San Mateo County Inmate Search
Like in other California counties, the incarceration process in San Mateo County usually begins with an arrest. California Penal Code § 834 defines an arrest as taking a person suspected of committing a crime into custody according to legal provisions and procedures.
After an arrest, a person may be kept in police custody until they attend their arraignment or receive a criminal sentence from the court. At the same time, a person may be released on personal recognizance and given a court date to answer for the offense.
Any person sentenced for a crime in San Mateo County may be confined in one of the two jails managed by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Inmates in the county jail are often those serving short sentences. Inmates sentenced to longer incarceration periods are typically transferred to state prisons overseen by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).
The county sheriff's office maintains records of every inmate within the county's correctional system and allows the public to look up San Mateo county inmate information upon request.
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 Mateo County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), San Mateo County reported 11,967 arrests in 2020. Misdemeanors were the most popular crimes in the county, accounting for 8,743 of the total arrest number in 2020. The county reported 3,166 felony arrests.
Among the people most frequently arrested were those aged 40 to 69 (4,804 arrests), followed by the age group 20 to 29 (4,600 arrests) and 30 to 39 (4,565 arrests). Persons under 18 and 70 years or above had the least arrests: 528 and 89 arrests, respectively.
(Note that the number of arrests does not represent the number of people arrested, as an individual can be arrested more than once.)
The average daily population of inmates in the San Mateo County jail system was 705 in 2020. In 2021, the average was 723. Per the BSCC's report, male inmates constitute over 80% of the jail population in any year. Furthermore, over 60% of inmates being held in the county jails are non-sentenced (or unsentenced) inmates.
San Mateo County Prison System
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office oversees the county's jail system through its Corrections Division. The division manages two jail facilities: Maple Street Correctional Center (MSCC) and the Maguire Correctional Facility.
The Maguire Correctional Facility, the county's main jail, is a correctional center that primarily accommodates male inmates. This facility offers rehabilitative and incarceration services to both pretrial detainees and court-sentenced inmates.
The Maple Street Correctional Center accommodates male and female inmates. The facility also houses men and women in transitional programs, offering support and resources to help them transition back into society after release.
Inmates in the Transitional Housing Unit (THU) perform work-oriented tasks as a part of their rehabilitative process. They are either participants of the Sheriff's Work Furlough Program or are assigned to work within and around the facility property. Their assignments include working in the laundry room, participating in clean-up detail in and around the THU, and washing dishes in the kitchen. They also assist in maintaining the perimeter of the Maguire Correctional Facility and Maple Street Correctional Center.
How to Find an Inmate in San Mateo County
Members of the public can find in-custody or arrested persons in San Mateo County as follows:
- Use the inmate locator provided by the local sheriff's office.
- Call the Corrections Bureau at (650) 599-3000.
- Visit the sheriff's office to make inquiries.
How Does a San Mateo County Inmate Search Work?
According to California's Government Code 7923.610, law enforcement agencies must provide certain inmate information to the public unless otherwise prohibited by law. Therefore, individuals who perform a San Mateo County inmate search may obtain the following details about an inmate:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Gender
- SMCSO ID number (the inmate's ID)
- Court case number
- Housing facility
- Booking number
- Next court date
- Projected release date
- Bail amount
- Criminal charge
Where to Find a San Mateo County Inmate Locator
Individuals can access the San Mateo County inmate locator on the county sheriff's office website. The system allows users to search for locally incarcerated inmates using their first and last names. One can also search with an inmate's gender/middle name or use the phonetic search feature (which brings up similar-sounding names), but it is optional.
If an inmate has been moved to a state prison, a person can use the CDCR's Public Inmate Locator System to search. The required search criterion is an inmate's last name or CDCR number.
Apart from the inmate locator provided by the correctional facilities, individuals can use third-party resources to look up inmate information, including where an inmate is being held, their bail amount, and release date. That said, third-party websites may charge a fee to offer more comprehensive information.
How to Send Money to a San Mateo County Inmate
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office uses a third-party contractor to facilitate payments to inmates in the county jails. Also, kiosks are located in the lobby of each county jail facility for in-person deposits. Individuals can review the sheriff's Inmate Mail and Money page for more information.
How to Visit a San Mateo County Inmate
The visitation schedules and processes for the Maple Street Correctional Center and the Maguire Correctional Facility differ. However, visitors are generally required to do the following:
- Pre-register via the sheriff's visitation system. One must obtain approval before a visit can be scheduled.
- Schedule visits one day in advance using the sheriff's scheduling website.
- Arrive at the jail facility not earlier than 45 minutes or later than 15 minutes before the visiting start time. Arriving late within 15 minutes means the balance will be deducted from the visiting duration. Arriving more than 15 minutes late means the visit will be canceled without a rescheduling option.
- Provide a valid means of identification such as a valid passport, U.S. Identification Card, U.S. Immigration Identification Card, Military Identification Card, or other valid government-issued ID.
Detailed visitation rules, such as the dress code restrictions, are published on the Maple Street Correctional Center and Maguire Correctional Facility visitation pages.
How to Send Jail Mail in San Mateo County
Members of the public can send personal letters, books, and commercial publications to persons incarcerated in the San Mateo County prison system. However, senders must abide by certain rules. For example, books and commercial publications must be delivered from the publisher to the following address:
Maguire Correctional Facility
Attention (INMATE NAME) (ID NUMBER)
300 Bradford Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
The mail should be sent to the address below if the inmate is in the Maple Street Correctional Center.
Maple Street Correctional Center
Attention (INMATE NAME) (ID NUMBER)
1300 Maple Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
Senders must also include their names and return addresses. However, no contraband, such as a polaroid picture or drawing, can be sent by mail. Detailed information about sending mail to inmates in San Mateo County can be obtained from the sheriff's Mail and Money page.
San Mateo County Jails and Prisons
These are the addresses of the San Mateo County jails:
Maguire Correctional Facility
300 Bradford Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 363-4000, ext. 6070 or 6071
Maple Street Correctional Center
1300 Maple Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: (650) 599-3000
