Find San Jose Recent Bookings

San Jose recent bookings are processed through the Santa Clara County jail system operated by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. When San Jose Police Department officers make an arrest, they book the person at Main Jail or Elmwood Correctional Facility. Both jails sit in San Jose on West Hedding Street and West Younger Avenue. You can search for anyone arrested in San Jose using the online inmate locator. The system shows current custody status, charges, booking dates, and bail amounts. All San Jose booking records appear in one central database. This database covers San Jose and all other cities in Santa Clara County.

Santa Clara County Handles San Jose Bookings

The City of San Jose does not operate its own jail system. All arrests by San Jose Police go to Santa Clara County facilities. Main Jail and Elmwood work together to house inmates from San Jose and across the county. Main Jail sits at 150 West Hedding Street right in downtown San Jose. Elmwood sits at 701 South Abel Street in Milpitas. The county decides which facility to use based on classification, gender, and bed space.

When San Jose Police arrest someone, they transport that person to one of these jails. Booking staff collect personal information, take photos, and record fingerprints. They log the charges and determine bail. The system assigns each person a booking number called a CEN and a person file number called a PFN. All this data enters the county database within hours. Then you can search for the person online through the sheriff's inmate search portal.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office manages all jail operations. They run booking, classification, custody, medical care, and court transport. San Jose Police Department focuses on patrol, investigations, and making arrests. The sheriff handles everything once the person reaches the jail. This division of labor has worked in Santa Clara County for decades. Each agency specializes in its own area of public safety.

Maintenance Notice: Every Monday between 12:30 AM and 2 AM the inmate information system is unavailable for regular maintenance. Plan your searches around this window.

Search San Jose Arrest Records Online

Go to the Santa Clara County inmate locator to search San Jose bookings. You must provide either a booking number, person file number, or name plus date of birth or booking date. Type the information into the search boxes. Hit submit. The system searches Main Jail and Elmwood at once. Results show everyone currently in custody from San Jose.

The search portal needs specific information. You cannot search by name alone. You need at least one other piece of data like date of birth or booking date. This prevents false matches. Once you enter enough information, results appear fast. Each record shows the person's name, booking date, charges, bail amount, and facility location. You get the CEN and PFN numbers which you can use for future searches without needing the date of birth.

For help finding someone in San Jose custody call the Main Jail at (408) 808-2800. Staff answer questions about custody status. They tell you which jail holds an inmate. They give you charges and bail amounts. They can tell you court dates and tentative release times. The Sheriff's Office main number is (408) 808-4400 if you need to reach someone during business hours. Call the jail line any time including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Sometimes people arrested in San Jose do not appear in the database right away. Booking takes time. If someone was just arrested, wait a few hours before searching. Very recent arrests might not be in the system yet. Also check if they got released on citation at the scene. Not every arrest leads to jail booking. Minor offenses often result in a citation and release without going to the jail.

Where San Jose Arrestees Are Held

Main Jail sits in downtown San Jose at 150 West Hedding Street. This facility opened in 1959 and has been renovated many times. It can hold over 1,000 inmates. Main Jail houses male and female inmates in separate areas. Most people arrested in San Jose by SJPD end up here first. The booking center operates 24 hours a day taking in new arrestees from police agencies across the county.

Elmwood Correctional Facility sits at 701 South Abel Street in Milpitas. This jail opened in 1993. It can house over 1,000 inmates too. Elmwood focuses on inmates with longer sentences and those awaiting trial on serious charges. Some San Jose arrestees transfer from Main Jail to Elmwood after classification. The move depends on their charges, custody level, and available space at each facility.

The online search portal shows which facility holds each inmate. Check the location field in the search results. If you plan to visit someone, make sure you go to the right jail. Visiting rules differ between Main Jail and Elmwood. Call ahead to confirm the person is still there. Inmates sometimes transfer between jails or get released without much notice. The inmate locator updates throughout the day to reflect current custody status.

San Jose Police and Other Agencies

The San Jose Police Department is one of the largest police agencies in California. SJPD employs over 1,000 sworn officers who patrol the city. They respond to calls and make arrests. When SJPD makes an arrest, the booking record lists San Jose Police as the arresting agency. You see this in the search results. San Jose Police patrol city limits only. They do not work in unincorporated areas or other cities.

Other agencies also arrest people in San Jose. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction throughout the county. California Highway Patrol patrols freeways like US-101, I-280, and I-680 that run through San Jose. VTA Transit Police patrol light rail stations and buses. Federal agencies like FBI and DEA sometimes make arrests in San Jose too. All these agencies book their arrestees into the same county jails. So you search one database no matter which agency made the arrest.

San Jose State University Police Department patrols the campus in downtown San Jose. They have full law enforcement powers. When they make arrests, those people go to Main Jail for booking. The same applies to private security and special districts with police powers. Everyone arrested in San Jose ends up in the Santa Clara County jail system regardless of which specific agency made the arrest.

Request San Jose Arrest Reports

Online search gives you basic booking information at no cost. But detailed reports require a formal request. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office handles booking records and custody documents. For San Jose Police arrest reports and case files, contact SJPD records division. They keep investigative reports separate from booking records. You might need documents from both agencies to get the full story of a San Jose arrest.

San Jose Police charge fees for copies of reports. Exact costs vary by document type and page count. Call ahead to ask about current prices. You need the case number or at least the name and date of the arrest. Bring ID when picking up copies. You can request records by mail or in person. Some records are available online through their records portal. Check the SJPD website for instructions on how to submit a records request.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office processes requests for booking records and jail custody documents. Call (408) 808-4400 to ask about procedures. They follow California Public Records Act timelines. Agencies have 10 days to respond. They can take a 14-day extension for complex requests involving many pages or multiple inmates. Most simple booking record requests get filled within a week or two.

Note: Basic online searches through the inmate locator are free and available 24/7 without submitting any formal records request.

Get Custody Alerts for San Jose Inmates

Use VINE to track custody status for anyone booked in San Jose. Call 1-877-411-5588 or visit vinelink.vineapps.com/state/CA to register. Search for an inmate by name. Sign up for alerts when their custody status changes. You get notifications when someone is released from Main Jail or Elmwood.

VINE sends alerts by phone, text, or email. Pick your preferred notification method when you register. The service is free. You do not need to identify yourself or explain why you want alerts. Crime victims use VINE to stay informed about offender custody status. Families use it to know when a relative will be released from San Jose jails. The system updates every 15 minutes from the county jail database so information stays current.

Other Santa Clara County Cities

Many cities in Santa Clara County use the same jail system. If you cannot find someone under San Jose arrests, they might have been arrested nearby. Check the county page for a complete list of cities: