San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco inmate search and jail information
San Francisco is both a city and a county, and its Sheriff operates the county jail system separately from the Police Department. Use the Sheriff’s Find a Person in Jail page to begin a custody inquiry. The 7th Street complex includes intake and release functions as well as County Jail #2. A person who was arrested in a San Francisco neighborhood may later be housed outside the city, so the arrest location alone is not enough to choose a destination. Match identifying details before sharing a record with others.
County Jail #3 is in San Bruno, despite being part of San Francisco’s jail system. That distinction matters for visits and travel arrangements and does not mean the criminal case has become a San Mateo County matter. The court address listed here is the Civic Center Courthouse; many San Francisco criminal proceedings are associated with the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street. Verify the case calendar and department rather than using a general courthouse address as hearing instructions. After a court appearance, housing and release processing may change. Keep the booking details available and confirm the actual release location before arranging a ride, particularly when the person has been held in San Bruno.
How to search for someone in custody
Start with the custody information published by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office. Have the person's full legal name and, ideally, a date of birth ready. If an online lookup is available, compare identifying details rather than relying on a name alone. If you obtain a booking number, keep it with your notes for later questions to jail staff, the court, or an attorney.
Official inmate search (external site).
Jail facilities
- Intake and Release Center, 425 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
- County Jail #2, 425 7th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
- County Jail #3, 1 Moreland Drive, San Bruno, CA 94066
Visiting, phone calls and mail
San Francisco’s jail pages provide appointment instructions for each location. Confirm whether the person is at 7th Street or County Jail #3 before reserving a visit. Downtown parking and travel to San Bruno present different practical issues. Review current identification, check-in, health, and property rules, and obtain mail instructions separately from the visiting address.
Court and bail
Criminal cases here are handled by the San Francisco Superior Court (400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102).
Do not assume every San Francisco case requires a cash payment to obtain release. The court decides applicable release conditions, and other holds may affect the outcome. Verify the operative order and intake-and-release arrangements with the responsible staff; housing at County Jail #3 does not by itself identify the pickup point.
Common questions
Why is a San Francisco jail in San Bruno?
County Jail #3 is operated by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office at its San Bruno location. Search the San Francisco system for that custody.
Is 400 McAllister the criminal courthouse for every case?
No. Check the assigned department; the Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant Street is also important for criminal proceedings.
Are the Police Department and Sheriff the same agency?
No. Police may make the arrest, while the Sheriff operates the county jails and custody information service.
Official sources and record limitations
This guide links to San Francisco Sheriff’s Office for custody procedures and San Francisco Superior Court for court information. A booking record is not a conviction. Recent bookings, transfers, releases and protected records may not appear in a public lookup.