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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
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 |
|---|---|---|
|
Manhattan Beach Jail
420 15th St, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
Monrovia Jail
140 East Lime Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
Montebello City Jail - GEO
1600 West Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA 90640-3932
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
Monterey Park Jail
320 West Newmark Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754-2818
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
Pasadena Jail
207 North Garfield Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
Pomona Jail
490 West Mission Blvd., Pomona, CA 91766
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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San Fernando Jail
910 First St, San Fernando, CA 91340
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
San Gabriel Jail
625 Del Mar Ave, San Gabriel, CA 91776
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
|
Santa Monica Jail
333 Olympic Drive
PO Box 2200, Santa Monica, CA 90401
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Sierra Madre Jail
242 West Sierra Madre Blvd, Sierra Madre, CA 91024
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Signal Hill Jail
2175 Cherry Hill, Signal Hill, CA 90755
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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South Gate Jail
8620 California Ave, South Gate, CA 90280
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Southwest Area Los Angeles Jail
1546 West Martin Luther King Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90062
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Temple City Jail
8838 Las Tunas Drive, Temple City, CA 91780
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Vernon Jail
4305 South Sante Fe Ave, Vernon, CA 90058
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Whittier Jail
7315 Painter Ave, Wittier, CA 90602
|
Los Angeles | View Details |
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Chowchilla Jail
122 Trinity Ave, Chowchilla, CA 93610
|
Madera | View Details |
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Belvedere Jail
450 San Rafael Ave, Belvedere, CA 94920
|
Marin | View Details |
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Fairfax Jail
144 Bolinas Road, Fairfax, CA 94930
|
Marin | View Details |
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Mill Valley Jail
26 Corte Madera Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941
|
Marin | View Details |
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Novato Jail
909 Machin Ave, Novato, CA 94945
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Marin | View Details |
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Ross Jail
33 Sir Francis Drake Blvd
PO Box 320, Ross, CA 94957
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Marin | View Details |
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San Anselmo Jail
525 San Anselmo Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
|
Marin | View Details |
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Sausalito Jail
29 Caledonia St, Sausalito, CA 94965
|
Marin | View Details |
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Tiburon Jail
1155 Tiburon Blvd, Belvedere Tiburon, CA 94920
|
Marin | View Details |
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.