Search Arrest, Mugshot & Inmate Records by Name
Search by name and state for arrest, booking, mugshot, inmate, jail roster, prison, criminal and court-record search categories.
Independent records-search resource. This website is not a government agency, police department, sheriff's office, jail, prison or courthouse. Search coverage varies by source and jurisdiction. Some links may lead to third-party services, and compensation may be received when a partner service is used.
Find an LA County Inmate and Verify the Booking
If you are trying to find someone arrested in Los Angeles County, start with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Inmate Information Center. You can search using the person’s identifying information and then review the matching booking to confirm custody, housing, bail, court and release information available through LASD.
Best information to have: the person’s legal first and last name, date of birth, and booking number if you already know it. A booking number is especially useful when several people have similar names.
Reviewed October 18, 2026. Custody, housing, bail, court and release information can change during the day, so verify the live record before visiting, sending money or arranging transportation.
How to Search LA County Jail Inmates by Name
The fastest route is the official LASD Inmate Information Center. Los Angeles County materials identify this system as the public source for inmate location and booking information.
- Open the LASD Inmate Information Center. Use the official county system rather than a paid people-search or mugshot website.
- Enter the legal name. Start with the first and last name the person would have used during booking. Avoid nicknames unless you are checking possible name variations after an unsuccessful search.
- Use the date of birth when requested. This helps distinguish people with common or identical names.
- Complete the verification screen. The public inmate system may require an anti-bot or verification step before displaying results.
- Open the matching record. Compare the name, birth date, booking information and other available identifiers before assuming you found the correct person.
- Record the booking number and current housing location. You may need them for visitation, deposits, court follow-up or other jail services.
LA County Booking Number Lookup
A booking number identifies a specific jail booking and is more precise than a name alone. It is not the same as a police report number, citation number or Superior Court case number.
| Identifier | What it refers to | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Booking number | The jail booking/custody event | Inmate lookup, housing, visitation and jail services |
| Police report number | The law-enforcement incident report | Requesting an arrest or incident report |
| Court case number | The criminal court proceeding | Court calendar, filings and case status |
If you do not know the booking number, start with name and date of birth. LASD’s public information line is also useful when you need help confirming a booking. The current LASD directory lists (213) 473-6100 for Inmate Information.
What an LASD Inmate Record Can Tell You
LASD’s Custody Division policy states that inmate information available to the public can include the following categories.
| Information | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Booking details | Helps identify the custody event and distinguish similar names. |
| Arrest information | Shows available information connected with the arrest and booking. |
| Bail amount | Helps you identify currently listed bail information when bail applies. |
| Housing location | Shows where the person is currently assigned within the county custody system. |
| Court date and location | Helps identify the next listed court appearance and courthouse. |
| Release information | May show a release date or other available release-related information. |
| Holds | May indicate another legal or agency hold affecting custody or release. |
| Visiting information | Can help determine the relevant facility and visiting process. |
Always treat these fields as a snapshot. Transfers, court orders, bail changes and release processing can change the record after you view it.
If You Cannot Find the Person
A failed name search does not necessarily mean the person was never arrested. Work through these checks before searching random third-party databases.
- Recent arrest: allow time for booking and identity processing.
- Check spelling: retry the legal surname, hyphenated surname, middle name or another known legal name.
- Confirm date of birth: this is especially important for common names.
- Confirm the arresting agency: Los Angeles County contains many municipal police departments in addition to LASD.
- Check whether the person is still in LAPD custody: some arrestees remain in an LAPD jail before transfer to LASD.
- Consider release: a person may have been cited, bailed out, released after processing or transferred.
- Consider state or federal custody: someone transferred to state prison or federal custody requires a different locator.
- Call the inmate information line: LASD lists (213) 473-6100 for inmate information.
LASD, LAPD, State Prison or Federal Custody?
One of the biggest causes of failed searches is using the wrong custody system. “Los Angeles jail” can refer to more than one agency.
| Situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Held in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department custody | LASD Inmate Information Center |
| Recently arrested by LAPD | LASD’s inmate system is the public lookup route linked by LAPD, but very recent bookings may not yet be available. See LAPD Custody Services. |
| Transferred after sentencing to California state prison | Use the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inmate locator. |
| Federal custody | Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator rather than the county jail database. |
Major Los Angeles County Jail Locations
The housing location shown in the live record is more important than the location where the person was originally booked. Inmates may be moved for classification, court, medical, security or operational reasons.
| Facility | Location | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Men’s Central Jail | 441 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Major downtown Los Angeles men’s custody facility. |
| Twin Towers Correctional Facility | 450 Bauchet St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Large custody complex beside the Inmate Reception Center area. |
| Century Regional Detention Facility | 11705 S. Alameda St., Lynwood, CA 90262 | Major LASD custody facility in Lynwood. |
| North County Correctional Facility | 29340 The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384 | Part of the Pitchess detention complex in Castaic. |
| Pitchess Detention Center | The Old Road, Castaic, CA 91384 | Multiple custody operations are located within the Pitchess complex. |
Do not travel based on an old address or previous housing assignment. Recheck the inmate’s current location immediately before a visit.
How to Check the Criminal Court Case
The jail record answers the custody question. The Los Angeles Superior Court is the better source when you need the filed criminal case, case number, filing location, hearings or later court status.
- First locate the inmate and note the correct legal name, booking information and any available court details.
- Open the Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Defendant Index.
- Search using the defendant’s name if you do not know the court case number.
- Compare the name, filing date and filing location with the jail record.
- Once you know the case number, use LA Court’s case access or criminal case summary services for available case information.
LA Court currently states that its online criminal name index contains felony case records from 1980 to the present and misdemeanor records from 1988 to the present, with some misdemeanor index data reaching back to 1983.
After You Find the Inmate: What to Do Next
Before visiting
Confirm the current facility and booking number, then use LASD’s official visitation system. Current LASD visitation guidance says appointments can be scheduled up to seven days in advance and public visits are not handled as walk-ins.
The current system instructs visitors to arrive about 60 minutes early for Men’s Central Jail and the Pitchess/North County complex, while other visiting locations generally require arrival at least 30 minutes before the appointment.
Check LASD visitation availability and current rules.
Before sending money
Verify the person’s exact name and booking number first. LASD’s visitation portal currently directs families to Access Corrections for approved inmate deposits. Never send money based only on a social-media message or an unverified name match.
Before relying on a release date
A listed date can change because of another case, hold, court order or processing requirement. Confirm important release information through the live LASD record or inmate information line before arranging pickup or travel.
Booking record is not proof of guilt
An arrest or booking record does not establish that a person committed a crime. A person may be awaiting a hearing, released without charges, acquitted, have charges reduced or dismissed, or have a case resolved differently from the initial booking information.
Official Resources
- LASD Inmate Information Center — live inmate lookup.
- LASD Phone Directory — official inmate information contact.
- LASD Visitation Scheduling — current visit scheduling and visitor instructions.
- LAPD Jail & Custody Information — LAPD jail information and current custody guidance.
- Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Division — case, calendar and defendant-name search services.
LA County Jail Inmate Search FAQs
1. How do I search for an LA County inmate by name?
Open the official LASD Inmate Information Center and search using the person’s legal first and last name. Use the date of birth when available to narrow the result, then compare the returned booking information carefully.
2. Can I search LA County inmates using a booking number?
Yes. A booking number is a precise identifier connected with a jail booking and is useful when people have similar names. Do not confuse it with a police report number or court case number.
3. Why is someone arrested today not showing in the inmate search?
The person may still be going through booking, fingerprinting, identity verification or transfer processing. LAPD currently warns that inmate information is not available for bookings occurring within the previous two hours.
4. What phone number can I call for LA County inmate information?
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department currently lists (213) 473-6100 for Inmate Information. LAPD also directs the public to this number for custody information involving LAPD or LASD jails.
5. What information can an LA County inmate record show?
LASD policy identifies publicly available information that may include booking and arrest details, bail, housing location, court dates and location, release information, holds and visiting information.
6. How do I find which Los Angeles County jail an inmate is in?
Open the matching LASD inmate record and check the current housing location. Recheck it before visiting or mailing anything because inmates can be transferred between facilities.
7. How do I check an LA County inmate’s court case?
Use the Los Angeles Superior Court Criminal Division. If you already know the case number, search by case number. Otherwise, the court provides a defendant-name search, which currently carries a public access fee.
8. Does an LA County jail booking mean the person was convicted?
No. A jail booking documents an arrest or custody event and does not establish guilt. Check the court record for filed charges, hearings and the eventual case outcome.
9. Can I visit an inmate immediately after finding the record?
Not necessarily. First confirm the current facility, then register and schedule through LASD’s visitation system. Current LASD guidance says public visits require scheduling and walk-ins are not accepted.
10. What should I do if no LA County inmate result appears?
Check the spelling and date of birth, allow time after a recent arrest, confirm which agency made the arrest, consider LAPD or another municipal jail, check whether the person was released or transferred, and call LASD inmate information if needed.