LA County Inmate Locator
LA County Inmate Locator | Jail Search & Booking Information
Beyond the Inmate Search: Additional Services for LA County Jail Inmates
The LASD’s online tool is excellent for finding an inmate’s booking information, location, and bail amount. However, for other services, you need to use different resources.
Jail Locations: LA County operates a massive jail system with facilities throughout the area. Major facilities include the Men’s Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and the various sections of the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic. The inmate locator will tell you which facility the person is in.
Sending Money and Property: The process for sending money to an inmate can vary depending on the facility. The LASD website provides details on how to send money via money order or cashier’s check. You can also use services like Western Union or JPay for electronic deposits.
Visitation: The rules for visiting an inmate are strict and vary by facility. You’ll need to check the specific visiting hours and rules for the jail where the inmate is housed. The LASD website often requires visitors to schedule appointments online or by phone.
Need to Find an Inmate in LA County - You are at the right place?
You need to find an inmate in Los Angeles County quickly, the most efficient and reliable method is to use the official online inmate information tool provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD). This is the official database for all individuals in custody within the largest jail system in the United States.
To get a fast and accurate result, you’ll need to provide as much specific information as possible. The search function allows you to look up an inmate using their Booking Number or a combination of their full name and date of birth.
While the online search is the fastest way, it’s important to remember that it may take a few hours for a person’s information to appear after their arrest and booking. The booking process involves several steps, including paperwork, fingerprinting, and a medical screening, which can take time. For immediate assistance or to confirm information that is not yet online.
Inmates in LA County jails can make outgoing calls but cannot receive incoming calls. These calls are typically handled by a third-party service. Since December 2023, phone calls for inmates in LA County jails became free of charge at the county’s expense. This is a significant change from the previous system, which charged families high fees for calls.
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FAQs
Why Searching for an Inmate in LA County Can Be Complicated?
Searching for an inmate in Los Angeles County can be particularly complicated due to the sheer size and complexity of its jail system. As one of the largest in the world, the LA County jail system faces unique challenges that can make finding a person difficult.
Massive Scale: The system processes over 120,000 inmates each year, which means information is constantly changing. With multiple large facilities like Men’s Central Jail, Twin Towers, and Pitchess Detention Center, an inmate’s exact location can be fluid as they are moved for classification, court appearances, or to different housing units.
Booking and Classification Delays: Following an arrest, it can take anywhere from a few hours to over 24 hours for a person to be fully processed at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) and have their information appear on the public inmate locator. Inmates who are “unclassified” are pending a permanent housing location and cannot receive calls or visits, which can add to the confusion.
Database Limitations: The official LASD inmate locator only provides information on individuals currently in county jails. It will not show records for people who have been released or transferred to a state or federal prison. This is a common point of confusion for family and friends.
Privacy and Legal Factors: In some circumstances, an inmate’s name may not appear on the public search site due to legal exemptions, such as if the individual is a minor or if their case is under a security hold. You may need to call the jail directly to confirm their status.
How long does locating an inmate in LA County Jail take?
Locating an inmate in LA County Jail can be a very quick process, often taking just a few minutes, if the individual has already been officially booked. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) maintains a large online database that is the most reliable public source for real-time information.
The time-consuming part of the process is not the search itself, but the time it takes for a person to be booked after their arrest. This process, which can include fingerprinting, photographing, a medical screening, and completing extensive paperwork, can take anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on the volume of new arrests and the specific circumstances of the case. Once the booking process is complete, the individual will appear on the online inmate locator. For immediate assistance or to confirm information, you can contact the LASD Inmate Information Center by phone.
Can you help if an inmate has been moved to a different facility?
Yes, you can find an inmate who has been moved to a different facility, but you’ll need to use a different search method. The LA County inmate locator only provides information for individuals currently held within its county jail system. Once an inmate is transferred, they are removed from this local database. If an inmate has been moved, they have most likely been transferred to a state or federal prison. Here’s where you need to look:
California State Prisons: Use the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Inmate Locator. This is the official tool for finding inmates who have been sentenced and moved from a county jail to a state prison. You can search by the inmate’s name or their CDCR identification number.
Federal Prisons: If the person was convicted of a federal crime, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator. This database is for finding inmates in federal custody.
Do you work directly with the LA County Sheriff’s Department?
No, We do not work directly with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) or any other government agency. My purpose is to provide helpful information based on my training data and access to publicly available online resources.
When you ask me a question about finding an inmate, I provide guidance on how to use the official tools and resources provided by the Sheriff’s Department. I do not have a direct partnership, access to non-public records, or the ability to perform searches on your behalf. My responses are limited to what is publicly accessible and are designed to help you navigate the official systems yourself.
