Find Sonoma County Inmate Records
Sonoma County maintains an online database for searching jail bookings and releases. The Sonoma County Sheriff Office operates the Jail Inmate Search system that provides current custody information. You can look up inmates by name to find booking details, charges, and release dates. The system updates regularly as bookings occur and inmates are released from detention facilities. Public access to this information is required under state law. Anyone can use the online search tool to locate people held in county jails. The sheriff office provides free access to booking records for Sonoma County detention facilities.
Sonoma County Jail Information
Sonoma County Inmate Lookup Tool
The Jail Inmate Search lets you find people currently in custody. Enter last name and first name to search the database. Results show booking number, booking date, expected release date, and current housing location. Physical characteristics appear including date of birth, race, sex, height, and weight. You also see charges filed at booking along with bail amounts.
Search results display which facility holds the inmate. Sonoma County operates the Main Adult Detention Facility in Santa Rosa and the North County Detention Facility in Windsor. Both locations appear in search results. The database covers all adults booked into county jails by local law enforcement agencies.
Information updates throughout each day as new bookings happen and releases are processed. The system only displays current inmates held in custody. Historical records for people who have been released require a formal records request from the sheriff office. Keep in mind that charges may change as cases proceed through court. Judges can modify bail amounts at arraignment hearings. Release dates shift based on court orders or earned time credits.
Note: All information shown represents the most recent data available to jail staff.
Requesting Booking Records
You can request copies of booking records and arrest reports from the Sonoma County Sheriff Office. The Criminal Investigations Bureau handles public records requests under California's Public Records Act. Contact information and procedures are available on the sheriff website. Staff must respond within 10 business days to tell you when records are available or explain delays.
Submit written requests with specific details about the records you need. Include the full name of the arrested person and approximate booking date. Case numbers help staff locate records faster when available. Provide your contact information so the agency can reach you when records are ready for pickup or mailing from Sonoma County.
Fees are limited to the direct cost of copying records under state law. More extensive requests may involve charges for staff time to locate, review, or redact documents. Simple booking records typically have lower fees than complex case files. Ask about costs before the agency begins processing your request to understand potential charges.
Some records may be exempt from disclosure under California law during active investigations. Staff will explain what information can be released and what must remain confidential. Most basic booking information becomes public immediately under state disclosure requirements in Sonoma County.
Sonoma County Jail Facilities
The Main Adult Detention Facility on Ventura Avenue in Santa Rosa serves as the primary jail. This facility houses male and female inmates in separate housing units. Classification systems separate inmates by security level and criminal history. Medical services, mental health care, and programs operate inside the facility. Booking happens around the clock as law enforcement brings arrestees from across the county.
The North County Detention Facility in Windsor provides additional capacity. This jail houses male inmates in a more rural setting. The facility includes multiple housing units with different security levels. Both facilities work together to manage the county jail population in Sonoma County.
Total capacity exceeds 1,200 beds across both locations. Daily population changes based on new arrests and court ordered releases. The inmate search system shows which facility currently holds each person. Jail staff process releases as soon as bail is posted or court orders require discharge.
Inmates may be moved between facilities based on housing needs and security classifications. The online search tool always shows the current location. Check the database regularly for the most up to date custody information on people held in Sonoma County jails.
California Laws on Booking Disclosure
State law mandates public access to specific booking information. Government Code section 7923.610 lists what must be disclosed. Law enforcement must make public the full name and occupation of arrested individuals. Physical description requirements include date of birth, color of eyes and hair, sex, height, and weight.
Time and date of arrest must be shared along with time and date of booking. Location where the arrest took place becomes public information. Factual circumstances surrounding the arrest get disclosed to the public. Bail amount set by court or bail schedule appears in booking records. Time and manner of release or current custody location must be made available. All charges get listed including any outstanding warrants from other jurisdictions plus parole or probation holds.
Agencies can withhold information only when disclosure would endanger someone's safety or jeopardize an investigation. This exception applies narrowly and does not allow blanket withholding of booking data. The statute took effect statewide on January 1, 2023. Sonoma County follows these requirements in maintaining public inmate search databases and responding to records requests.
The California Public Records Act provides the broader framework for government transparency. Government Code section 7923.600 protects investigatory files from disclosure during active investigations. But this exemption does not prevent release of basic booking information that must be shared under section 7923.610 across California.
State Criminal History Records
Criminal history summaries differ from local booking logs. The California Department of Justice maintains a central database of all criminal history information. Penal Code section 11105 restricts access to these records. Only law enforcement, certain employers, regulatory agencies, and the person who is the subject can request them. Third parties cannot obtain someone else's criminal history in California.
You can request your own record for $25. California residents must submit Live Scan fingerprints at an authorized location. Out of state residents mail manual fingerprint cards using form FD258. Processing takes 2 to 3 days for most requests. Some records need up to 2 weeks when additional review is required at the state level.
Giving your criminal record copy to an employer or other third party is illegal. Penal Code section 11142 prohibits sharing your record with unauthorized parties. Section 11125 makes it illegal for anyone to require you to provide your criminal record. Both violations are misdemeanor offenses under California law.
Penal Code section 13125 establishes data standards for arrest records. This statute defines what information gets captured during booking. Personal ID data includes name, aliases, date of birth, and physical description. Arrest data covers agency, booking number, date, charges, and case dispositions. Sonoma County follows these standards for all jail bookings.
Fixing Record Errors
Mistakes can occur in booking records. Contact the Sonoma County Sheriff Office if you find errors in jail records. Staff review correction requests when you provide supporting documents. This might include court orders or official records that show the mistake. Local jail records can only be changed with proper court authorization or direction from prosecutors.
For state criminal history records, use the Department of Justice challenge process. Penal Code sections 11120 through 11127 set procedures for reviewing and challenging your record. First obtain a copy of your record from DOJ in California. Form BCIA 8706 comes with your record for claiming inaccuracy or incompleteness. Submit this form with evidence that supports your claim.
Arrest and court information can only be modified by court order or at the direction of the arresting agency or district attorney. DOJ cannot change entries on its own. The same applies at county level in Sonoma County. Sheriff staff cannot delete or alter booking records without proper authorization from courts or prosecutors.
Custody Status Alerts
VINE offers free notifications about inmate custody changes. This stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Register online or by phone to receive alerts when an inmate in Sonoma County gets released, transferred, or has court dates. The service operates 24 hours a day across California.
Choose phone calls, text messages, or email for your alerts. You can update contact preferences anytime through the VINE system. This helps victims and concerned parties stay informed without checking databases every day. Sonoma County participates in the statewide VINE notification network.
Cities and Police Departments
Sonoma County includes multiple cities with local police departments. All arrests from these cities result in bookings at county jail facilities. Search the county inmate database regardless of which agency made the arrest. The sheriff office handles all detention operations for the region.
Major cities include Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Cotati, and Sebastopol. Each city maintains its own police reports and incident records. But all custody information appears in the sheriff office inmate search system for Sonoma County.
City police departments handle requests for police reports from their agencies. Contact the specific city for incident reports or traffic collision documents. Booking and custody records come from the county sheriff even when city police made the arrest. The centralized jail system makes it easier to search for inmates across Sonoma County.