Find someone in San Bernardino County custody

San Bernardino County Inmate Search

Find out which jail your loved one is in, their booking status, and bail amount. Use the official Sheriff locator or call us free, any hour, and we'll find them in minutes.

Call 909-385-8008 ยท Free Lookup Official Sheriff Locator ›
How to search

Three ways to find an inmate in San Bernardino County

Official Inmate Locator

The San Bernardino County Sheriff operates a free online Inmate Locator that searches all county facilities. Enter the person's full legal name to get current custody status, housing facility, and booking details.

Open Inmate Locator ›

Call the jail directly

Each facility has a public information line for inmate status. West Valley: 909-350-2476. Central: 909-386-0969. High Desert: 760-530-9300.

Call us, it's free

Call 909-385-8008 and we will locate your loved one across all San Bernardino County facilities at no charge. If bail is set, we can post it immediately.

Call free now
Know where to look

San Bernardino County jail facilities

West Valley Detention Center

City
Rancho Cucamonga
Info
909-350-2476
Serves
Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Ontario, Chino, Chino Hills, Upland

Central Detention Center

City
San Bernardino
Info
909-386-0969
Serves
San Bernardino, Redlands, Yucaipa, Highland, Colton

High Desert Detention Center

City
Adelanto
Info
760-530-9300
Serves
Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Barstow

Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center

City
Devore
Info
909-708-8371
Serves
Sentenced inmates countywide
Before you search

What information do you need to find an inmate?

Having the right information ready makes the search faster and more accurate. The most useful things to have are:

Best to have

  • Full legal name - first, middle, and last as it appears on their ID
  • Date of birth - eliminates name confusion in results
  • Booking number - if you have it, the fastest route to their record
  • City of arrest - tells you which jail to check first

Understanding what you find

In Custody
Currently housed in a county facility
Released
Has been released - bond posted, charges dropped, or served time
Transferred
Moved to another facility - state prison, federal custody, or medical
Sentenced
Serving a sentence, likely at Glen Helen or transferred to state prison

Keep in mind that a newly arrested person may not appear in the online system for 4 to 8 hours after arrest. The jail's computers are updated throughout the booking process, not instantly at the point of arrest.

If the online system shows no results and you know an arrest occurred, call us directly at 909-385-8008. We have direct access to booking systems across all San Bernardino County jails and can often locate someone before they appear in the public database.

Free inmate lookup. No charge, no commitment.

After you find them

Found your loved one - what happens next?

01

Note the bail amount

The inmate record will show the charge, bail amount, and housing facility. The bail amount is what we base the bond premium on. If bail has not been set yet, it will be set within a few hours or at the arraignment hearing.

02

Call us immediately

Call 909-385-8008 with the name, facility, and bail amount. We go over your exact cost and payment options in that first call. The sooner you call, the sooner we can get paperwork started.

03

Sign and fund the bond

We send documents electronically. You review, sign, and make the down payment by phone. No office visit needed. Everything is handled remotely in most cases.

04

Wait for the release call

After we post the bond, the jail processes the release. This typically takes 2 to 4 hours. We monitor the status and call you when your loved one is headed to the exit.

Inmate search FAQ

Common questions about finding someone in custody

Why can't I find the person in the online inmate locator?
Newly arrested people can take 4 to 8 hours to appear in the public inmate database while booking is completed. If you know an arrest occurred and the online system shows nothing, call us at 909-385-8008 - we have access to booking systems that update faster than the public portal.
What is a booking number and where do I find it?
A booking number is the unique identifier assigned to a person when they are processed into jail. It appears on any paperwork from the jail, on the inmate locator search results, and can be provided by the jail's information line. If you have it, give it to us and we can pull the record instantly.
Can someone be in a different county's jail?
Yes. If the arrest happened near a county boundary, or if the person was on probation in another county, they could be held at a different county facility. Call us at 909-385-8008 and we can check across multiple county systems to locate them.
What if bail has not been set yet?
For most misdemeanor and non-violent felony charges, bail is set automatically using the county bail schedule during the booking process. For serious felonies, bail may not be set until the arraignment hearing, which must occur within 48 hours of arrest excluding weekends and holidays. We can prepare paperwork in advance so the bond is ready the moment bail is set.
Can someone be held without bail?
Yes, in limited circumstances. A judge can deny bail for capital offenses, cases where the defendant is considered an extreme flight risk, or under certain domestic violence circumstances. If bail is denied, a defense attorney may petition for reconsideration at a later hearing.
How do I know when they have been released?
Once the bond is posted and the jail processes the release, we contact you directly. Release can take 2 to 4 hours after the bond is posted. You can also call the jail directly on their information line to check release status.
Found them? Let us get them out.

Call now for fast, affordable bail.

Once you know which jail they're in, one call to 909-385-8008 starts the release process. Low 10% premium, payment plans, 24/7 service.

909-385-8008 Call 24/7 for a Free Quote
Call 909‑385‑8008