Los Angeles County Jail Inmate Search & Roster

Find a Los Angeles County Jail Inmate and Verify Current Custody

Los Angeles County, California • Information reviewed October 16, 2026

If you are trying to find someone who was arrested in Los Angeles County, start with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) Inmate Information Center. It is the county’s official lookup for people processed into LASD custody and can save you from searching Men’s Central Jail, Twin Towers, Lynwood or the Castaic facilities separately.

How to Search the Los Angeles County Jail Roster

Los Angeles County does not require families to search every jail building one at a time. LASD provides a countywide inmate locator and a separate recent-booking tool.

1. Open the official LASD Inmate Information Center.
2. Complete any security verification displayed by the website.
3. Enter the person’s legal name and any additional identifying information requested by the form.
4. Run the search and compare all returned matches carefully.
5. Open the record that matches the correct person.
6. Write down the booking number. You may need it for visitation, mail, money deposits and record requests.
7. Check the current housing facility, available bail information, court information, holds and release information shown for that booking.
8. Recheck the inmate record immediately before visiting or sending anything because housing assignments can change.

Inmate Search vs. Booking Log: Which One Should You Use?

What Information Can an LASD Inmate Record Provide?

The exact information displayed depends on the booking and custody status. LASD’s custody policy allows public inmate information to include items such as:

• booking details;
• arrest information;
• bail amount;
• current housing location;
• court date and court location;
• release information;
• information about holds; and
• visiting information.

The booking number is particularly useful. Keep it after locating the correct inmate because several LASD services use it to distinguish one custody record from another.

Why a Recently Arrested Person May Not Appear

A missing search result does not always mean the person was released or never arrested. Work through these possibilities:

• Booking is still being processed: a very recent arrest may not yet be available in the public locator.
• The person is still with the arresting agency: someone arrested by a city police department may remain in that agency’s jail or holding facility before transfer.
• Name mismatch: retry the legal surname, hyphenated surname, middle name, suffix or another known spelling.
• Already released: the person may have posted bail, received a citation, been released on another basis or completed processing.
• Transferred: custody may have moved to another county, California state prison, federal custody or another jurisdiction.
• You need a court record instead: older cases and case outcomes are generally better researched through the court rather than a current inmate locator.

Major Los Angeles County Jail Locations

LASD operates a multi-facility jail system. The place where someone was booked is not necessarily the facility where that person will remain.

Do not travel based on an old booking page or an address copied from a third-party directory. Search the inmate again on the day of the visit because transfers between LASD facilities can occur.

How to Check Charges, Court Dates and the Criminal Case

A jail booking and a criminal court case are related but they are not the same record. LASD is the better source for present custody. The Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles is the better source for the filed criminal case.

1. Find the inmate in LASD custody first.
2. Record the inmate’s correct name, booking details, listed court location and case information if available.
3. Open the Los Angeles Superior Court criminal case information page.
4. If you know the case number, use the case-number route.
5. If you do not know it, use the defendant-name search offered by the court.
6. Compare the defendant, courthouse and case information with the LASD booking before assuming a match.

The court also states that its online criminal system does not provide bail/bond status. For current bail information, start with the LASD inmate record and confirm important questions with LASD or the responsible court.

Bail, Holds and Release Status

A bail amount by itself does not guarantee immediate release. Another warrant, criminal case, court order, probation matter, agency hold or detainer can affect whether an inmate can actually leave custody.

Before paying bail or making release plans:

1. Confirm the inmate’s full name and booking number.
2. Check the current LASD booking again.
3. Confirm the stated bail amount.
4. Look for additional cases or holds.
5. Confirm the court connected to the booking.
6. Call LASD if the record does not make the release situation clear.

Release processing is not always immediate after a court order or bail event because LASD must complete release checks and verify that no other open custody matter prevents release.

How to Schedule a Los Angeles County Jail Visit

LASD uses the Inmate Visitation Scheduling System rather than relying on walk-in public visits.

1. Search the inmate and confirm the current housing facility.
2. Open the LASD visitation scheduling system.
3. Create or sign into your visitor account.
4. Add or search for the inmate you intend to visit.
5. Select an available facility, date and time.
6. Complete the reservation. Appointments can currently be scheduled up to seven days in advance.
7. Bring acceptable photo identification and follow the facility’s screening requirements.

People on probation or parole and certain people with a previous felony/incarceration history may need visitation pre-approval. Use the clearance instructions available through the visitation system before scheduling travel.

How to Put Money on an Inmate Account

LASD began accepting online inmate deposits through Access Corrections in 2025. The safest route is to enter the deposit service from LASD’s own website instead of choosing a payment website from an advertisement or search result.

1. Find the inmate through LASD and copy the correct booking number.
2. Open the official LASD inmate deposit instructions.
3. Follow LASD’s link or instructions for Access Corrections.
4. Enter the inmate details carefully.
5. Review the inmate identity, amount and transaction cost before submitting payment.
6. Keep the confirmation or receipt.

LASD states that online deposit users must provide a valid residential address; a P.O. Box is not accepted for that requirement.

For inmate account questions, LASD’s current phone directory lists the Inmate Services Cashier at (213) 893-5875.

How to Send Mail to an LASD Inmate

LASD correspondence materials use the inmate’s full name and booking number to route mail. The countywide inmate-mail address published for LASD custody has been:

Inmate’s Full Name and Booking Number
P.O. Box 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164

Before mailing photos, publications, cards or anything other than a normal letter, confirm the current LASD correspondence rules. Incoming correspondence is subject to inspection for contraband and prohibited material.

• Use the inmate’s correct legal name and booking number.
• Include a complete return address.
• Do not send cash or prohibited objects in normal correspondence.
• Do not assume a package, book, magazine or special card will be accepted under ordinary letter rules.
• Check the inmate’s current custody status before mailing time-sensitive material.

Calling or Communicating With an Inmate

You generally cannot call a jail housing unit and ask staff to connect you directly to an inmate. People in LASD custody receive telephone access subject to their housing, classification and custody rules.

If someone has just been booked, communication can be delayed while intake, classification, medical screening or transfer processing is still underway. First confirm that the person has entered LASD custody and obtain the booking number.

How to Get an Older Booking or Proof of Release

The live inmate locator is designed mainly for current custody. If someone has already been released and you need an official document, use LASD’s Records and Identification Bureau.

LASD records services handle items that can include:

• booking/arrest information;
• incarceration records;
• inmate records and information;
• visitation logs;
• incarceration letters; and
• release verification.

1. Open the LASD Records and Identification Bureau page.
2. Identify the exact document you need.
3. For proof of incarceration or release, LASD currently directs requesters to call (562) 345-4441.
4. Arrange the required appointment or follow the mail-request instructions.
5. Bring valid identification when required and check the current fee for your specific record.

An incarceration/release letter can include the person’s name at arrest, booking number, charge information, arrest date and release information.

If the Person Was Transferred Out of County Jail

A person can disappear from the LASD inmate search after leaving county custody. The next search depends on where the person went.

Fastest Route for Common Los Angeles County Inmate Questions

Los Angeles County Jail Inmate Search FAQs