All 58 Counties · Direct Lines · Free

California County
Sheriff Contact Directory

Direct phone numbers for all 58 California county sheriff offices and jails. Find the booking line, records unit, and inmate information contact for any county. Updated regularly from official sources.

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Information verified by independent research and public records ·⚠ Not legal advice ·ⓘ Not a government website

Calling a California County Sheriff or Jail

Each of California's 58 counties operates its own sheriff's office and county jail. When inquiring about someone in custody, always call the jail's booking or inmate information line, not the sheriff's main administrative number. The two are often different.

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Booking Line

The booking or inmate information line is the correct number to call when asking about someone in custody. It handles questions about custody status, bail amount, charges, and projected court date. Have the person's full legal name and date of birth ready before you call.

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Records Unit

The records unit handles requests for arrest records, report numbers, and official copies of booking documents. These are typically separate from the inmate information line and may have specific request procedures and fees for copies of official records.

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When to Call vs. Search Online

County jail online rosters update every 2 to 8 hours and are the fastest option for recent arrests. Call the jail directly when the online system shows no results, when you need real-time release information, or when you need the actual bail amount rather than a scheduled amount from a bail schedule.

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How California Sheriff Offices Are Organized

In California, the sheriff is an elected county official responsible for law enforcement in unincorporated areas of the county and for operating the county jail system. In most California counties, the sheriff's department runs the jail and handles inmate bookings for arrests made by all agencies in the county, including city police departments, the highway patrol, and state agencies. This means that whether someone was arrested by LAPD, a local city police force, or the county sheriff, they are almost always booked into the county jail under the sheriff's jurisdiction.

Each county maintains at least one main jail facility, though larger counties like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento operate multiple facilities. When searching for an inmate, start with the county where the arrest took place. If you are unsure which county applies, use our search line and an agent will check all relevant county systems simultaneously.

The directory above lists the main phone number and jail or booking line for all 58 California counties. For online inmate searches, use the individual county jail pages linked throughout this site, each county page includes a direct link to that county's official inmate search system where one exists.

All 58 California County Sheriff Offices

Main jail booking and inmate information lines for every California county. These numbers connect directly to the facility that handles inmate inquiries.

County Sheriff / Jail Line County Seat
Alameda(510) 272-6878Oakland
Alpine(530) 694-2231Markleeville
Amador(209) 223-6500Jackson
Butte(530) 538-7671Oroville
Calaveras(209) 754-6500San Andreas
Colusa(530) 458-0200Colusa
Contra Costa(925) 335-1500Martinez
Del Norte(707) 464-4191Crescent City
El Dorado(530) 621-6600Placerville
Fresno(559) 600-3000Fresno
Glenn(530) 934-6627Willows
Humboldt(707) 445-7251Eureka
Imperial(760) 482-5400El Centro
Inyo(760) 878-0383Independence
Kern(661) 861-3100Bakersfield
Kings(559) 584-1444Hanford
Lake(707) 263-2690Lakeport
Lassen(530) 251-8111Susanville
Los Angeles(213) 473-6100Los Angeles
Madera(559) 675-7770Madera
Marin(415) 473-6154San Rafael
Mariposa(209) 966-3615Mariposa
Mendocino(707) 463-4086Ukiah
Merced(209) 385-7451Merced
Modoc(530) 233-4416Alturas
Mono(760) 932-7549Bridgeport
Monterey(831) 755-3700Salinas
Napa(707) 253-4509Napa
Nevada(530) 265-1471Nevada City
Orange(714) 647-4666Santa Ana
Placer(530) 889-7800Auburn
Plumas(530) 283-6300Quincy
Riverside(951) 955-2400Riverside
Sacramento(916) 875-6524Sacramento
San Benito(831) 636-4080Hollister
San Bernardino(909) 387-3545San Bernardino
San Diego(877) 466-0472San Diego
San Francisco(415) 554-7225San Francisco
San Joaquin(209) 468-4400Stockton
San Luis Obispo(805) 781-4550San Luis Obispo
San Mateo(650) 363-4911Redwood City
Santa Barbara(805) 681-4100Santa Barbara
Santa Clara(408) 808-4900San Jose
Santa Cruz(831) 454-2311Santa Cruz
Shasta(530) 245-6135Redding
Sierra(530) 289-3700Downieville
Siskiyou(530) 841-2900Yreka
Solano(707) 784-7000Fairfield
Sonoma(707) 565-2511Santa Rosa
Stanislaus(209) 525-7000Modesto
Sutter(530) 822-7307Yuba City
Tehama(530) 527-3411Red Bluff
Trinity(530) 623-2611Weaverville
Tulare(559) 733-6218Visalia
Tuolumne(209) 533-5815Sonora
Ventura(805) 654-2380Ventura
Yolo(530) 668-2500Woodland
Yuba(530) 749-7777Marysville

ⓘ Phone numbers are verified from official sheriff website sources. If a number appears disconnected, visit the county page on this site or call our free line for the most current contact.

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What to Say When You Call a California County Jail

Calling a county jail can feel intimidating, especially when you do not know what information you need or what questions to ask. California county jails handle inmate inquiries through their booking or inmate information line, which is separate from the general sheriff's office number. The staff at these lines are accustomed to fielding calls from families and can provide basic custody information quickly, as long as you have the right details ready.

What to Have Ready Before You Call

Before calling any California county jail or sheriff's office, gather the following: the person's full legal name as it appears on a government ID, their date of birth, the county where the arrest occurred, and the approximate date of the arrest if known. A booking number speeds up the search considerably if you have it. For people with common names, having the city of arrest or the arresting agency name can also help narrow results quickly.

What the Jail Can and Cannot Tell You

California county jails will confirm whether a named individual is in custody, provide the booking date, list the charges on file, state the bail amount if one has been set, and give the projected court date. They will not provide the inmate's personal contact information, relay messages, or share details about active investigations. If a person is held under an ICE, state parole, or out-of-county hold, the jail may not be able to release full details.

After Hours and Weekends

California county jails operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including holidays. The inmate information line is typically staffed around the clock, though wait times may be longer on nights and weekends. If you cannot get through or the system is experiencing high call volume, use our free 24/7 search line and a live agent will contact the facility directly on your behalf and relay the custody information to you immediately.

California Sheriff Directory: Frequently Asked Questions

Use the directory above to find the booking or inmate information line for any of California's 58 county jails. You can also call our free 24/7 line and we will contact the appropriate sheriff's office on your behalf and relay the inmate information to you.

The sheriff's main line handles general inquiries, crime reporting, and non-emergency contact. The booking or jail information line handles questions about individuals in custody, bail amounts, charges, and court dates. Always call the jail's booking or information line when inquiring about an inmate.

Have the person's full legal name and date of birth ready. A booking number speeds up the search if you have it. For common names, the county of arrest and approximate arrest date help narrow the search. Some facilities also accept searches by charge or arresting agency.

Several smaller California counties do not maintain a public online inmate roster. For these counties, calling the county jail directly or using our free 24/7 line is the only option. We can make that call on your behalf and relay the information to you immediately.

Yes. The county jail's booking or inmate information line can confirm whether a person is in custody, provide the booking date, charges, bail amount, and projected court date. They cannot provide personal contact information for inmates or details about ongoing investigations.

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Need to Find a Specific Inmate?

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ⓘ Calls may be answered by a licensed bail bond agent.