County jail
CAMP BARRETT
Facility info as of 2024-06-04 — always confirm at the official source .
CA · San Diego County
How to find someone in jail in San Diego County, California
Take a breath. Here is where people are held in San Diego County, the official locators to search, and how to confirm where your person is — using free, government sources only.
- County facilities listed
- 25
- State locator
- California Incarcerated Records & Information Search
- VINELink
- Covers California
- Jurisdiction
- San Diego County, CA
San Diego County jails & facilities 25
These are the correctional facilities the national dataset lists in San Diego County. Confirm a specific person on the official roster or locator — this page never stores or looks up records.
County jail
DESCANSO DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-05 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
EAST MESA JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-05 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
EAST MESA REENTRY FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-05 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
FACILITY 8 DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-07-08 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
GEORGE F BAILEY DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-10 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
GIRLS REHABILITATION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-10 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
KEARNY MESA JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2018-02-13 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
County jail
LAS COLINAS DETENTION AND REENTRY FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-27 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
SAN DIEGO CENTRAL JAIL
Facility info as of 2024-06-27 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
SAN DIEGO COUNTY JUVENILE RANCH FACILITY
Facility info as of 2019-11-25 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
County jail
SOUTH BAY DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-06-27 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
VISTA DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-07-03 — always confirm at the official source .
City / local jail
CHULA VISTA JAIL
Facility info as of 2019-11-25 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
State prison
LA CIMA CONSERVATION CAMP #42
Facility info as of 2024-01-22 — always confirm at the official source .
State prison
MCCAIN VALLEY CONSERVATION CAMP #21
Facility info as of 2024-02-27 — always confirm at the official source .
State prison
PUERTA LA CRUZ CONSERVATION CAMP #14
Facility info as of 2017-10-26 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
State prison
R J DONOVAN CORRECTIONAL FACILITY (RJD)
Facility info as of 2024-02-26 — always confirm at the official source .
State prison
RAINBOW CONSERVATION CAMP #2
Facility info as of 2024-02-27 — always confirm at the official source .
Federal facility
MCC SAN DIEGO
Facility info as of 2024-01-12 — always confirm at the official source .
Federal facility
OTAY MESA DETENTION CENTER
Facility info as of 2024-02-01 — always confirm at the official source .
Federal facility
WESTERN REGION DETENTION FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-02-05 — always confirm at the official source .
Detention facility
CAI - BOSTON AVENUE
Facility info as of 2019-11-25 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
Detention facility
CAI - OCEAN VIEW
Facility info as of 2019-11-25 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
Detention facility
CCA SAN DIEGO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Facility info as of 2019-11-25 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
Which system is holding them?
There is no single search that covers everyone in San Diego County. Match the situation to the right official locator — most families start with the first one.
If the arrest was recent
Start with the county jail
A recent arrest in San Diego County almost always means the county jail listed above, run by the local sheriff — not a state prison. Check that jail’s roster or search VINELink; if the booking is only a few hours old, call the jail’s booking desk.
If they were sentenced to prison
Use the state prison locator
Once a person is sentenced, they move from the county jail into the California Department of Corrections. Search the state inmate locator by name or ID — a county jail roster will not show a sentenced prisoner.
If the charge is federal
Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons
A federal charge means federal custody — a separate system from any California county or state facility. Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator by name or register number.
Nearby counties in California
If the arrest happened just across a county line, these California counties are closest to San Diego County. Open one for its jails and the exact official locators to search.
If you need to bail them out in California
Finding the person comes first. Once you know where they are being held, this is how getting them out works in California.
Commercial bail available
In California, commercial bail exists. If a judge sets money bail, it can be posted in cash directly with the court or through a licensed bail bond agent for a fee. A judge may also release the person on their own recognizance or on conditions, so ask the court or the jail what applies before paying anyone.
The person’s rights. The person in custody has the right to talk to a lawyer about their case, and if they cannot afford one, the court can appoint a public defender.
If there is also a warrant to deal with
Two companion guides pick up where this one leaves off — checking for a warrant, and resolving it on your own terms.
Common questions about finding someone in San Diego County
How do I find someone who was just arrested in San Diego County?
Someone just arrested in San Diego County is usually held at CAMP BARRETT or DESCANSO DETENTION FACILITY, run by the local sheriff. Check that jail’s roster or VINELink; if the booking is only hours old, call the jail’s booking desk. A brand-new arrest will not appear on the state prison locator.
How do I find someone in state prison from San Diego County?
Once a person is sentenced they move into the California Department of Corrections. Search the state inmate locator by name or ID number — it is separate from the San Diego County jail and from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Is there a free way to check if someone is in custody in California?
Yes. VINELink, the free national custody service, covers California: search by name and register for free alerts. County jail rosters, the state locator, and the Federal BOP are all free and official too. Skip paid inmate-search and mugshot sites.
How does bail work for someone held in San Diego County?
Commercial bail exists in California: if a judge sets money bail, it can be posted in cash with the court or through a licensed bail bond agent for a fee, and a judge may also grant release on recognizance or on conditions.
More of California
This is one of California’s counties. The state guide has the complete rundown and every other county.