San Mateo County Arrest Bookings
San Mateo County recent bookings go to two main jail facilities run by the Sheriff's Office Corrections Division. The Maguire Correctional Facility and Maple Street Correctional Center handle all adult detention for the county. You can get booking information by calling the jail's inmate information extensions. San Mateo County does not have a public online inmate search portal like some other California counties. Instead, you contact the jail directly by phone to find out if someone is in custody. The main number is (650) 363-4000 and staff can connect you to extensions 6070 or 6071 for inmate information. This service is available during regular business hours and follows California public records laws.
San Mateo County Jail Quick Facts
Find San Mateo County Inmates
San Mateo County requires phone contact to search for inmates. Call the Maguire Correctional Facility at (650) 363-4000. Ask to be transferred to extension 6070 or 6071 for inmate information. Staff will search their database when you provide a name. They can tell you if that person is currently in custody at either county jail facility.
Have the person's full name ready when you call. A date of birth helps if the name is common. The more information you provide, the easier it is for staff to find the right person. They will tell you which facility holds the inmate and basic information about their booking.
The Maguire Correctional Facility sits at 300 Bradford Street in Redwood City. This is the main jail for San Mateo County. The Maple Street Correctional Center operates as the second facility. Both buildings house inmates awaiting trial and those serving county sentences. The Sheriff's Office Corrections Division manages both sites.
Unlike counties with online search portals, San Mateo County maintains inmate information through phone inquiries only. This approach ensures accurate information gets shared directly with callers. Staff can answer follow-up questions about visiting, bail, and release dates during the same call.
San Mateo County Jail Facilities
Maguire Correctional Facility serves as the primary adult detention center. It sits on Bradford Street in Redwood City near the county government center. The facility has multiple housing units that separate inmates by security level and gender. Some units hold pretrial detainees while others house sentenced inmates serving time for misdemeanors or short felonies.
Maple Street Correctional Center operates as the second county jail. Together these two facilities provide enough capacity for San Mateo County's detention needs. When someone gets arrested anywhere in the county, they go to one of these facilities for booking. The intake process includes fingerprints, photos, medical screening, and property inventory.
Classification happens after booking completes. Staff evaluate each inmate's charges, criminal history, and behavior. This determines which housing unit and facility fits best. Some inmates need maximum security. Others qualify for minimum security housing. Women are housed separately from men in dedicated units at one of the facilities.
Court transportation runs daily between the jails and county courthouses. Inmates attend hearings and trials as scheduled. The Redwood City courthouse sits close to the Maguire facility which makes transportation more efficient. Inmates return to their housing units after court unless a judge orders their release.
Visiting happens during scheduled hours at both facilities. Check with the jail for current visiting schedules. Video visiting might also be available. You need to follow all rules about what you can wear and bring. The jail staff will explain requirements when you call to ask about visiting an inmate.
What Booking Information Shows
When you call for inmate information, staff can tell you if someone is in custody. They confirm which facility currently holds that person. The booking date shows when they arrived at the jail. Each booking gets a unique number for tracking purposes.
Charges appear in the jail's records. Staff can tell you what crimes the person is accused of. These use California Penal Code sections and other statute numbers. Common charges include PC 647(f) for public intoxication, PC 484 for theft, and HS 11377 for drug possession. The severity of charges affects bail amounts and housing assignments.
Bail information is available through the phone inquiry. The bail schedule determines standard amounts based on charges. Judges can modify bail up or down at court hearings. Some serious charges have no bail which means a judge must decide before release can happen. Staff can tell you the current bail amount if one is set.
Release dates might be available for sentenced inmates. People awaiting trial have court dates instead. The next scheduled court appearance tells you when they will see a judge. Staff update this information as new court dates get scheduled or changed.
Request Detailed Records
Phone inquiries give you basic booking information at no cost. More detailed records require a formal public records request. Contact the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to start this process. Tell them what records you need with as much detail as possible.
Include names, dates, and any booking numbers you have. Specific requests get processed faster than vague ones. 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 within the initial timeframe.
Fees depend on the type and volume of records requested. Standard copies run about 10 cents per page. Certified copies cost more. Staff time for research might add to the total cost. Ask for a fee estimate before you finalize your request. You can modify or withdraw if the cost is too high.
Some records have privacy protections under California law. Criminal history information is confidential per Penal Code section 11105. Only the subject or authorized agencies can access complete criminal histories. Ongoing investigations might be temporarily exempt from disclosure. Staff will explain any exemptions that apply to your specific request.
Note: Basic inmate information by phone is free and available during business hours.
Cities Using County Jails
San Mateo County includes many cities but only the Sheriff runs jail facilities. Redwood City is the county seat. The jail sits right in Redwood City which makes it convenient for local police. San Mateo city police also use county jails for all bookings. So do agencies in Daly City, South San Francisco, and Pacifica.
Cities in the southern part of the county like San Bruno, Burlingame, and Millbrae bring arrestees to the county jails. The same goes for Half Moon Bay on the coast. Every city police department and the county Sheriff's patrol deputies use the same two facilities. This centralized system ensures consistent standards and saves each city the cost of running separate jails.
No city in San Mateo County operates its own jail. Even temporary holding facilities are rare. All booking and custody happens through the county system. This includes intake, classification, housing, medical care, and court transportation. The Sheriff's Corrections Division handles these functions for the entire county.
VINE Custody Notifications
VINE operates in San Mateo County just like other California counties. This free service alerts you when an inmate's custody 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.
Once you register, VINE tracks that person's custody status. You receive notifications when they get released or transferred. Choose phone calls, text messages, or emails for your alerts. The system updates every 15 minutes from jail databases. This gives you timely information about custody changes. Crime victims rely on VINE to know when offenders leave jail. Families use it to track release times. Your registration is anonymous and confidential.
Nearby California Counties
San Mateo County sits on the San Francisco Peninsula. It borders several other counties with their own jail systems. Check these nearby counties if you cannot find someone in San Mateo County: