Orange County Inmate Search
Violating any regulation in Orange County, California, can result in an individual's arrest, indictment, transitory confinement, or imprisonment in any of the Orange County jail facilities, either permanently or temporarily. Information pertaining to an arrest or incarceration is collated and published on Orange County Public Record databases. This information can be accessed following an Orange County inmate search unless restricted per judicial order or state law.
An arrest can happen in a broad range of circumstances. For instance, a law enforcement agency may arrest an individual anytime an offense is committed in their presence or when there is a warrant. Furthermore, a citizen's arrest may occur in line with California Penal Code § 837. This is when a private person arrests another who committed a misdemeanor in their presence or a felony. However, the private person must be convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the individual committed the felony offense for a citizen arrest to occur.
Once arrested, an individual (the defendant) may become a guest at the Intake and Release Center in Santa Ana or the local jail in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, or Irvine. Afterward, the individual may be released on bail or kept in custody until trial, depending on the gravity of the offense committed. Note that an arrest does not connote conviction.
Offenders in Orange County are categorized based on the offense they commit. This includes misdemeanors, infractions, and felonies. Misdemeanor cases are less severe crimes, but a guilty plea or conviction can still have significant consequences on an individual. However, infractions are minor offenses for which the accused will receive a citation requesting that they appear in court. The most severe crimes are known as felonies.
Anyone convicted of a crime in Orange County may be incarcerated in a county jail. These jails are managed by the county sheriff's department.
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.
Orange County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to the incarceration statistics released by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, 86,586 people were incarcerated between January 1, 2018, and July 20, 2021.
In the past 45 years, the incarceration rate in Orange County has increased by 407%, going from 1,200 inmates yearly to 6,082 inmates. Even though women are the highest increasing group of inmates in Orange County, men still comprise the majority of inmates admitted to prison, at a rate of 493 per 100,000 U.S. residents yearly across the county.
Orange County has the highest jail incarceration rate across California, yet from the total of 6,082 inmates, only 5,057 are currently confined. The remaining 1,025 are pretrial inmates awaiting trial or verdict. In Orange County, men are detained in prison at a rate of 407 for every 100,000 male U.S. residents, which is nearly seven times more than the female incarceration rate: 72 per 100,000 female U.S. residents.
Orange County Prison System
The Orange County prison system is a correctional system maintained and managed by the Orange County Sheriff's Department. This system consists of four jail facilities and one Intake Release Center.
The Men and Women's Jails have traditional cell blocks that temporarily house arrestees until they post bail, are released on personal recognizance, appear for their arraignment, or go on trial. The facilities are also used to house maximum security defendants sentenced to incarceration.
The Central Women's Jail has been closed since 2010, and the inmates were moved to Theo Lacy Facility. However, some inmates with mental health issues remain at the Central Women's Jail.
The Central Men's Jail has a maximum capacity of 1,428 inmates, while the Intake and Release Center has a maximum capacity of 905. Also, the Theo Lacy Facility (maximum-security jail) contains inmates of all security levels and has a maximum capacity of 3,468.
The Intake and Release Center (IRC) is where inmates are processed before being placed in different Orange County correctional facilities, such as the Theo Lacy Jail or the James A. Musick Jail. Additionally, the IRC houses male and female inmates with serious mental or actual clinical issues.
Notably, the James A. Musick facility has suspended inmate services to accommodate an expansion project. Inmates previously housed at Musick were moved to one of the other Orange County jails.
How to Find an Inmate in Orange County
Individuals can call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647- 4666 to inquire about an inmate incarcerated in Orange County Jail. This telephone line is accessible 24 hours a day.
Alternatively, individuals can get information about inmates online using the inmate locator tool on the Orange County Sheriff's Department website. However, anyone using the search tool must provide the inmate's full name, date of birth, date of arrest, or booking number to locate the inmate.
How Does an Orange County Inmate Search Work?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) permits residents of Orange County to access public records. Hence, the public can easily access information about inmates in any Orange County jail facility.
A wide array of information concerning inmates can be accessed via a search through the sheriff's office website or in person at the jail facility. This includes:
- An inmate's full name (first, middle, and last name)
- Booking number, date, time, and location
- Physical description (eye color, hair color, weight, and height)
- Bail or fine amount
- Gender of inmate
- Date of birth and age
- Facility location
- Next appearance date
- Case number, court name, and address
- Custody status
- Release information (release date, time, reason, description, and agency)
- Arrest date, time, and agency
- Occupation
Where to Find an Orange County Inmate Locator
The Orange County inmate locator can be accessed on the Orange County Sheriff's Department website or the Orange County jail website. Individuals can use any to locate inmates housed in any jail facility in the county.
Besides the correctional agencies, third-party websites also offer search tools that the public can use to obtain information about an inmate. The search prerequisites for these sites are usually an inmate's first or last name and a U.S. state's name.
However, one must note that the use of third-party sites may be fee-based, and this fee varies by site. Moreover, information retrieved through third-party websites may not be as detailed as that from government agency websites.
How to Send Money to an Orange County Inmate
The Orange County Sheriff's Department allows friends and family to deposit money into an inmate's in-house bank account. Depositing money in the inmate account is otherwise known as putting money "on the book".
Any cash an inmate had at the time of booking is deposited into the inmate's account unless the arresting agency confiscates the money as evidence of a crime.
Individuals can put money on the books via a cash deposit, government check, or money order. These deposits can be made in person or via mail.
Anyone can make in-person cash deposits at the Central Jails' cashier's offices or the Theo Lacy Jail's cashier's office. Money orders and government checks can be mailed to inmate bank accounts via the Orange County Sheriff's Department's mailing address. Money orders must bear the inmate's name and booking number.
How to Visit an Orange County Inmate
The Intake and Release Center, Central Men's, and Central Women's Jail have visiting days from Monday through Friday. Visits require an appointment usually made at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments can be made by telephone by contacting the Central Jail at (714) 647-4543.
When calling to schedule a visit, individuals must have the booking number of the inmate they plan to visit. Booking numbers can be retrieved from the sheriff's online database. Intending visitors should also be prepared to provide a phone number to contact in case of changes to the visitation schedule.
In addition, visitors must show valid photo identification before a visit. Only government-issued IDs are accepted, such as a California or other state driver's license, California identification card, consular card, passport, and military ID.
Lastly, every visitor must comply with the Orange County sheriff's visitation rules and regulations, which include:
- Visitors with a scheduled appointment must queue outside the lobby 15 minutes before their appointment.
- Two grown-ups and two minors are permitted to visit any one inmate at a time.
- Kids should be under a grown-up's watch consistently.
- Visitors released from jail within sixty (60) days are not welcome. However, visits between blood relatives (i.e., father, mother, brother, or sister) may be allowed even though the visitor was released from Orange County custody within the last sixty (60) days, with the watch commander's approval.
- Penal Code § 4571 prevents persons convicted of a felony and incarcerated in a California State Prison from visiting any jail without prior approval. Parolees and felons can ask for a visit by completing the Parolee/Felon Request to Visit Form available in the jail lobby.
- No intoxicated visitor will be allowed into the facility.
- Visitors must be appropriately dressed during the visit.
How to Send Jail Mail in Orange County
Inmates incarcerated within Orange County jail facilities can send and receive unlimited correspondence. Sometimes, a restriction may be placed when sending or receiving mail due to public safety or facility order issues or to prevent violating a state or federal law. It should be noted that all mail, whether incoming or outgoing, is scrutinized before delivery to the inmate.
Depending on the facility type the inmate is housed, individuals can address jail mail as outlined below:
Central Men's Jail, Central Women's Jail, or IRC
Inmate Name and Booking Number
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Theo Lacy
Inmate Name and Booking Number
501 City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Some items cannot be sent to Orange County inmates. These include:
- Items that can be damaged during inspection (e.g., multilayered cards, polaroids, and laminated or glued items).
- Items that may compromise the facility's security.
- Sexually explicit items.
- Oversized packages or boxes. The definition of an oversized package is any item larger than a 9 "x12" legal size manila envelope.
- Mail containing paper, envelopes, pencils, stamps, etc.
- Photos depicting gangs, gang hand gestures, drugs, weapons, and unlawful activities.
The complete list of disallowed items can be accessed on the county sheriff's Inmate Mail page.
Orange County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, contact information, and addresses of the jail facilities in Orange County, California:
Central Men's Jail, Central Women's Jail, and IRC
Orange County Sheriff's Department
550 North Flower Street
Santa Ana, CA 92703
Phone: (714) 647-4666
Theo Lacy Facility
501 City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: (714) 935-6940
James A. Musick Facility
13502 Musick,
Irvine, CA 92618
Phone: (949) 855-2600
For more information about jails in Orange County, one can visit the county sheriff's department website.
