Official Alameda Inmate Locator
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office hosts the only public inmate locator for county custody. The tool sits at acgov.org/sheriff_app, and the agency home page is alamedasheriff.gov. The locator shows current custody at Santa Rita Jail and, where it still applies, at Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility. The Sheriff says all data shown is the most recent known to the office, and any field can change as a case moves through the court process.
The tool is built for one person at a time. Bulk scrapes are blocked by the captcha, and wildcard search is not allowed. A clean lookup needs a known PFN, a full first and last name pair, or the 24-hour booking checkbox to pull fresh bookings without a name at all. State and federal records do not appear here; see the released inmates page for those locators.
How to Use the Inmate Locator
The search page asks for a few details and a captcha. The steps below match the field order on the live form. Have the inmate's name spelled the way it appears on the booking, plus a PFN if known, and a date of birth if available.
- Open the Sheriff inmate locator at acgov.org/sheriff_app and allow JavaScript in the browser.
- Pick one of three search modes: first and last name together, a PFN by itself, or the 24-hour booking checkbox.
- Fill in any optional fields that narrow results, such as middle name, sex, or DOB in MM/DD/YYYY format.
- Check the phonetic search box if the name spelling is not certain.
- Complete the captcha and click Find Inmate; use New Query to clear the form.
- Open a result to view custody status, booking date, charges, and any Pending Release notice.
- If the person does not appear, call Santa Rita Jail at 925-551-6500 with the name, DOB, and PFN ready.
The screenshot below comes from the official Alameda County GSA building directory entry for Santa Rita Jail, which lists the facility address, building type, and county maintenance contact.
The directory confirms Santa Rita is the live county detention site and gives the Broder Blvd address that any visitor or attorney needs before scheduling a visit.
Inmate Locator Search Fields
The form is short, but each field has its own rule. The table below maps every visible input on the Sheriff search page, with its type and any format notes from the live tool.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Name | Text | Conditional | Needed only when searching by both first and last name. |
| Middle Name | Text | Optional | Narrows results when many records share a last name. |
| Last Name | Text | Conditional | Used with first name unless PFN or 24-hour checkbox is used. |
| PFN | Text | Conditional | Person File Number; the most precise single-field search. |
| Sex | Dropdown | Optional | All, Female, or Male. |
| DOB | Text/Date | Optional | Format shown on the form as MM/DD/YYYY. |
| Unsure Spelling | Checkbox | Optional | Runs a phonetic search on the first and/or last name. |
| Bookings in Last 24 Hours | Checkbox | Conditional | Stands on its own; returns recent bookings with no name input. |
| Human Verification | Captcha | Yes | Confirms a real user before the query runs. |
| Find Inmate | Button | Yes | Runs the query against the live custody list. |
| New Query | Link | Optional | Header link that clears the form for a fresh search. |
Sample Inmate Profile Fields
The Sheriff tool blocks automated scraping, so this list is built from the public search form and the typical Alameda result set. Each profile may show or hide a field based on the case and the law-enforcement exemptions noted later.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Name | Full booked name when the record is not exempt from public display. |
| PFN | Person File Number assigned by the Sheriff for that person. |
| Sex | Male or female, matching the search filter on the form. |
| Date of Birth | May appear in full or in part, depending on the record. |
| Custody Status | In custody, or Pending Release once the release process has begun. |
| Booking Date and Time | When the person was booked into the county system. |
| Arresting Agency | Local police, sheriff, or other agency that made the arrest. |
| Charges | Current charges or case information, which can change after court action. |
| Facility | Most often Santa Rita Jail; housing unit is not always public. |
| Bail or Bond | Bail amount or bond posting status when available. |
| Next Court Date | Hearing date tied to the booking, when shown. |
| Release Status | Pending Release notice if the admin release process is active. |
| Redactions | Some names or fields may not appear under CPRA law-enforcement rules. |
Search by PFN
The Person File Number, or PFN, is the cleanest way to find a person. A PFN is unique to one person in the Alameda system, so a PFN search skips the noise that comes with common names. Family members can pull a PFN off prior paperwork, a bail bond receipt, or a court file. Attorneys often get the PFN from the District Attorney's complaint or the court docket. If the PFN is not on hand, the next best search is full first and last name plus DOB.
Search by Name
Name search needs both first and last name on the form. Wildcard search is not supported, so a partial last name like "Smi" will not work. The phonetic checkbox is the workaround. It runs a sounds-like match for cases where the spelling on the booking does not match what the family knows. Common reasons for a mismatch include a maiden name, a hyphen, a missing accent mark, or a clerical typo at intake. Middle name, sex, and DOB narrow the list. If two people share a name and DOB, the PFN on each profile is the tiebreaker.
24-Hour Booking Search
The 24-hour booking checkbox returns every fresh booking in the past day, without a name input. This helps when a family member knows the person was arrested overnight but does not yet know where they were taken. The list moves fast because new bookings are added through the day and older ones drop off the 24-hour window. The Sheriff warns that there can be a lag between booking on the floor and the new record showing in the public locator.
Understanding Pending Release
Pending Release is a specific Alameda status. It applies to inmates housed at Santa Rita Jail and, per the locator notice, Glenn E. Dyer Detention Facility who have begun the admin process needed to facilitate release. The Sheriff says the process may take several hours, and any other legal hold found during processing may stop it. So a Pending Release notice is not a promise that a person is out.
Holds that can stop a release include another county's warrant, a federal warrant, an immigration detainer, a state parole hold, or a fresh charge filed during processing. The status of Glenn E. Dyer itself is not fully clear from current sources. The facility shows in the locator's Pending Release notice, but the live Sheriff location page highlights Santa Rita as the visible county detention site. The safest way to verify a release is to call 925-551-6500 with the PFN, name, and DOB ready.
Why a Name May Not Appear
A missing name does not always mean the person was not arrested. The Sheriff page says some names may not appear based on exemptions formerly cited as California Government Code section 6254(f), carried into the recodified California Public Records Act law-enforcement provisions. Those rules let an agency hold back records that would compromise an active investigation, a confidential source, or a victim's safety.
Other reasons a name might not show: a recent booking that has not finished intake, an out-of-county or federal transfer, a sealed juvenile booking, or a clerical hold. When a public search fails, the FAQ directs the public to contact the local jurisdiction that made the arrest. Anonymous tips go to the Sheriff Tip Line at 510-667-3622. For an emergency, call 911.
Santa Rita Jail Contact
Santa Rita Jail is the main county detention site. The county's own Smart Grid Project document describes it as one of the largest county jails in the nation, with a stated capacity of about 4,000 inmates. The facility sits in the Tri-Valley area near the East County Hall of Justice.
Santa Rita Jail
5325 Broder Blvd
Dublin, CA 94568
925-551-6500
Main county detention facility
Sheriff Administration
1401 Lakeside Drive, 12th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
510-272-6878
Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez
The Sheriff's home page at alamedasheriff.gov has posted an alert that the Santa Rita Jail mail procedure is changing. Confirm the new rules before sending a letter or package.
Sheriff Administration
Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez leads the Alameda County Sheriff's Office from the admin office at 1401 Lakeside Drive, 12th Floor, in Oakland. The non-emergency main line is 510-272-6878. The agency runs jail operations, civil process, court security, the coroner's bureau, and the inmate locator. For an in-custody question, the Santa Rita lobby line is faster than the admin office. The admin number is the right call for Public Records Act requests, agency policy questions, or media calls.
Booking and Custody Process
The booking flow starts with the arresting agency. A city police department, the Sheriff, or a state agency such as the California Highway Patrol takes the person to Santa Rita Jail or to a city holding cell that feeds the county system. Intake covers identification, fingerprints, photo, health screen, property inventory, and classification. The record then becomes searchable in the locator when no exemption applies.
A first court date follows the booking. For most local cases, the matter lands in the criminal division of the Superior Court at Wiley W. Manuel, the René C. Davidson Courthouse, Fremont Hall of Justice, or East County Hall of Justice in Dublin. Failure to appear can trigger a bench warrant, bail forfeiture, and a $300 civil assessment under California Penal Code section 1214.1. An "arrest record" is not the same as a court case. A criminal court record only opens after the District Attorney files a charging document in Superior Court, so a person can show in the locator before a public court record exists. See criminal records and warrant records for related lookups.
Visiting an Inmate
All visiting at Santa Rita Jail is by appointment only. Visitors can schedule up to three days in advance online, 24 hours a day. Same-day appointments are not given. Each adult 18 and older must register on their own. Visitor registration asks for name, street address (no PO boxes), telephone, date of birth, driver's license number, and email. The inmate name, PFN, and DOB are needed to book the visit.
Some visitors need prior written or verbal permission from a Commanding Officer. That list includes anyone confined in the Alameda jail system in the last six months, anyone with a violent or contraband felony, a non-violent felony in the last three years, prior state prison time after a felony, or current probation or parole. Minors under 18 must be with a parent or guardian who can show proof of that role. Valid ID is a driver's license, California ID, state ID, passport, or Matricula Consular card. All persons on jail property are subject to search.
| Visit Type | Scheduling | Hours | Provider / Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social in-person | Online appointment, up to 3 days ahead; no same-day | Housing-unit slot assigned at booking | Santa Rita Jail lobby, 925-551-6500 |
| Professional visit | Scheduled contact visit; arrive early for screening | 9:00 AM-4:00 PM and 6:00 PM-8:30 PM | Santa Rita Jail |
| Video visit (home) | Online 24 hours per day on a compatible device | System slots, subject to monitoring | ViaPath / GettingOut, 1-855-208-7349 |
| Video visit (lobby kiosk) | Scheduled through ViaPath kiosk in lobby | Lobby hours | ViaPath / Santa Rita lobby |
The screenshot below comes from the official Santa Rita Jail visitation reservation site, run by ViaPath for the Sheriff.
Professional visitors should remove paper clips, staples, and metal fasteners before arrival, since the Sheriff lists those as contraband. Tape recorders or photo equipment need Watch Commander permission. No food or drink in the visiting area. No physical contact between inmates and visitors.
Video Visiting
Video visiting works from home on a compatible device or from the lobby kiosks at Santa Rita Jail. The service provider is ViaPath. Scheduling sites are gettingout.com and alamedaca.gtlvisitme.com/app. Tech support is 1-855-208-7349. Video visits are recorded and monitored; use counts as consent.
Visitors must keep their face in view. Photos are not allowed. Three-way calls are not allowed. The dress code bars nudity, tight clothing, tank tops, spaghetti straps, sheer fabric, exposed undergarments, gang attire, hats, bandanas, and beanies. Minors must have a parent or guardian present. A visit can be canceled for dress-code violations, intoxication, contraband display, gang signs, disruptive conduct, or indecent exposure. The screenshot below comes from the official ViaPath GettingOut account site.
Test camera, mic, browser, and lighting before the appointment. Mail, commissary, and money rules are changing at Santa Rita, so check the alert at alamedasheriff.gov for current account, deposit, and fee details.
State and Federal Inmates
The Alameda locator only covers county custody. People held in state prison sit in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Incarcerated Person Locator. People in federal custody sit in the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator. Both are linked from the released inmates page, with the search field tables and warnings that apply to each system.
A person can move between systems fast. A Santa Rita booking can lead to a state prison commitment after sentencing, a federal pickup on a detainer, or a transfer to another California county on an out-of-county warrant. The Sheriff locator will not track those transfers. VINELink is the free notification service for participating agencies and can send a phone, email, or text alert when custody status changes. For longer-term custody data and demographic context, see the inmate population page.
Warnings to Keep in Mind
The Sheriff's site posts several warnings that apply to every search on the locator. They are short, but each one matters when a family member or attorney is trying to act fast.
- Most recent does not mean final. Charges, location, court dates, bail, and release status can shift after arraignment or a court order.
- A missing name does not mean no arrest. Some names are held back under CPRA law-enforcement exemptions.
- The tool is not a background check. Official statewide criminal history is held by the California Department of Justice and goes only to authorized requesters.
- Pending Release is not released. The admin process takes time, and a fresh hold can stop the release on the spot.
- The Santa Rita line can have long waits. Have the PFN, name, and DOB ready before dialing 925-551-6500.
- Mail rules at Santa Rita are changing. Confirm the new procedure at alamedasheriff.gov before sending a letter or package.
See the FAQ page for common questions on custody, court dates, and release. See criminal records for the underlying file, warrant records for active warrants, and inmate population for jail counts and capacity.