California Inmate Search

Find detailed records of inmates serving their sentence in California state prisons using Inmate Lookup. The records are maintained by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

Inmate Lookup is designed to make it easy for you to find information about people who are incarcerated. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation maintains a centralized database of inmates that anyone can search. This database covers inmates in facilities administered by CDCR only, however. This includes state prisons and state jails but does not include city jails, county jails, or other detention facilities.

The respective CDCR maintains a centralized database of inmates that anyone can find easily.

County jails, police jails, and city jails in California maintain all the inmate database records individually and one can go to their individual website for detailed information.

Each facility’s page here at Inmate Lookup provides a link to its website. There, you may be able to find information about inmates they are currently holding along with details like projected release date. However, not all facilities have the same level of information available. You may need to call them on the phone to find the information you’re looking for.

Detailed instructions are given below so that you can look up inmate information from the database across all prison types. Further down on this page we provide a listing of city jails, county jails, and other facilities in California along with contact information. Again, with each listing, Inmate Lookup also provides a link to their website.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Inmate Lookup:

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation operates and manages all the state prisons in California. To search any inmate in CDCR follow the steps shared by Inmate Lookup and provided below:

Step 1: Visit the California DCR inmate lookup website.

Step 2: Enter the inmate's name or ID in the required fields.

Step 3: Click on the 'Submit' button.

On the results page, you can see the list of all inmates matching the specified criteria.

You can also find out information about a CDCR inmate by contacting the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at:

Website: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/

California Inmate Search: http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/search.aspx

Address: 1515 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811

Phone: 916-445-4950

If you discover the person you’re looking for is not in a state facility, Inmate Lookup has assembled a comprehensive listing of other facilities lower down on this page

Frequently Asked Questions about Performing an Inmate Search

What is the difference between jail and prison?

This is a popular question. Though both types of facilities have to do with public safety, the main differences have to do with the length of confinement and who runs them. Generally speaking, jails are used to hold persons who have been arrested and are awaiting trial in court or to detain offenders who have been convicted of minor crimes. They are operated by local governments on the city or county level. Inmate Lookup provides an accurate list of these kinds of facilities in California below.

Prisons, on the other hand, house offenders who have been convicted of more serious offenses and who have a projected release date farther in the future. They are typically run by the state or the federal government. Examples in California include the Calipatria State Prison and the Pleasant Valley State Prison. Inmate Lookup walks you through the process of finding someone in a state facility at the top of this page.

How do I look up a CDCR ID number?

The CDCR ID number is assigned to each inmate who is in CDCR custody following a conviction. If you know the number, you can use it to lookup an inmate in the system. You can find the number on the CDCR website listed above by Inmate Lookup if you have the name or SID number of the person you are looking for.

What is a SID number?

A SID number is an abbreviation for State Identification Number. Individuals who are arrested for a crime are assigned a SID number, which is used for record-keeping and identification purposes. You can use the State Identification Number to look up a California inmate in the CDCR inmate database. Inmate Lookup has provided easy instructions for how to do this near the top of this page.

What kinds of information can I find out about inmates in an inmate search?

Inmate Lookup provides you with simple instructions for searching the CDCR database near the top of the page. When you look up an offender in the CDCR database, you'll be provided with the following information collected in the system:

SID number (State Identification Number)
CDCR ID number (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation number)
Name
Race
Gender
Age
Maximum sentence date
Current facility
Projected release date
Parole eligibility date
Inmate visitation eligible
Offense history

If available, you will also see information about the scheduled release date, type, and location. A space near the bottom includes the offense history, which gives you details about their initial conviction and any additional convictions. Data includes the sentencing date and California county locations where offenses were committed. You'll also see the case number and the length of each sentence. The current facility listed links to another page where you can find the address and phone number for that facility if you need to find out about how to contact or visit an inmate.

You won't find photos (mugshots) or their date of birth.

You can also find out information about a CDCR inmate by writing to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 1515 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811.

Information obtained from the database about a CDCR inmate is only to be used for permitted purposes.

If you need to find out about a prisoner who is not in the state system but rather in a local facility, Inmate Lookup has pulled together a comprehensive list below.

California DOC Information:

Authority	California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
Website	http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/
California Inmate Search	http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/search.aspx
Address	1515 S St, Sacramento, CA 95811, United States
Phone	916-445-4950
Fax

Search by Prison Type

County Jail

City Jail

Police Department Jail

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State Prison Administration

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Federal BOP Reentry & Treatment Facility

Re-entry & Treatment Facility

County Jail Administration

Military Prisons

There are 831 prisons and jails in California.

Alameda County Glenn Dyer Detention

550 6th Street, Oakland, CA, 94607

510-268-7777, 510-268-7823