San Bernardino County Inmate Search
Laws and ordinances in San Bernardino County, California exist to protect the safety and interests of residents in the county and state at large. Hence, any act of violation may result in arrest, detention, prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment or probation.
Arrests in San Bernardino County involve apprehending (in a manner authorized by law) an individual suspected of committing a violation. Generally, arrests occur when a law enforcement officer witnesses a crime and catches the perpetrator at the scene of the incident, when an individual is suspected of having committed a felony, or when the court issues an arrest warrant. According to the California Penal Code, both law enforcement officers and private citizens are allowed to make an arrest in San Bernardino County.
After an arrest occurs, the suspect (otherwise known as the arrestee) is taken to the detention center. There, the arrestee goes through the intake process, which comprises medical screening, booking, and classification interviews. During the booking process, the arrestee's fingerprints and photographs are taken along with relevant information such as name, date of birth, address, height, weight, and eye color. This information is deemed part of San Bernardino County Public Record and is made available to persons who perform a county inmate search.
Usually, arrested persons are taken to the West Valley Detention Center for booking, processing, and holding. However, the primary booking center for east valley police stations is the Central Detention Center (CDC).
Subsequently, any of the following may happen to the arrestee:
- The prosecutor will not file charges, and the individual will be released.
- The arrestee will be required to post bail or be released based on an assurance that they will appear in court later for arraignment.
- The arrestee will be detained and arraigned to court for trial.
The type of charges and circumstances surrounding the case determines the type of sentence the arrested person receives. It also determines if the offender will be housed in one of the four local detention facilities (county jails) or a state correctional facility. For instance, San Bernardino County inmates convicted of non-violent crimes or misdemeanors for less than a year may be housed in one of the detention facilities under the jurisdiction of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. However, inmates convicted of a felony or sentenced to 16 months imprisonment or more may be sent to a state prison managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
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.
San Bernardino County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to the report provided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's department, over 21,000 adult bookings were recorded in 2021. Whereas the report does not give a breakdown based on arrest type, the annual crime report showed that San Bernardino County recorded more misdemeanors than felonies.
San Bernardino County Prison System
The Detention and Corrections Bureau, a unit under the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office, oversees the jail and work release programs in the county. The Bureau manages the four main adult jail facilities that house inmates in the county. These jail facilities are responsible for booking, classifying, detaining, and releasing inmates upon completion of their sentences. The Bureau also oversees the rehabilitation programs that help the inmates to return and integrate well into the community.
The San Bernardino County jail facilities include:
- West Valley Detention Center: Used majorly for housing pre-sentenced county inmates. The center houses about 3,000 inmates daily.
- Central Detention Center: Primarily serves as a jailing facility for pre-sentenced county inmates and federal inmates
- Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center: Used for housing inmates sentenced to county jail. It averages a population of 1,020 inmates daily.
- High Desert Detention Center: Used to house pre-sentenced inmates per day.
In addition to housing inmates, the county jails also provide health care, mental health care, dietary needs, counseling, recreation, religious education, and job training services to the inmates within their custody.
How to Find an Inmate in San Bernardino County
Interested persons may search for inmates in San Bernardino County via telephone, the county sheriff's online inmate locator, or a personal visit to the county jails. Requesters may call any county jail telephone line to inquire about inmates in custody. The county jail system even has a designated phone line for locating inmates (909) 708-8371, which is accessible 24 hours daily.
To look up an inmate in the county via telephone or any means highlighted above, the inquirer must provide the inmate's name, date of birth (or nearest age), arrest date, gender, or booking number.
How Does a San Bernardino County Inmate Search Work?
Per the California Public Records Act (CPRA), inmate records or information are considered public records (except where the information is restricted by law) and may be accessed by the public upon request. Inmate records contain details about incarcerated individuals, including:
- Name and personal identifying features (Sex, race, hair and eye color, height)
- Mugshot
- Booking number
- Residential address
- Arrest and booking details (date, time, detention facility)
- Date of arraignment
- Court information
- Conviction information
- Disposition details
Where to Find a San Bernardino County Inmate Locator
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department provides an online inmate locator tool online to enable interested persons to search for persons booked into any of the county jails. To use this tool, inquirers must enter the inmate's 10-digit booking number into the search tool and wait for the search results. If the booking number matches an entry in the database, it will appear in the results. Inquirers can search using the inmate's name, gender, or date of birth when the booking number is unknown.
Additionally, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has an online inmate locator that the public can use to locate inmates convicted in San Bernardino County but sent to state prison. Inquirers must supply an inmate's CDCR number or name to access the locator. If the information required is still unavailable, inquirers can contact the Department's Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713.
Not all information on persons arrested in San Bernardino County may be accessible at the county or state level. Information on persons sentenced to federal prison will likely not be available on the county inmate database. To locate an inmate in federal prison, inquirers should use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Aside from the correctional facilities, there are third-party websites that offer inmate search services online. Usually, the sites maintain an online database of inmate records collated from different correctional agencies across the country. The database may be accessed by entering the inmate's first, last name, and state. However, a requester may pay a small fee to access information.
How to Send Money to a San Bernardino County Inmate
When a new inmate enters the San Bernardino County jail system, a trust account is created to enable the inmate to purchase items and pay for medical services and jail dues. Friends and loved ones may send money to inmates by making deposits into the inmates' accounts through the designated online platform Touch Pay or by calling the detention facility at (888) 232 -1899. Depositors will need to include the inmate's jail number with their details (name and address) when sending money to the trust account.
Alternatively, interested persons may make payments in person via deposit kiosks. At each of the county jails, there are deposit kiosks in the lobby operating round the clock. Deposits may be made in cash or credit/debit card. Personal checks or money orders are not allowed.
How to Visit a San Bernardino County Inmate
Each jail in San Bernardino County has unique visiting hours and visitor requirements. However, visitors must schedule visiting appointments via the county sheriff's online scheduling service or phone call. Persons scheduling online can book 24 hours before the day of the visit. Whereas those calling to schedule visitation can call (909) 887-0364 from Tuesday through Friday.
Visitors must have an inmate's booking number, correction facility, or housing location to schedule their visit. With this information, a staff member can confirm availability and provide any information needed to schedule the visit.
All visitors must adhere to the following rules:
- Visitors must arrive 30 minutes before their appointment.
- Visitors (18 years and above) must provide a valid means of identification issued by a municipal, state, or federal agency. Examples include a driver's license, passport, consulate identification card, or DMV identification card.
- Visitors must submit to a search of their personal belongings and vehicles.
- Visitors cannot have weapons, mobile phones, or audio/video/photo recording devices on or with them.
- Visitors must not possess tobacco or illicit drugs when coming into the facility.
- Visitors must maintain constant supervision of minors with them.
- Visitors must dress appropriately.
How to Send Jail Mail in San Bernardino County
Inmates incarcerated in San Bernardino County are allowed to communicate with their legal representatives, families, friends, and loved ones through letters. However, certain guidelines must be followed when sending mail. For instance, each mail must have the sender's name and return address, the inmate's name and booking number, and the jail facility address printed outside a plain envelope. Also, only mail on lined paper, plain paper, or postcards is accepted in the San Bernardino jails.
San Bernardino County Jails and Prisons
The names, addresses, and contact information of the jail facilities in San Bernardino County are as follows.
Central Detention Center
630 E. Rialto Avenue
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Phone: (909) 386-0969
Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center
18000 W. End of Institution Road
Devore, CA 92407
Phone: (909) 473-3689
High Desert Detention Center
9438 Commerce Way
Adelanto, CA 92301
Phone: (760) 530-9300
West Valley Detention Center
9500 Etiwanda Avenue
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91739
Phone: (909) 350-2476
