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Criminal Records and Contact Info aggregated from real law enforcement agencies and government court houses.

California Inmate Search

Updated on: December 16, 2023
California

The California Department of Corrections “seeks to create a safer California through correctional excellence. They enhance public safety through safe and secure incarceration of offenders, effective parole supervision, and rehabilitative strategies to successfully reintegrate offenders into their communities.”

The California Department of Corrections offers several inmate search options for you to find the inmate you are looking for.

California Department of Corrections Inmate LookUp

The California Department of Corrections manages and operates all the state prison in California.

To search for an inmate in the California Department of Corrections, click on this link.

From here, you will go to the inmate search page, enter the inmate’s first and last name, and search.

CDCR Inmate Locator

The CDCR inmate locator is another way to search for inmates in California. Simply type in the inmate number or the last name of the inmate you are looking for. You can perform an offender search with pictures and see the full names and mugshots of the inmates so you can quickly find who you are looking for.

The website says that the “information displayed in the search results is subject to change. Information for inmates recently admitted to, or transferred between, prisons may not be available for several days. In addition, information regarding some offenders cannot be disclosed due to safety and security concerns” (https://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/search.aspx).

VINELink

VINELink serves as a third-party company that allows you to search for inmates in California.  In addition to the website, you can access VINELink by calling toll-free 1-800-247-9763.

VINELink is the online portal to VINE, America’s leading victim notification network which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, VINELink provides the most current and reliable information regarding inmate custody status changes and criminal case information.

Once you find the inmate you are looking for, you will see his or her full name, his or her mugshot, his or her charges or convictions, and the jail where he or she is serving time.

Find an Inmate Search Engine

Another resource you can use for a California prison inmate lookup is the Federal Bureau of Prison’s Find an Inmate search engine. From 1982 to present, this website contains records on inmates that are currently incarcerated or have been incarcerated in California. If you are searching for an inmate that was previously incarcerated, his or her release date will be provided.

You can either search by the inmate’s name or the inmate’s number (DCDC number, FBI number, INS number, or BOP register number).

Search Correctional Facilities by Types

To find out who’s in jail in California, you can also search for the inmate in the type of prison that he is she is in. Here are four types of jails in California:

  1. City Jails

City jails are jails in a larger city where inmates serve time awaiting a court date or for shorter sentences (usually less than a year)

  1. County Jails

County jails are jails in a smaller town where inmates serve time awaiting a court date or for shorter sentences (usually less than a year)

  1. State Prisons

State prisons are prisons where inmates go after they have been convicted of a crime. Inmates typically spend longer than a year in state prisons.

  1. Federal Prisons

Federal prisons are operated under the jurisdiction of a federal government as opposed to a state. Federal prisons are used for convicts who have violated federal law.

  1. Private Facility

A private prison, or for-profit prison, is a prison operated by a third party that is contracted by a government agency.

When you are looking at a specific jail or prison, go to the inmate search page on the website and search for the inmate, using their first and last name. You will usually see the inmate’s name, mugshot, birthdate, charges, and other information.

Search Specific Jails in California

You can also search for inmates by searching for the specific jails in California. Each jail website has an inmate list, so you can find out who’s in jail and where they are serving time.  You can either search the jail roster, or you can search for a specific person. Go here to search for specific jails in California.

You can definitely find the inmate you are looking for in the state of California by using these search databases. If you cannot find the inmate on one search, try another one. Make sure you know the inmate’s first and last name, and it helps if you know their inmate number.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Offender Lookup

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation manages and operates all the state prison in California.
To search for an inmate in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation follow the steps given below:
1

Navigate to inmate search page

2

Enter all valid data in the required fields.

3

Click on ‘Search’ button.

California Inmate Search DOC Information

Authority California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Website link
Inmate Search link
Visitor Application link
Video Visitation link
Send Mail/Packages link
Send Email link
Send Money link
Phone Calls link
Address 1515 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811, United States
Phone 916-324-7308

List of Jails and Prisons in California