Los Angeles County Booking Records
Los Angeles County recent bookings appear in the LASD Inmate Information Center within hours of arrest. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates multiple jail facilities that house over 15,000 inmates on any given day. You can search booking records by name, booking number, or arrestee number to find current custody status. The system updates regularly and shows charges, bail amounts, and facility locations. Anyone can access these records online at no cost. Los Angeles County booking information follows California public records laws which require agencies to share arrest data with the public.
Los Angeles County Jail Quick Facts
Search Los Angeles Bookings Online
The LASD Inmate Information Center lets you search all Los Angeles County jails at once. Type in a first and last name. The system shows results for people currently in custody. You can also search by booking number if you have that info. The arrestee number works too. Each search needs a CAPTCHA to prevent bots from overwhelming the system.
Results show the booking date and time. You see which facility holds the person. Charges appear with their code sections. Bail amount tells you the cost to post bond for release. Some records include the scheduled court date. The system covers Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers Correctional Facility, Century Regional Detention Facility, and all other LASD jails across the county.
For general custody questions call (213) 473-6100 any time day or night. The 24-hour inmate information line at (213) 473-6080 also helps you find someone in custody. Staff can tell you which jail holds an inmate and when they might be released. These phone lines handle thousands of calls each day from people looking for booking information in Los Angeles County.
LASD also posts a booking log portal that shows recent arrests. This list updates throughout the day. You can see who was booked in the past 24 to 48 hours. The log includes names, ages, booking dates, and charges. It gives you a quick way to check recent bookings without searching for a specific person.
LA County Jail Facilities
Los Angeles County runs the largest jail system in the United States. Men's Central Jail sits at 441 Bauchet Street in downtown Los Angeles. This facility holds male inmates awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Call (213) 974-4916 for information about inmates at Men's Central. The jail opened in 1963 and has been expanded several times over the decades.
Twin Towers Correctional Facility is right next door at 450 Bauchet Street. It opened in 1997 and focuses on inmates with medical and mental health needs. Twin Towers has its own medical clinic and psychiatric units. The main number is (213) 893-5100. Both downtown jails sit near Union Station and the Los Angeles County Superior Court buildings. This makes it easy to transport inmates to court hearings each day.
Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood houses female inmates. North County Correctional Facility in Castaic serves as an intake center for the northern part of the county. Pitchess Detention Center also operates in Castaic at 29340 The Old Road. Call (661) 295-7810 for Pitchess inmate information. The facility sits about 50 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. It includes minimum and medium security housing units on a large campus.
LASD also operates several smaller jail facilities across the county. Mira Loma Detention Center and Inmate Reception Center both handle processing and classification of new bookings. When someone gets arrested anywhere in Los Angeles County, they typically go through one of these intake centers first. Staff complete the booking process and determine which facility will house the inmate based on their charges and classification level.
Information in LA Booking Records
Los Angeles County booking records contain standard arrest information. You see the full legal name of the person booked. Age appears in most records. The booking date shows when they arrived at the jail. Each booking gets a unique number that stays with that jail stay. If someone gets released and arrested again later, they receive a new booking number.
Charges list the crimes the person faces. LASD uses California Penal Code sections and other statute numbers to identify charges. Common codes include PC 187 for murder, PC 459 for burglary, and HS 11350 for drug possession. The bail schedule determines how much money must be posted for release. Some serious charges have no bail which means the person must see a judge before they can leave.
The arresting agency name tells you which police department made the arrest. LASD deputies make many arrests but you also see Los Angeles Police Department, Glendale PD, Long Beach PD, and dozens of other agencies. The booking facility shows where the person is housed right now. This could be Men's Central Jail, Twin Towers, or any other LASD facility. Transfer dates appear if they moved between jails.
Request Booking Records and Reports
Most booking searches in Los Angeles County happen online for free. But you might need certified copies or detailed arrest reports. The LASD Records Bureau handles these requests. Their office sits at 12440 E Imperial Highway, Suite 400 West, in Norwalk. Call (562) 345-4441 during business hours. You can also submit requests by mail to that address.
The Public Records Act unit takes formal requests at (323) 890-5050. Email your request to PRArequest@lasd.org for fastest service. Tell them what records you need. Include names, dates, and case numbers if you have them. LASD has 10 days to respond under California law. They can take a 14-day extension for complex requests. Simple booking records usually come back faster than that.
Fees vary by record type in Los Angeles County. Booking photographs cost $16 per image. Police reports run $4 per copy. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. If you need many pages, the total can add up. Ask about fees before you submit your request. Payment methods include checks, money orders, and credit cards. Some records are free to crime victims under California law.
You can also visit the Records Bureau in person. Bring ID and be ready to fill out a request form. Staff will help you figure out what records exist and how much they cost. In-person visits work well when you have questions or need help tracking down the right documents. The office gets busy so expect to wait during peak hours.
Note: Online search through the Inmate Information Center does not cost anything and gives you basic booking details right away.
Cities Using LA County Jails
Most cities in Los Angeles County do not operate their own jails. When police make an arrest, they book the person into an LASD facility. Los Angeles city itself uses county jails for all bookings. The Los Angeles Police Department is the largest city agency but they rely on LASD for custody operations. This arrangement saves money and ensures consistent jail standards across the region.
Major cities in Los Angeles County include:
- Los Angeles - Largest city in California
- Long Beach - Has own holding jail, transfers to LASD
- Glendale - Small city jail, uses LASD for long-term
- Santa Clarita - North county city
- Lancaster - Antelope Valley region
- Palmdale - High desert city
- Pomona - Eastern LA County
A few cities have their own temporary holding facilities. Long Beach operates a Type I jail with 202 beds. They can hold inmates for up to 96 hours before transferring to LASD. Glendale has a 96-bed facility for short-term custody. Pomona runs a small holding jail. But all these cities eventually transfer inmates to county jails for extended stays and court processing.
VINE Custody Notifications
The VINE system works in Los Angeles County just like the rest of California. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. Call 1-877-411-5588 or go to vinelink.vineapps.com/state/CA to register. You can search for an inmate and sign up for alerts about their custody status.
VINE updates every 15 minutes from the jail database. When someone gets released, you get a notification by phone, text, or email. This helps victims and witnesses stay informed about an offender's location. The service is free and anonymous. You do not have to give a reason for signing up. Families use VINE to track when a relative might be released from Los Angeles County jails.
Nearby California Counties
Los Angeles County borders several other counties. Each maintains its own jail system and booking records. Check these nearby counties if you cannot find someone in Los Angeles County: