Santa Barbara County Inmate Search
Information about detained offenders is an integral part of Santa Barbara County Public Records policy because it provides members of the public with helpful information, such as an inmate's current location and release date.
Friends and family members who need to stay in touch with an incarcerated loved one and track their progress can obtain relevant information through an inmate search to provide the inmate with adequate support. Meanwhile, victims can protect themselves with details and updates about their offender's incarceration status.
Moreover, attorneys, law enforcement, investigators, and the general public can look up Santa Barbara County inmate records to follow an offender's legal process, stay informed about high-profile cases, and conduct investigations.
Santa Barbara County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to statistics released by the California Board of State and Community Corrections, Santa Barbara County recorded 12,208 arrests in 2020, a 24% decrease from the previous year's 16,129 arrests.
The report also revealed that the county had an average daily inmate population of 699 in 2020.
Santa Barbara County Prison System
The Santa Barbara County corrections system consists of two county jails under the supervision of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office: the Santa Barbara County Main Jail and the Northern Branch Jail.
The South County Custody Operations Division oversees the Santa Barbara County Main Jail (or Southern Branch Jail). It is an 819-capacity facility that provides rehabilitative and confinement services to court-sentenced and pretrial detainees. It is divided into the main jail, northwest module, and inmate reception area.
The North County Custody Operations Division manages the Northern Branch Jail. It is a 376-capacity facility with modern infrastructure and incarceration services. It has special beds for mental and physical health purposes, an outpatient clinic, and exercise yards.
Inmates in both jails are typically sentenced to one year or less and serve time for less severe crimes. People with longer sentences and serious offenses are transferred to the California Department of Corrections custody.
How to Find an Inmate in Santa Barbara County
People looking for incarcerated loved ones in Santa Barbara County, California, can contact the jail facility where the individual is being detained. Alternatively, they may use the online inmate resource offered by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.
How Does a Santa Barbara County Inmate Search Work?
The California Public Records Act (CPRA) secures the public's right to inspect and obtain information gathered, created, and maintained by local and state government agencies, including the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. While some government agency records are exempt from public access by law or court rule, members of the public can obtain the following inmate information:
- Full name
- Weight
- Custody status
- Occupation
- Detainment location
- Date of birth
- Inmate number
- Race
- Sex
- Eye and hair color
- Arrest date
- Bail amount
- Release date
Where to Find a Santa Barbara County Inmate Locator
Individuals searching for Santa Barbara inmate details have several methods at their disposal.
Using the Who-Is-In-Custody Resource
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office offers an online tool that provides important information about inmates. However, details collected from the page do not constitute the official record.
To use the tool, individuals may enter an inmate's last or first name or ID number. Entering the first two letters of the inmate's first or last name can also bring up related search results.
Each search results page shows the names of inmates who meet the search criteria alongside their gender and age. Selecting an inmate's name brings up additional details, such as the inmate's detainment location, custody status, arrest date, booking date, occupation, and release date.
Contacting the Jail Facility
Individuals looking to speak to someone about an inmate can contact the custodial detention facility. Since there are two county jails, the person looking up the inmate may have to confirm the location of their loved one.
They can use the contact details below to call or visit a facility, or they may contact the county sheriff at:
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
4434 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Phone: (805) 681-4100, (805) 683-2724 (Non-Emergency 24/7 Dispatch)
Using Third-Party Sites
Third-party inmate locators operated by private businesses may also provide Santa Barbara County inmate information, sometimes for a fee. These sites usually offer additional services, such as background checks and centralized databases where people can search for inmates in other counties and U.S. regions.
Some third-party sites charge per search; others offer site visitors payment packages, such as subscriptions or bulk search bundles.
How to Send Jail Mail in Santa Barbara County
Members of the public can send written correspondence, books, photographs, and other permissible items by mail to incarcerated loved ones in Santa Barbara County. However, they must follow the jail mail regulations established by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office to ensure packages reach their intended recipients. These regulations include refraining from sending contraband items, addressing mail correctly, and sending materials, such as books and magazines, directly from publishers or retailers.
Senders must use the following format when addressing their mail:
Southern Branch Jail
Name, CID number
Santa Barbara County Jail
4436 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Northern Branch Jail
Name, CID number
Santa Barbara County Northern Branch Jail
2301 Black Road
Santa Maria, CA 93455
Individuals can use the sheriff's online search tool to find an inmate's CID number.
Santa Barbara County Jails and Prisons
The following are the addresses and contact information of jails in Santa Barbara County, California:
Santa Barbara County Main Jail
4436 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Phone: (805) 681-4260
Santa Barbara County North Branch Jail
2301 Black Road
Santa Maria, CA 93455
Phone: (805) 554-3100
