. Verify current status at cdcr.ca.gov/facility-locator before travel.
Struck-through facilities are permanently closed. Inmates formerly held there have been transferred. CIRIS will show their current location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use CIRIS (California Incarcerated Records and Information Search) at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov. Enter the person’s last name or CDCR number. Results show current facility, admission date, commitment county, and parole hearing dates. The tool is free and available 24/7. For help, call CDCR’s ID Unit at (916) 445-6713 Monday through Friday.
Several reasons cause no results: the person may still be in county jail awaiting transfer, they may be at a reception center not yet loaded into CIRIS, or the name entered does not match CDCR’s exact record. Try name variations. If recently sentenced, check the county jail first. Call (916) 445-6713 for records the online tool may miss.
Transfer timing varies by facility and classification. Generally the process takes several weeks after sentencing. During that time the person disappears from county jail rosters but has not yet appeared in CDCR’s CIRIS database. This gap is normal. Keep checking both systems. Contact the county jail directly for transfer status.
Yes. CIRIS, the official CDCR inmate search tool, is completely free to use and requires no registration. Most county jail roster lookups are also free through individual sheriff websites. Avoid any third-party site that charges a fee for basic California inmate location information, as government sources provide this at no cost.
Most of California’s 58 counties provide free online inmate rosters through their sheriff’s department websites. Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and Sacramento counties all have searchable online databases. Some smaller counties require a phone call. Each county system is separate from CDCR’s state prison database.
CIRIS returns the incarcerated person’s name, CDCR number, age, current facility location, commitment county, admission date, and Board of Parole Hearing dates and outcomes. It does not show charges, sentence length, or detailed housing assignments. Juvenile records are not included. The tool covers all adult state prison inmates currently in CDCR custody.
For recent arrests, search the county jail roster where the arrest occurred, not CDCR. Each county sheriff maintains a separate online booking database. In Los Angeles, use the LASD Inmate Information Center. In San Diego, use the Who’s In Jail portal. Most county systems update within a few hours of booking. State prison databases only show people already sentenced and transferred.
Yes. Since January 2023, phone calls from California state prisons are free of charge. Each call can last up to 15 minutes. This applies to CDCR facilities statewide. County jails operate separate phone systems and may still charge. Electronic messages through CDCR’s family resources system cost five cents each.
Official California Inmate Search Sources
Official CDCR state prison inmate locator. Free. Search by name or CDCR number. Available 24/7.
Official interactive map and list of all active CDCR adult and juvenile facilities.
CDCR ID Unit: (916) 445-6713. Main: (916) 324-7308. Visitation: (800) 374-8474.
Official Los Angeles County Sheriff inmate search. Includes mugshots and current charges.
Official San Diego County Sheriff inmate roster. Search by name or booking number.
Official CDCR population data used for statistics on this page. (approx. 89,807 in-custody)