City Jails in California

All City Jails in California

Browse 309 city jails across 52 counties in California

309
City Jails
52
Counties

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This page lists all 309 city jails in California. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.

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About City Jails in California

Understanding city jails in the California

Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of city jails in California. This page lists every active city jail facility operating across California, giving families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, and the general public fast, reliable access to local jail information. Whether you need to locate a recently arrested loved one, find contact details for a specific facility, or simply understand how the city jail system works in California, everything you need is available right here.

City Jail vs. Prison: What's the Difference?

City jails serve a very different function from state or federal prisons:

  • City Jails: Locally operated facilities that hold individuals for short periods — typically those who have just been arrested, are awaiting trial, are unable to make bail, or are serving sentences of less than one year.
  • County Jails: Similar to city jails but operated at the county level, serving a larger geographic area.
  • State Prisons: Operated by California's Department of Corrections for felony offenses with sentences longer than one year.
  • Federal Prisons: Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.

If you're unsure where your loved one is held, use our free US inmate locator tool to search across all facility types at once.

How to Find Someone in a City Jail

When a loved one is arrested and taken to a city jail in California, finding out exactly where they are being held is the first priority. Because city jails are locally operated, there is no single centralized database — which is exactly why this directory exists. Browse the list below, click on the relevant facility, and use the inmate search feature to locate your loved one quickly.

Booking & Intake Process

The booking process includes fingerprinting, photographing, health screening, and search of belongings. This can take a few hours to most of a day. During this period, the person is generally not accessible by phone or visitors.

Getting Bail

Bail is set by a judge at an arraignment, typically within 24-72 hours of arrest. A licensed bail bondsman can post bail on your behalf for a non-refundable fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount.

Hiring a Lawyer

Securing qualified legal representation as early as possible is critical. A criminal defense attorney can attend bail hearings, negotiate with prosecutors, and begin building a defense strategy from day one.

Calling an Inmate

Most city jails use third-party phone providers with outbound-only calls. Your number must be registered and a prepaid account set up. Read our calling guide for step-by-step instructions.

Sending Money

Inmates can receive money via online transfers, kiosk deposits, or money orders. Funds go to their commissary account for food, hygiene products, and phone credits. Click any facility for specific deposit methods.

Visitation

Visitation policies vary by facility. Some offer in-person visits while others use video only. Always check the specific facility's rules, visiting hours, and pre-approval requirements before making the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total number of active city jails in California is 309. This count is updated regularly to reflect any changes in facility status across California.

Use the directory list on this page to find the city jail in the area where the arrest took place, then use the facility's inmate search tool to locate the person.

Yes. This page includes a built-in county filter that instantly narrows the list to show only city jails in a specific county within California. Select your county from the dropdown above the list, and the results will update in real time.

Yes. Use the state selector tool on this page to switch to a complete directory of city jails in any other US state. Our database covers local jail facilities across all 50 states.

The length of time depends on the charges, bail status, and court scheduling. Pretrial detainees may be held for days, weeks, or even months as their cases move through the court system. Those serving sentences for misdemeanor convictions typically serve less than one year.

City jails in California are operated by municipal authorities such as a city police department and typically serve a single city or town. County jails are operated by the county sheriff's office and serve a broader geographic area. Both hold similar populations — pretrial detainees and short-term sentenced inmates — but differ in jurisdiction and operational oversight.

City Jails by County in California

View facilities organized by county

Filter City Jails by County

California has City Jails spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the City Jails in a specific county within California. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.

All City Jails in California

Complete listing of city jails

Browse Every City Jails in California

The full list of city jails in California is displayed below. Each entry includes the jail's name, city, county, address, and contact information. City jails are locally operated facilities typically managed by municipal law enforcement agencies such as city police departments or local sheriff's offices. They primarily house individuals who have been recently arrested, are awaiting arraignment or bail hearings, or are serving short-term sentences.

Facility Name County Action
Healdsburg Jail 238 Center St, Healdsburg, CA 95448
Sonoma View Details
Petaluma Jail 969 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA 94952
Sonoma View Details
Rohnert Park Jail 500 City Center Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928
Sonoma View Details
Santa Rosa Jail 965 Sonoma Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Sonoma View Details
Sebastopol Jail 6850 Laguna Park Way, Sebastopol, CA 95472
Sonoma View Details
Windsor Jail 9291 Old Redwood Hwy Building 300 B PO Box 100, Windsor, CA ...
Sonoma View Details
Ceres Jail 2727 Third St, Ceres, CA 95307
Stanislaus View Details
Hughson Jail 7018 Pine St PO Box 9, Hughson, CA 95326
Stanislaus View Details
Newman Jail 1200 Main St, Newman, CA 95360
Stanislaus View Details
Oakdale Jail 245 North Second Ave, Oakdale, CA 95361
Stanislaus View Details
Riverbank Jail 6727 Third St, Riverbank, CA 95367
Stanislaus View Details
Turlock Jail 900 North Palm, Turlock, CA 95380
Stanislaus View Details
Yuba Jail 1545 Poole Blvd, Yuba City, CA 95993
Sutter View Details
Corning Jail 774 Third St, Corning, CA 96021
Tehama View Details
Exeter Jail 100 North C St, Exeter, CA 93221
Tulare View Details
Farmersville Jail 909 West Visalia Road, Farmersville, CA 93223
Tulare View Details
Porterville Jail 350 North D St, Porterville, CA 93257
Tulare View Details
Tulare Jail 260 South M St, Tulare, CA 93274
Tulare View Details
Woodlake Jail 350 North Valencia Blvd, Woodlake, CA 93286
Tulare View Details
Sonora Jail 100 South Green St, Sonora, CA 95370
Tuolumne View Details
Camarillo Jail 3701 East Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA 93010
Ventura View Details
Moorpark Jail 610 Spring Road, Moorpark, CA 93021
Ventura View Details
Ojai Jail 402 South Ventura St, Ojai, CA 93023
Ventura View Details
Oxnard Jail 251 South "C" St, Oxnard, CA 93030
Ventura View Details
Port Hueneme Jail 250 North Ventura Road, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
Ventura View Details
Page 12 of 13 (309 city jails in California)

City Jails in Other States

Browse city jails in other states

Explore City Jails in Other States

Looking for city jails beyond California? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of city jails in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.