San Mateo County Inmate Search

San Mateo County operates detention facilities through the sheriff office. You can find information about bookings and releases by checking their custody records. The county maintains jail facilities that house inmates awaiting trial and those serving sentences. While an online inmate search may have limited public access, you can request booking information through official channels. The sheriff office provides custody details under California public records laws. Contact the corrections division for current information about inmates and recent bookings. This helps you find details about arrests and releases in San Mateo County.

San Mateo County Corrections Division

The San Mateo County Sheriff Corrections Division oversees all jail facilities in the county. The division manages inmate housing, custody classifications, and facility operations. Staff process bookings when someone is arrested. They track releases when inmates complete sentences or make bail. The corrections division also handles visitation, inmate programs, and medical services at San Mateo County jails.

Contact the corrections division for information about inmates in San Mateo County custody. Phone the facility directly to confirm someone is being held there. Staff can provide basic custody information during business hours. They can tell you if someone is currently in custody and which facility holds them in San Mateo County.

The corrections division maintains records of all bookings. These records include arrest date, charges filed, bail amount, and custody status. While not all information is available through an online search, you can request specific records through official channels. The sheriff office processes these requests under California Public Records Act guidelines in San Mateo County.

Detention Facilities in San Mateo County

San Mateo County operates two main jail facilities. Maguire Correctional Facility is in Redwood City. This is the main county jail. It houses adult inmates in multiple housing units. The facility separates men and women. Different sections handle various security levels. Medical and mental health services operate at Maguire Correctional Facility in San Mateo County.

Maple Street Correctional Center is also in Redwood City. This facility serves specific inmate populations. It may house minimum security inmates or those in work programs. The corrections division determines which facility holds each inmate based on custody classification and security needs in San Mateo County.

Total capacity between both facilities exceeds 900 beds. Daily population varies based on arrests and court activity. San Mateo County processes hundreds of bookings each month. The jail system houses both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates.

Each facility has rules for mail, visits, and inmate accounts. Contact the specific facility before sending mail or planning a visit. The sheriff website has contact information for both San Mateo County detention facilities.

Getting Booking Records

For official booking records in San Mateo County, submit a request to the sheriff office. The records division processes requests for arrest reports, booking logs, and custody records. You can request records by mail, email, or in person at the sheriff office.

California Public Records Act sets response times. San Mateo County must respond within 10 days. The response tells you when records will be ready or explains why they cannot be released. The agency can extend the deadline by 14 days for unusual circumstances. Complex requests take longer than simple ones.

Be specific about what you need. Include full names, dates of arrest or booking, and booking numbers if available. Explain which documents you want. Vague requests are difficult for staff to process. They may contact you to clarify what records you need from San Mateo County.

Fees are limited to direct costs of duplication. The sheriff can charge for significant staff time if your request requires extensive work. Ask about fees before the agency processes your request. Simple booking record requests usually cost less than complex research projects in San Mateo County.

Note: Victims of crimes do not pay fees for records related to their cases under California law.

California Public Access Laws

California law requires disclosure of specific booking information. Government Code section 7923.610 lists what must be made public. This includes arrestee full name and occupation. Physical description covers date of birth, eye color, hair color, sex, height, and weight. Time and date of arrest and booking must be disclosed. Location of arrest and factual circumstances become public too.

Bail amount is public information. Time and manner of release or current location must be shared. All charges are public including warrants from other places and parole or probation holds. San Mateo County follows these rules when providing booking information to the public.

Agencies can withhold information only when disclosure would endanger someone or harm an investigation. This exception is narrow. Most booking data must be released under California law. San Mateo County provides public access to custody information as required by statute.

The California Public Records Act grants broad access to government documents. Government Code section 7923.600 exempts certain law enforcement files. Investigation records stay confidential during active cases. But basic booking information is separate. You can get booking logs even when investigations continue in San Mateo County.

Penal Code section 13125 establishes data standards for arrest records. This law specifies what agencies must record. Personal identification includes name, aliases, date of birth, physical description, and fingerprints. Arrest data includes agency, booking number, date, charges, and dispositions. San Mateo County follows these standards for all bookings.

State Criminal History Records

Statewide criminal history records differ from county booking logs. The California Department of Justice maintains criminal history summaries for everyone arrested in the state. Access is restricted under Penal Code section 11105. Law enforcement can access these records. Certain employers get access for background checks. The subject of the record can request their own. Third parties cannot get someone else's criminal history in California.

You can request your own record for $25. California residents use Live Scan fingerprinting at an authorized location. Out of state residents mail manual fingerprint cards. Processing takes 2 to 3 days for most records. Some complex records take up to 2 weeks at the state level.

You cannot give your criminal record to employers or others. California Penal Code section 11142 prohibits this. Penal Code section 11125 bars anyone from requiring you to provide your record. Violating either law is a misdemeanor in California.

Correcting Record Errors

Mistakes can occur in booking records. Contact the San Mateo County Sheriff Office if you find an error. The records division reviews correction requests. You must provide documentation that proves the error. Court records often help show mistakes.

If charges were dismissed, get a court order showing that. If your name was spelled wrong, ID documents prove the correct spelling. San Mateo County staff need evidence to change official records. They cannot rely only on your statement about the error.

For state criminal history errors, use the DOJ challenge process. Penal Code sections 11120 through 11127 set procedures. First get a copy of your record from California Department of Justice. Form BCIA 8706 comes with it. That is the form to claim inaccuracy or incompleteness. Submit it with supporting documents to DOJ in California.

Some corrections require court or agency action. If an arrest should not be on your record, the arresting agency or district attorney must direct removal. Neither DOJ nor San Mateo County can delete arrests without proper authorization. You may need a court order to expunge or seal records under California law.

Visiting and Contacting Inmates

San Mateo County jails allow visits according to facility schedules. Each facility has its own visiting rules and hours. Contact the specific jail before you plan a visit. You will need valid ID to visit an inmate. Dress codes apply at all facilities. Some items are not allowed inside the jails in San Mateo County.

Video visits may be available. This lets you visit from home using a computer or phone. Check whether the facility offers video visitation. Some custody classifications may restrict who can visit. The corrections division can answer questions about visiting inmates in San Mateo County.

Inmates can make phone calls according to jail rules. They may also send and receive mail. All mail is inspected for security. Facilities have rules about what can be sent to inmates. Check with the jail before sending packages or mail to someone in San Mateo County custody.

Custody Notifications Through VINE

VINE offers free custody status alerts. This stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Register by phone or online to receive notifications about inmates. The system alerts you when someone is released, transferred, or has court dates in San Mateo County.

Choose your notification method. Options include phone calls, text messages, and emails. You can update your contact information anytime. VINE operates 24 hours a day. Crime victims use this service to stay informed without checking custody status daily in San Mateo County.

Cities in San Mateo County

San Mateo County includes many cities with their own police departments. Major cities include Daly City, San Mateo, Redwood City, South San Francisco, and San Bruno. Each city police department handles arrests and investigations within city limits. The sheriff also provides law enforcement in unincorporated areas of San Mateo County.

All bookings go through San Mateo County jail facilities regardless of which agency made the arrest. Contact the sheriff corrections division to find anyone arrested in the county. City police departments maintain their own records for police reports and investigations. But custody records are handled by the county jail system in San Mateo County.

This centralized jail system means all arrests in the county result in bookings at county facilities. Whether city police or the sheriff made the arrest, custody records appear in the San Mateo County system.