Berkeley Released Inmate Lookup

Released inmate records for Berkeley arrests are split between the Berkeley Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff. Berkeley PD does not operate a jail. People arrested in Berkeley are taken to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, which is run by the Alameda County Sheriff. The county keeps the booking and release records. Berkeley PD keeps its own arrest reports and case files. You can search for released inmates from Berkeley using the county's free online inmate locator. For police reports tied to a Berkeley arrest, use the city's records request portal. This page walks through where to find Berkeley released inmate records and how to use each tool.

Alameda County Jail and Berkeley Inmates

Berkeley is in Alameda County. The county sheriff runs Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. That is where Berkeley police bring people after an arrest. Santa Rita is one of the biggest county jails in California. It serves Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, and every other city in Alameda County. The sheriff handles all booking and release records once someone enters the jail. If you want to know whether a person arrested in Berkeley has been released, the county's system is where you check.

The Alameda County Sheriff has an online inmate locator at acgov.org/sheriff_app. The tool is free. Search by name or booking number. Results show charges, bail, booking date, and custody status. Released inmates have a release date in their record. The system covers current and recently released inmates. Call the sheriff's records unit at (510) 272-6878 if you need copies of booking documents for a Berkeley released inmate.

Note: Santa Rita Jail records cover all Alameda County arrests, not just those from Berkeley.

Berkeley Inmate Search Steps

Visit the Alameda County inmate locator page. Type the last name. Add the first name if you have it. The search pulls up all matching records from Santa Rita Jail. You will see the booking number, arresting agency, charges, bail, and whether the person is still held or has been released. If they are out, the record shows when they left. The tool runs all day and night. No login is required.

For a state prison inmate released to the Berkeley area, use the CIRIS database from CDCR. CIRIS tracks people in California state prisons. It shows names, CDCR numbers, admission dates, and facility locations. It does not cover county jail bookings. Use the county locator for local jail data and CIRIS for state prison records tied to Berkeley released inmates.

Berkeley released inmate records from the county jail usually contain these details:

• Full name, date of birth, and physical description
• Booking number and arresting agency
• Charges filed at booking
• Bail amount and next court date
• Release date, time, and method

Berkeley Police Records Requests

The Berkeley Police Department keeps arrest reports, case files, and incident records from local arrests. These records stay with BPD. They are not part of the county jail system. To get a police report from a Berkeley arrest, submit a request through the city's NextRequest portal at cityofberkeleyca.nextrequest.com. The portal tracks your request and sends updates by email. Berkeley PD must respond within 10 calendar days under the California Public Records Act. A 14-day extension can apply for complex requests.

Arrest reports describe the circumstances of the arrest in Berkeley. They include the officer's account, witness details, and evidence collected. Jail booking records from Alameda County cover charges, bail, and release data. You may need records from both agencies if you want the full story behind a Berkeley released inmate's case. The police report tells you what happened. The jail record tells you what happened after booking.

California Law on Berkeley Released Inmates

Government Code 7923.610 makes arrest and booking data public across California. Both the Berkeley Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff must share the full name, date of birth, physical description, arrest time, booking time, charges, bail, and release details for anyone arrested. The only exception is when sharing a detail would put someone in danger or hurt an active investigation. This law covers all Berkeley released inmate records and has been in effect since January 1, 2023.

When a state prison inmate is released to the Berkeley area, Penal Code 3003 requires CDCR to share details with Alameda County law enforcement. The notification includes the released inmate's name, physical traits, tattoos, scars, offenses, and where the person will live. Parolees must go back to the county where they lived before prison unless CDCR approves a transfer. Released inmates get $200 and a bus or train ride if nobody picks them up from the state prison.

Note: Arrest data is public under state law, but investigation files may still be exempt from disclosure.

VINE Alerts for Berkeley Released Inmates

The VINE notification system sends custody change alerts for people held in Alameda County. You can track a Berkeley inmate booked at Santa Rita Jail. VINE is free. It runs 24 hours a day in over 200 languages. Sign up for phone calls, emails, or text messages. The system alerts you within minutes when a custody status changes.

Register at vinelink.com or call 1-877-411-5588. VINE covers about 2,900 facilities in 48 states. That includes all Alameda County jails and California state prisons. For Berkeley released inmates, this is the fastest way to get notified about a release. Alameda County law enforcement agencies recommend VINE as the primary custody tracking tool for victims, families, and anyone else who needs timely updates on released inmates.

The Berkeley Police Department uses NextRequest at cityofberkeleyca.nextrequest.com to handle public records requests for arrest reports and released inmate documentation.

File your request through the portal to get arrest reports, case files, and related documents from BPD. The system tracks each request and notifies you when records are ready for pickup or download.

Nearby Cities With Released Inmate Info

Berkeley borders Oakland and is close to San Francisco across the bay. If you cannot find the person you are looking for in Berkeley records, try these nearby cities. All of them have released inmate resources and share overlapping county systems.