Find Contra Costa County Bookings
Contra Costa County recent bookings appear in the Sheriff's online custody system shortly after arrest. The Contra Costa County Sheriff runs the Martinez Detention Facility and other jail sites across the county. You can check in-custody reports to see who is currently booked into county jails. The system lets you search by name or view arrest reports and incident summaries. Booking information includes charges, bail amounts, and facility locations. This free online tool updates throughout the day as new arrests happen and inmates are released. Contra Costa County provides this data under California public records laws that require agencies to share booking information with the public.
Contra Costa County Jail Quick Facts
Access In-Custody Reports Online
The Contra Costa County in-custody reports portal offers several ways to search. Pick from arrest reports or incident summary reports in the dropdown menu. Each report type shows different details about recent bookings. The arrest report focuses on who was booked and what charges they face. The incident summary gives more context about the arrest itself.
You can call the Custody Services Bureau at (925) 646-4496 any time day or night. This 24-hour line helps you find out if someone is in custody. Staff can tell you which facility holds an inmate and when they might be released. They answer thousands of calls each week from people looking for booking information in Contra Costa County.
The Martinez Detention Facility sits at 901 Court Street in Martinez. This is the main jail for Contra Costa County. Call (925) 335-4600 for facility-specific information. The jail houses inmates awaiting trial and those serving county sentences. Different housing units separate people by security level and gender. Staff process new bookings every day around the clock.
When you search for someone, results show their current status. You see if they are still in custody or have been released. Charges appear with statute codes. Bail amounts tell you what is needed for release. Some serious charges have no bail which means a judge must decide before release can happen.
How County Booking Works
After an arrest anywhere in Contra Costa County, deputies bring the person to the Martinez Detention Facility. Intake staff begin the booking process right away. They take fingerprints and photos. Personal property gets inventoried and stored. Medical staff screen all new arrivals for health issues.
The classification process determines where each inmate will be housed. Staff look at the charges, criminal history, and any special needs. Some inmates go to maximum security units. Others fit in minimum security housing. Women are housed separately from men. This sorting process can take a few hours during busy times.
Once booking is complete, the inmate appears in the online system. This usually happens within a few hours of arrest. Sometimes it takes longer if the jail is very busy or if there are technical problems. Check back if you do not see someone right away. They might still be going through the intake process.
Court dates get scheduled based on the charges and court availability. Inmates awaiting trial see a judge within two business days. Bail can be posted at any time if the charge allows it. The jail has a bail window that operates during set hours. Check with the facility for exact times.
Details in Contra Costa Booking Records
Contra Costa County booking records contain standard arrest information. The person's full name appears along with their age. Booking date shows when they arrived at the jail. Each booking gets a unique number for tracking purposes. This number stays with that custody episode from start to finish.
Charges list the crimes the person is accused of. California Penal Code sections identify most charges. You might see PC 243(e)(1) for domestic battery or HS 11377 for drug possession. The arresting agency name tells you which police department made the arrest. This could be the Contra Costa County Sheriff or any city police agency in the county.
Bail schedules determine how much money must be posted. The amount varies by charge severity and criminal history. Some inmates have holds from other counties or federal authorities. These holds prevent release even if bail is posted. The custody status field shows whether someone is still in jail or has been released.
Release dates appear for sentenced inmates when applicable. People awaiting trial have scheduled court dates instead. The system updates as new information becomes available. Transfers between facilities show up with dates and times. This helps you track where an inmate is located at any given moment.
Request Additional Records
The online reports give you basic booking information at no cost. More detailed records require a formal public records request. Contact the Sheriff's Office to start this process. Include specific details about what records you need. Names, dates, and case numbers help staff locate the right documents.
California's Public Records Act requires agencies to respond within 10 days. They can take a 14-day extension for complex requests. Simple booking records usually come back faster. The response tells you if the records exist and what fees apply. You can decide whether to proceed based on the estimated cost.
Fees depend on how many pages need copying and whether certification is required. Standard copies run about 10 cents per page. Certified copies cost more. Staff time for research might add to the total. Ask for a fee estimate before you finalize your request. You can modify or withdraw a request if the cost is too high.
Some records are exempt from public disclosure. Criminal history information has strict privacy protections under California Penal Code section 11105. Ongoing investigations might be shielded temporarily. The agency will explain any exemptions that apply to your request.
Note: Basic in-custody reports are free and available online 24 hours a day.
Cities Using County Jails
Contra Costa County includes many cities but the Sheriff operates all jail facilities. Richmond is one of the largest cities in the county. Richmond Police make arrests throughout the city. All those bookings go to the Martinez Detention Facility. Concord Police also use county jails for custody needs.
Antioch sits in eastern Contra Costa County. Antioch Police bring arrestees to the county jail for booking. Walnut Creek police do the same. This arrangement saves each city the cost of running its own jail. It also ensures consistent standards and procedures across the county.
Other cities like San Ramon, Pleasant Hill, and Pittsburg all rely on county facilities. The Sheriff handles custody operations for the entire region. This includes intake, classification, housing, medical care, and court transportation. Cities focus on patrol and investigations while the county handles detention.
VINE Custody Notifications
VINE operates in Contra Costa County just like other California counties. This free service alerts you when an inmate's status changes. Call 1-877-411-5588 or visit vinelink.vineapps.com/state/CA to register. Search for an inmate by name and date of birth.
After you register, VINE tracks that person's custody status. When they get released, you receive a notification. Choose phone calls, text messages, or emails for your alerts. The system updates every 15 minutes from the jail database. Crime victims rely on VINE to know when offenders leave custody. Families use it to track release times. Your registration is anonymous and costs nothing.
Nearby California Counties
Contra Costa County sits in the East Bay region. It shares borders with several other counties. Each has its own jail system and booking records. Check these nearby counties if you cannot find someone in Contra Costa County: