Inmate Locator

The San Bernardino County Inmate Locator helps users search for people who are currently in custody or who have recently been released through the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. This article explains the available search methods, the information shown in inmate records, how projected and past releases are handled, when court information must be verified elsewhere, and how locator results connect with visitation, inmate mail, money deposits, bail, and correctional facility information.

Official Inmate Search System

The primary online search is the County of San Bernardino Inmate Locator. The system allows searches by booking number or by identifying information such as an inmate’s name, date of birth, approximate age, and gender.

The locator is maintained as part of the Sheriff’s Department inmate information system. Information displayed for people who are in custody or out of custody represents the most recent information known to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. Because custody status and case information can change as a person moves through the judicial process, search results should be treated as a current county custody record rather than a complete court case history.

The Sheriff’s Department also maintains an Inmate Locator information page within its corrections website. This county page provides an official route to inmate-search services and is useful for users who want to remain within the Sheriff’s Department corrections section.

Booking Number Searches

A booking number provides the most direct way to search the locator when it is already known. The online system accepts a 10-digit booking number. Enter that number in the Booking Number field and select the option to search by booking.

This search method avoids problems that can occur when several people have similar names or when a name has been entered differently in the booking record. It can also be useful when the person’s full date of birth is unknown but a booking number has already been obtained from an earlier county record or communication.

Booking numbers should not be confused with court case numbers. The locator specifically instructs users to enter a 10-digit booking number for this type of search. Court case information is handled separately by the courts, and the Sheriff’s Department warns that its inmate system may not contain the most current court appearance information.

Name-Based Inmate Searches

Users who do not have a booking number can search by name. The locator provides fields for last name, first name, middle name, date of birth or age, and gender. Entering accurate information helps narrow the results to the correct person.

The available identifying fields include:

Last name
First name
Middle name
Date of birth
Approximate age when the date of birth is unknown
Gender

If the person’s exact date of birth is known, that information can provide a more precise search. When the date of birth is not known, the system allows an approximate age instead. The age search covers two years before and two years after the age entered. For example, an approximate-age search is intentionally broader than an exact date-of-birth search and may return more possible matches.

After entering the identifying information, select the name-search option rather than the booking-search option. Users should review the resulting identifying details rather than relying on a name alone, especially when searching for a common first or last name.

When a Name Does Not Appear

The Sheriff’s Department states that, in certain circumstances, names of people arrested and booked by the department may not appear on the public site because of exemptions under Government Code section 6254(f). A missing search result therefore does not automatically establish that a person was never booked or is not associated with a Sheriff’s Department custody record.

When a name does not appear on the site, the locator specifically directs users to contact West Valley Detention Center at (909) 350-2476 for information. This is particularly relevant when the identifying information appears correct but the public search still returns no matching record.

Information Shown in Results

A matching inmate record can contain several categories of information. The exact fields depend on the record, but the locator is designed to display identifying, arrest, housing, and release information associated with the Sheriff’s Department booking record.

Inmate Identification Details

The inmate information portion may show the booking number, sex, name, alias, date of birth, age, height, weight, eye color, and hair color. These details can help distinguish between people with similar names.

When comparing a search result with the person you are trying to locate, use several identifying fields together when possible. A matching name by itself is less reliable than a record that also matches a known date of birth, age, or other identifying information.

Arrest and Bail Information

The arrest section can include an arrest date, bail information, arrest location, and arresting agency. These fields describe information connected with the booking record and should not be treated as a substitute for the current court file.

The Sheriff’s Department is authorized to accept bail in cash or by surety bond under California Penal Code section 1269b. Other forms of bail, including equity in real property, may be accepted by a court but not by the jail. The department also states that it cannot recommend or refer users to a bail agent.

Posting bail does not necessarily mean an inmate will be released. For example, a charge marked “no bail” can require the person to remain in custody until a later court appearance even when bail has been posted for other charges. A charge marked “sentenced” can also require continued custody for the period determined by the court.

As a general guideline provided by the Sheriff’s Department, release may occur when a bail amount appears next to each listed charge and an acceptable form of bail is posted for each charge. The department makes clear that this guideline does not apply in every situation because other conditions can prevent release.

Housing and Release Details

The locator can identify the inmate’s current housing facility and may show visiting information, an inmate mailing address, a projected release date, an actual release date, and information about whom the person was released to. Because custody circumstances can change, the displayed housing facility should be checked before planning a visit or sending facility-specific correspondence.

The system also contains a place for information related to sending money or care packages. Users should rely on the official Sheriff’s Department instructions connected with the inmate record or corrections pages rather than assuming that the same procedure applies in every situation.

Projected Release Information

The Inmate Locator includes a projected-release function. Users can select an available date to view a list of people whose records show a projected release on that date.

A projected release should be read as a projection rather than a guarantee that the person will leave custody at a particular time. The locator itself explains that inmate information can change as individuals move through the judicial process. Bail conditions, court action, sentencing status, other holds, or changes recorded by the Sheriff’s Department can affect custody.

If a specific person is the focus of the search, opening that inmate’s individual record provides more context than relying only on a date-based projected-release list. The individual record may show the person’s current facility and available release information together with the booking details.

Out-of-Custody Searches

The locator also provides an out-of-custody search organized by release date. Users can select one of the release dates offered by the system to view people associated with that date.

This feature is different from a search for a person who is currently housed in a county correctional facility. Once an inmate has been released, the Sheriff’s Department states that it does not receive updated information about that person through the inmate system. Current case information after release must therefore be obtained from the County of San Bernardino Superior Court rather than from the inmate locator.

That distinction matters when a search is being performed several days or weeks after an arrest. A person who no longer appears as currently housed may have moved into the out-of-custody information available by release date, while the related criminal case can continue separately in court.

Court Dates and Case Records

The inmate locator may display information connected with an inmate’s custody status, but the Sheriff’s Department specifically warns that the system may not reflect the inmate’s current court appearance date. For the most current court-date information, users should contact the San Bernardino County Superior Court.

The difference between custody records and court records is especially important when a user is trying to determine the next hearing rather than simply locate an inmate. The Sheriff’s Department controls the county custody information shown in the locator, while court proceedings can continue to change independently.

Users should also avoid treating a booking number as a court case number. A booking number identifies the Sheriff’s Department booking record. Court cases are maintained through the court system, and the inmate locator is not presented as a complete source for current charge or court-case information.

Federal Custody Situations

Some inmate records can involve federal authorities. The locator states that the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department does not provide court and charge information for an inmate when the relevant information is handled through federal authorities. In those situations, the locator directs users to the Federal Bureau of Prisons or the U.S. Marshal Service for the applicable federal information.

This distinction prevents users from assuming that every person physically connected with a county detention setting will have complete charge and court information available through the county system. The inmate locator remains a county custody tool and does not replace federal inmate or federal court records.

Correctional Facility Pages

When an inmate record identifies a housing facility, the Sheriff’s Department corrections website provides official pages for county correctional facilities. Relevant facility pages include the Central Detention Center, High Desert Detention Center, West Valley Detention Center, and Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center.

The housing facility shown in the inmate record is the better starting point for facility-specific matters than assuming where a person is being held based on the arrest location. Arrest location, arrest agency, and current housing facility are separate fields and can represent different places or agencies.

The Sheriff’s Department also maintains an Inmate General Information page within its corrections section. Users handling visitation, mail, account deposits, or other inmate-related matters should compare the inmate’s current locator information with the applicable official corrections information before proceeding.

Visitation Requirements

The inmate information system includes visitation rules and scheduling information. Visits are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to change without notice. There are no same-day visits, and reservations must be made one day in advance.

Visitors are instructed to check in 30 minutes before the scheduled visit. Late arrivals are not admitted under the visitation information provided by the Sheriff’s Department. The system also states that inmates may have only one visit per day with up to six visitors, although inmates with special classifications can have different guidelines.

Visitors who are on probation, on parole, or who have been convicted of a felony must request authorization before scheduling a visit. The inmate system provides an authorization process connected with visit scheduling.

Accepted Visitor Identification

Adults registering for a social visit must provide an accepted form of identification, and the information submitted during registration must match the identification presented at the visit. The listed forms include:

A current driver’s license or DMV identification card from any of the 50 states or Mexico
A current military identification card
A current passport
A current Matricula Consular Mexican identification card
A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration identification card
A consulate identification card

Separate visitor information also identifies government-issued identification such as a DMV identification card or driver’s license, county, city, or state employee identification, military identification, or a valid passport for visitors age 18 or older.

Visitors Under Age 18

Visitors under 18 generally must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The Sheriff’s Department may require verification of the relationship through a birth certificate, proof of guardianship, or questioning of the minor.

The visitation information also contains special provisions for minors in certain relationships to an inmate. Visitors age 12 and older may visit an inmate parent unaccompanied by an adult. A visitor under 18 may visit an inmate spouse, but a marriage certificate and photo identification are required.

Adults accompanying children must keep them within arm’s reach. A visit may be terminated if the visitor does not maintain control of the children.

Visitation Dress Code

The Sheriff’s Department identifies clothing that can result in denied entry. Prohibited attire includes:

Gang attire
Hats
Clothing or accessories with obscene or offensive language or images
Sheer or transparent garments
Tank tops, halter tops, strapless tops, or spaghetti-strap tops
Clothing exposing the chest, breasts, midriff, genital area, or buttocks
Shorts, skirts, or dresses shorter than mid-thigh

Shoes must be worn.

Online Visit Scheduling

The locator’s visit-scheduling process requests the inmate’s booking information along with visitor information. The form includes the requested visit date and time, visitor first and last name, date of birth, phone number, and email address.

A verification link is sent to the email address entered in the request. The system instructs users to check the junk-email folder if the message does not arrive within a few minutes. The verification link expires after five minutes, so the request should be completed while the link remains valid.

The form also provides separate formatting guidance for domestic and foreign telephone numbers. For a domestic number, the system says not to place a “1” at the beginning. Foreign numbers may include dashes and plus signs.

Mailing Items to Inmates

Before mailing anything, confirm the inmate’s current housing and mailing information in the locator. The Sheriff’s Department requires a return address on inmate mail.

The inmate mailing rules allow no more than 10 pictures at one time, and pictures cannot be larger than 5 by 7 inches. Pictures depicting gang affiliation or sexual material are not forwarded to the inmate. According to the Sheriff’s Department, such pictures may be placed on the inmate’s property list or returned to the sender.

Books and magazines must be mailed directly from a bookstore or publisher. Hard-bound books are not accepted. Stamps, writing materials, blank greeting cards, and snack food items are available through commissary and cannot be sent to the inmate through the mail.

Stickers and confetti should not be placed on or inside mailed items because the Sheriff’s Department treats those items as contraband and states that they may delay delivery. Musical greeting cards should not be mailed.

Money for Inmate Accounts

The Sheriff’s Department accepts certain forms of payment for an inmate account. When using a money order by mail, the money order must be made out to the correct detention facility and include the inmate’s name and booking number.

The accepted mailed money orders identified by the Sheriff’s Department are from the U.S. Postal Service and Western Union. Bank cashier’s checks can also be accepted, but they are posted only after verification by the bank. Cash and personal checks are not accepted through this process.

Cash deposits may be made in person at the appropriate facility. The exact amount is required because change cannot be given, and coins are not accepted.

Confirming the inmate’s current facility and booking number before preparing a deposit is particularly important. The Sheriff’s Department instructions require both the correct detention facility and inmate identification when a money order is mailed.

Common Locator Search Mistakes

Several avoidable errors can make an inmate search less useful. The first is entering a number other than the required 10-digit booking number into the booking search. Court case numbers and other identifiers should not be substituted for the Sheriff’s Department booking number.

Another common problem is abandoning a name search because the exact birth date is unknown. The locator specifically allows an approximate age and searches within two years before and two years after the age entered.

Users should also avoid assuming that no result means no booking exists. Certain names may be excluded from public display under the Government Code circumstances described by the Sheriff’s Department. The locator provides a direct West Valley Detention Center contact route for these situations.

A projected release date should not be treated as a guaranteed release appointment. Likewise, an inmate’s displayed court appearance information may not be the most current court schedule. Court dates and current case information belong with the Superior Court, while the locator focuses on the Sheriff’s Department custody record.

Finally, users should verify the current housing facility before arranging a visit, preparing mailed funds, or sending correspondence. Arrest location and current housing are separate pieces of information, and an inmate’s status can change after the original booking.

Relevant Department Contact

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
655 East Third Street
San Bernardino, California 92415-0061
Desert Non-Emergency Dispatch: (760) 956-5001
Valley Non-Emergency Dispatch: (909) 387-8313

Inmate Locator FAQs

Why is the online visit scheduling link not showing?

The visit-scheduling link does not remain available throughout the entire week. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the online scheduling feature becomes available Tuesday at midnight and remains accessible through Saturday at 11:59 p.m. After finding the inmate through the official inmate locator and visiting page, look within the inmate’s record for the link used to schedule a visit. If the link is missing outside the stated scheduling window, its absence may be related to the day of the week rather than a problem with the inmate record.

Can the online visitor form be used for an attorney visit?

No. The Sheriff’s Department specifically states that its online inmate visitor scheduling feature is not intended for official attorney visits. The online form is designed for regular inmate visitation. Attorneys handling professional visits should follow the separate procedures established by the detention facility rather than submitting a standard social-visit request through the inmate locator.

Which browsers work with the inmate locator?

The county identifies recent versions of Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Safari as supported browsers. If search buttons, inmate details, or visitation forms do not load correctly, updating the browser or opening the County of San Bernardino inmate search in one of those supported browsers may resolve display or form problems. Browser compatibility can be especially important when completing interactive portions of the inmate record.

Can I print charge information from an inmate record?

An inmate record may include a “Show Printable Charges” option when charge information is available through the Sheriff’s Department system. This can be useful when a user needs a readable copy of the information currently displayed with the booking record. Availability depends on the particular record, so users should open the individual inmate result and check for the printable-charge option rather than expecting it on the initial search page.