Oakland Released Inmates

Released inmate records for people arrested in Oakland are held by both the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff. Oakland PD does not run its own jail. People arrested in the city are booked at the Alameda County Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. You can search for released inmates from Oakland using the county's free inmate locator or submit a records request to the police department. The Oakland Police records unit handles arrest reports and case files, while the sheriff manages booking and release data for the jail. This page explains how to find Oakland released inmate records from both agencies.

Alameda County Jail and Oakland Inmates

Oakland does not have a city jail. When Oakland police arrest someone, they transport that person to Santa Rita Jail. The jail is in Dublin, which is about 30 miles east of Oakland. The Alameda County Sheriff runs the jail and keeps all booking and release data. This means that if you want to find out if someone arrested in Oakland has been released, you need to check the county system rather than an Oakland-specific database. The same jail holds people arrested by police in Berkeley, Fremont, Hayward, and other cities across the county.

The Alameda County Sheriff operates an online inmate locator at acgov.org/sheriff_app. This tool is free. You can search by name or booking number. Results show the booking date, charges, bail amount, and release status. If the person has been released, the record shows when and how they left custody. The system covers both current inmates and recently released inmates from Oakland and all other Alameda County cities.

Note: The inmate locator covers current and recent bookings, not records from years past.

Oakland Inmate Search Tool

To search for a released inmate from Oakland, go to the Alameda County Sheriff inmate locator page. Enter the last name of the person you want to find. Add a first name if you have it. The system pulls up all matching records from Santa Rita Jail. Each result shows the booking number, arresting agency, charges, and whether the person is still in custody or has been released. If they were released, you will see the date and time. The tool runs all day. No account or login is required to search for Oakland released inmates.

Here is what you can find in Oakland released inmate records through the county system:

• Full name and date of birth
• Booking number and arresting agency
• Charges filed at the time of booking
• Bail amount and court date
• Release date, time, and type of release

If the online tool does not show what you need, contact the Alameda County Sheriff records unit at (510) 272-6878. Staff can help with older records or provide copies of booking documents related to Oakland released inmates. You may also submit a formal public records request to the sheriff's office under the California Public Records Act.

Oakland Police Records Requests

The Oakland Police Department keeps its own arrest reports and case files. These are separate from the jail booking records held by the county. If you need a police report tied to an Oakland arrest, you go through OPD's records unit. The department uses an online portal at oaklandca.nextrequest.com for public records requests. You can also call the records division at (510) 238-7143 or visit in person at 455 7th Street, Oakland, CA 94607.

Police reports include details about the arrest itself. They cover what happened, who was involved, and the officer's account. Booking records from the county show the charges, bail, and release info. For a full picture of an Oakland released inmate's case, you may need records from both agencies. OPD responds to public records requests within 10 calendar days under state law. They can take an extra 14 days if the request is unusual. The department posts some data online, but arrest reports typically need a formal request.

Note: OPD reports and county jail records are held by separate agencies, so you may need to contact both.

California Law on Oakland Released Inmates

Government Code 7923.610 makes arrest and booking data public in California. This applies to both the Oakland Police Department and the Alameda County Sheriff. The law says agencies must share the full name, date of birth, physical description, arrest time, booking time, charges, bail amount, and how someone was released. An agency can hold back details only if sharing them would endanger a person or compromise an active investigation. The rule took effect January 1, 2023, and covers every law enforcement agency in the state, including those handling Oakland released inmates.

State prison parolees returning to Oakland fall under Penal Code 3003. CDCR has to notify local law enforcement when a released inmate is coming to Alameda County. The data includes names, physical traits, tattoos, scars, offenses, and where the person will live. Parolees go back to the county where they lived before prison unless CDCR approves a transfer. Anyone released from a California state prison gets $200 and a ride to the nearest bus or train station if nobody picks them up.

VINE Alerts for Oakland Inmates

The VINE system sends alerts when an inmate's custody status changes. You can track people booked at Santa Rita Jail after an Oakland arrest. VINE is free and runs 24 hours a day. Sign up for notifications by phone, email, or text. It works in over 200 languages. Call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone. You can also sign up at vinelink.com. VINE covers county jails and state prisons across California.

This is the fastest way to know when someone gets released. The system sends your alert within minutes of a status change. Victims and families use VINE most, but anyone can register. Many Alameda County agencies recommend it as the primary way to track released inmates from Oakland.

The Oakland Police Department uses a NextRequest portal at oaklandca.nextrequest.com for public records requests related to arrest data and released inmate information.

Submit your request through this portal to get arrest reports, booking records, and other documents from OPD. The system tracks your request and sends updates as staff process it.

Nearby Cities With Released Inmate Info

If you cannot find the person you are searching for in Oakland's records, try looking in nearby cities. People arrested near city borders are sometimes booked under a different jurisdiction. All of these cities route inmates through the same county jail system or a nearby one.