Los Angeles County Inmate Search
Breaking any law or ordinance in Los Angeles County, California, can lead to a person's temporary detention, arrest, prosecution, or incarceration within the criminal justice system. A Los Angeles Inmate search can provide inquirers with information regarding the location and offense of an inmate within state limits. Inmate information is typically generated following the incarceration of an individual and featured within Los Angeles County California Public Records per the state’s Public Records Act.
According to Cal. Pen. Code § 834, an ‘arrest’ refers to the lawful taking of a person into custody. This typically stems from crimes or public offenses that occur in the view or hearing of a peace officer or private person. Arrests also occur following the issuance of an arrest warrant and when an officer has cause to believe that a person committed an offense.
Following the arrest of an individual in Los Angeles County, the individual (the defendant) may go through a booking process where an official arrest report will be created. Subsequently, one of the following will happen:
- The individual will be released if the prosecutor files no charges.
- The individual will be asked to post bail/bond or be released upon a promise to appear in court for an arraignment in the future.
- The individual will remain in jail and be transferred to the trial court by the police for arraignment.
Depending on the charge and case facts, a defendant may receive an incarceration sentence from the trial court, sending them to a local jail or state prison for a short or extended period.
Offenders with sentences under a year or convicted of lesser, non-violent crimes with no prior record may be housed in one of the seven correctional/detention facilities run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), or they may end up supervised by a city police department. However, inmates serving sentences over a year or convicted of felony offenses may be sent to a state prison operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). For instance, the California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC).
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Los Angeles County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
Based on incarceration statistics disseminated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the total number of individuals arrested in the county in 2021 was 202,350. Of this number, 99,294 persons were arrested for felonies, 102,199 for misdemeanors, and 857 for infractions, child welfare, delinquent, and non-specific charges. 53,208 (26%) of these persons were booked into the county jail system.
Overall, the felony crimes for which most people got imprisoned in Los Angeles County were crimes against persons (e.g., criminal homicide, assault). This was followed by property crimes (e.g., burglary, larceny-theft, grand theft auto, robbery), weapons law violations, and sex crimes. Meanwhile, the misdemeanor offenses with the highest incarceration numbers (taken in descending order) were crimes against persons, property crimes, vehicle code violations, and drug crimes.
Compared to the 2020 report, which stated 220,012 people arrested and 56,651 booked in Los Angeles County, the 2021 statistics represented an 8% reduction in arrests and a 6% reduction in bookings in the county.
Los Angeles County Prison System
The Los Angeles County Jail System is the correctional system for the Los Angeles County area run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. It comprises correctional, detention, mental health, and treatment facilities that hold individuals sentenced to a term of confinement by the courts, those awaiting trial/sentencing or transfer, and those who violated their terms of probation or parole.
The county's jail system consists of seven housing facilities with a rated capacity of 12,404 inmates, as calculated by the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC). Listed below are the facilities:
- Men's Central Jail (MCJ)
- Twin Towers Correctional Facility (TTCF)
- Century Regional Detention Facility (CRDF)
- Pitchess Detention Center (PDC) – East
- Pitchess Detention Center (PDC) – North
- Pitchess Detention Center (PDC) – South
- North County Correctional Facility
The county's correctional system also has additional facilities, including:
- Inmate Reception Center (IRC)
- Los Angeles County Medical Center (LCMC) Jail Wards
- Correctional Treatment Center (CTC)
Per independent and official reports, the Los Angeles County jail system is the largest in the United States, given the county's population size (9,829,544 by the latest census). Indeed, according to the county sheriff's incarceration statistics, the average daily inmate population ordinarily spans tens of thousands - and differs each year. In 2021, the jail housed 14,577 inmates, 12% over the rated capacity. Whereas 2020 saw 14,212 inmates (9% over the rated capacity) booked into the county prison system.
Among the seven jail facilities managed by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the Men's Central Jail has the highest inmate population. It is estimated that over 85% of the inmate population in any year consists mainly of men.
How to Find an Inmate in Los Angeles County
Inquiries about inmates incarcerated in Los Angeles County should be made to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at (213) 473-6100. This telephone line is accessible 24 hours a day. Callers can retrieve information on inmates held by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and information on people in custody at city jails. However, each caller must provide the inmate's complete name, date of birth, date of arrest, or booking number.
Alternatively, an individual can go online to access the county sheriff's Inmate Information Center (also called the Los Angeles County inmate search page) and find an inmate's location.
How Does a Los Angeles County Inmate Search Work?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) permits the dissemination of inmate information to residents of Los Angeles County, except when the information is exempt from disclosure by law. Thus, a wealth of information is available to anyone who performs an inmate search through local law enforcement agencies. This data includes:
- An inmate's first, middle, and last name
- Sex, race, and age
- Photograph
- Date of birth
- Booking number
- Physical description (hair color, eye color, height, and weight)
- Bail amount
- Housing location
- Next court date
- Release information (release date, time, reason, description, and agency)
- Arrest information:
- Arrest date and time
- Arrest agency and agency description
- Booking date, time, and location
- Case information:
- The case number
- The presiding court’s name
- Court address and city
- Bail amount
- Fine amount
- Court date
- Sentencing date
- Disposition code and description
Where to Find a Los Angeles County Inmate Locator
The Los Angeles County Inmate Locator can be accessed through the county sheriff's website. However, to use this locator, the inquirer must be searching for an inmate confined within the county jail system, and the individual must possess the inmate's last and first name. Additional search parameters include an inmate's date of birth and middle name.
On the other hand, an individual can access the Public Inmate Locator maintained by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation if an inmate - although located in Los Angeles County - is booked in the state prison system. For example, searches for inmates in the California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC) can be conducted using the CDCR's California Inmate Search tool.
Meanwhile, suppose an inmate is incarcerated in a Los Angeles County prison run by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the federal agency that manages the federal prison system. In that case, the information seeker can navigate to the agency's Inmate Locator to call up an inmate's identifying, address, or charge details with a name or number.
Besides the correctional agencies, third-party public records websites may offer search tools that help interested members of the public retrieve inmate records. The search criteria for these sites are usually an inmate's first or last name and a U.S. state's name. However, one must note that a small fee may be required to access a record (this fee varies by site).
An inmate locator is a search engine that disseminates details about inmates housed within a specific region or jail/prison facility. Local, state, and federal correctional agencies often provide inmate locators as a public service to aid community safety and allow interested persons to pinpoint an inmate's location while obtaining certain information about them.
How to Send Money to a Los Angeles County Inmate
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department provides mail and in-person options for friends and loved ones who want to pay money into a Los Angeles County inmate's trust or cash account. This account is created during the inmate booking process and initially funded with money found on the inmate at the time of booking.
To deposit money in person, an individual must go to the Inmate Reception Center or Century Regional Detention Facility (see addresses below) with a valid government-issued photo ID. This includes a U.S. military card, California driver's license or identification card, alien registration card, or U.S. passport.
For mail-in deposits, an individual must send the money to the following addresses:
Male inmates
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
P.O. Box 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
Attn: Inmate Name, Booking Number
Female inmates
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
Century Regional Detention Facility
11705 South Alameda Street
Lynwood, CA 90262
Attn: Inmate Name, Booking Number
Mail deposits cannot exceed $200. Furthermore, the money is only payable in U.S. postal money order or a certified bank cashier's check for California residents and U.S. postal money order for out-of-state senders. The check or money order must be payable to the inmate's name and booking number.
Individuals having further questions about the inmate deposit process can call (213) 893-5875 for male inmates or (323) 568-4535 for female inmates.
How to Visit a Los Angeles County Inmate
Inmates serving sentences in Los Angeles County are allowed at least two visits totaling at least one hour every week. Visits may be face-to-face or done by video. However, public, professional, and law enforcement visitors must meet certain visitation requirements.
The first is that the intending visitor must register online via the Inmate Video Visitation System (IVVS) before the visit is approved. It is through this online platform that a visitor must also schedule visits in advance when available. Public (non-professional) and professional visiting hours vary by facility, and visiting times can be altered without notice.
Secondly, visitors to the Men's Central Jail, LCMC Jail Ward, and Pitchess Detention Center facilities should arrive one hour before the visitation start time. This time is shortened by half (at least 30 minutes) for visits to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility and Century Regional Detention Facility.
All visitors must come with a valid photo ID and have their pictures taken by the staff to avoid termination of their visits (see the LASD's Covid-19 testing and vaccination requirements). Valid IDs include:
- Driver's License (California or any other state)
- California ID Card
- U.S. Military ID
- Passport or Visa
- Permanent Resident Card or Resident Alien Card
- Mexican Consulate Card
Visitors are also subject to random security checks and must comply with Los Angeles Sheriff's visitation rules and regulations (see also attorney regulations), which include:
- A maximum of one child and one adult per visit.
- No visitor can bring any item to an inmate.
- Minors under 17 must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or verifiable legal guardian.
- Visitors must be appropriately attired and comply with the dress code regulations.
- No visitor should be under the influence of narcotics, alcohol, or drugs.
- Visitors who disrupt the visiting process will have their visit terminated.
Notably, certain persons are banned from visiting inmates in the Los Angeles County jails, even if they satisfy the preceding requirements. They include:
- Individuals with outstanding warrants, including a DMV failure to appear notice where the court has entered no disposition
- Former California state prison inmates
- Individuals currently on parole or probation
Probationers, parolees, and ex-felons must obtain approval from the facility unit commander prior to a visit. To seek consent, the individual must complete the Visiting Questionnaire for Probationers and Ex-Felons (also called the Visiting Clearance form) and submit it to the address stated on the form. Applicants can also call the MCJ Legal Unit at (213) 974-0103 for information.
Additional details about the Los Angeles County jail visitation procedures are available on the county sheriff's Inmate Video Visitation System FAQs and Custody: FAQs sites. Likewise, if an inmate is being housed at a city jail facility, one can check the city police department's website or contact the jail administration for visitation policies and procedures.
How to Send Jail Mail in Los Angeles County
Inmates confined in the Los Angeles County jail system can receive mail from friends, family, and other members of the public. Generally, the public can address jail mail as outlined below:
Inmate Name, Booking Number
P.O. Box 86164
Terminal Annex
Los Angeles, CA 90086-0164
A person sending jail mail to a female inmate can also use the following address:
Inmate Name, Booking Number
Century Regional Detention Facility
11705 South Alameda Street
Lynwood, CA 90262
All mail must adhere to the jail facility's inmate mail procedures. Mail that defies the outlined rules will be returned to the sender. If the mail contents are illegal, the sender may face criminal prosecution.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has a long list of contraband items that cannot be sent to an inmate by mail, including:
- Cosmetics
- Food items
- Any postcard larger than 6''x 9"
- Money order(s) above the $200 limit
- Money order(s) that would increase an inmate's trust account above the $300 limit
- Sexually explicit items
- Gang imagery, items depicting nudity, and sexually suggestive contents
- Items that would constitute a breach of jail security
The complete list is available on the sheriff's Inmate Mail Regulations page. Individuals can also call the Mailroom Supervisor at (213) 893-5874 for information.
Los Angeles County Probation and Parole
The courts in Los Angeles County offer probation to convicted offenders as an alternative to prison. Rules 4.413 and 4.414 of the California Rules of Court outline local and state courts' criteria for determining whether to grant or deny probation. According to these regulations, many defendants are presumed eligible for probation unless probation is not permitted for their offense.
There are two types of probation that the Los Angeles County courts order:
- Formal probation: Formal probation lets an offender be supervised in the community by a probation officer hired by the Los Angeles County Probation Department. In such cases, the offender will be given a three-to-five year probation sentence and expected to follow the terms and conditions. Violating those terms results in incarceration in a county or state prison to serve the rest of the sentence. However, a juvenile offender may receive a verbal warning, have tougher probation conditions or an extended sentence imposed, or be made to appear in court, depending on the severity of the violation.
- Summary (informal or court) probation: The courts offer summary probation to persons convicted of misdemeanor offenses, as the sentencing for such crimes includes jail time, fines, probation, community service, or a combination. These types of probationers are supervised by the court (not the Los Angeles County Probation Department) and are held liable by the court if they violate the terms or conditions of their probation.
Further information on the adult and juvenile probation process in Los Angeles County can be found on the L.A. Probation Department's website. Individuals can also call the Probation Information Center at (866) 931-2222.
On the other hand, parole is a correctional program that allows a felony inmate incarcerated in a California state prison to be temporarily or permanently released before the completion of their sentence, on the condition that they maintain good conduct in the community and fulfill specific responsibilities. Sections 3040 through 3073.1 of the California Penal Code outline the parole process in the state.
California's parole eligibility requirements can be reviewed on the CDCR's website. Generally, many offenders sentenced for a specific period (inmates with "determinate sentences") are automatically placed on parole after release. Meanwhile, others must have their suitability for parole determined at a hearing held by the California Board of Parole Hearings. Nevertheless, an offender will be expected to parole in the county where they last legally resided before their incarceration.
Parolees residing in Los Angeles County who fail to live up to their parole expectations risk reentry into the county jail system, where they will serve out their violation under the supervision of the county sheriff's office.
Los Angeles County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, contact information, and addresses of the jail and prison facilities in Los Angeles County, California.
The Los Angeles County Jails
Inmate Reception Center (primary intake and release facility)
450 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Booking (213) 893-5327
Release (213) 893-5347
Men's Central Jail
441 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Main Lobby: (213) 974-4082
Visiting Lobby: (213) 974.4927
Twin Towers Correctional Facility
450 Bauchet Street
Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (213) 893-5100
Century Regional Detention Facility (female inmates only)
11705 South Alameda Street
Lynwood, CA 90262
Phone: (323) 357-5100
Pitchess Detention Center – East Facility (used as fire camp for inmate firefighters)
29310 The Old Road
Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (213) 473-6100
Pitchess Detention Center – North
29320 The Old Road
Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (213) 473-6100
Pitchess Detention Center – South
29330 The Old Road
Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (213) 473-6100
North County Correctional Facility
29340 The Old Road
Castaic, CA 91384
Phone: (213) 473-6100
Additional contact information for the Inmate Reception Center can be obtained from the county sheriff's jail informational sheet.
State Prisons in Los Angeles County
California State Prison, Los Angeles County (LAC)
44750 60th Street West
Lancaster, CA 93536-7620
Phone: (661) 729-2000
Federal Prisons in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC)
535 North Alameda Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 485-0439
Fax: (213) 253-9510
Terminal Island Federal Correctional Institution
1299 Seaside Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: (310) 831-8961
City Jails in Los Angeles County
For up-to-date city jail information (names, addresses, or contact numbers) in Los Angeles County, it is best to visit the local law enforcement agency's website. For instance, one can review information about the 10 jail facilities operated by the Los Angeles Police Department online. The same goes for the Long Beach Ci ty Jail and so on.
