Access Marin County Released Inmates

Released inmate records in Marin County are kept by the Marin County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff publishes a public booking log online that covers all arrests processed at the Marin County Jail in San Rafael. You can view booking entries, charges, and release data at no cost. Marin County sits just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, and its single county jail handles all local bookings. This page explains how to find released inmate records in Marin County, what the booking log shows, and the laws behind public access to this data in California.

Marin County Public Booking Log

The Marin County Sheriff runs a public booking log at apps.marincounty.gov/bookinglog. This tool lists recent bookings at the Marin County Jail. Each entry shows the person's name, charges, booking date, and custody status. If someone has been released, the log reflects that change. The tool is free and does not require any registration. Anyone can view it.

The Marin County Jail in San Rafael is the only county detention facility. All arrests in the county go through this one site. People picked up by the San Rafael Police, Novato Police, Marin County Sheriff patrol, the California Highway Patrol, and other agencies in the area all end up booked at this jail. That means the booking log covers every local arrest in Marin County. When a person posts bail, gets released on their own recognizance, or finishes a sentence, the log updates to show they are no longer in custody. The booking log is the most direct way to check on released inmates in Marin County.

Unlike some larger counties that let you search by name or booking number, the Marin County booking log works more like a list. You scroll through recent entries to find the person you need. For a county with a smaller jail population, this format works fine. But if you need records from months or years ago, you may have to contact the Marin County Sheriff directly.

How to Search Marin County Inmates

Visit the Marin County booking log page. The log shows recent bookings in reverse order, with the newest entries at the top. Browse the list for the person you want. Each record includes their name, charges, and whether they are still held or have been released. The format is straightforward. No login is needed.

There are some practical tips for finding released inmates in Marin County through the booking log:

• Check the log soon after an arrest for the most current data
• Look at both the booking date and release status
• Released entries show when the person left custody
• Older records may no longer appear on the public log
• Contact the sheriff's office for records not shown online

For older records or copies of arrest reports from Marin County, reach out to the sheriff's records division. They can tell you what is available and how to request it. Some documents may cost a small per-page fee for copies.

California Law on Marin County Releases

California law makes arrest and booking data public. Government Code 7923.610 requires the Marin County Sheriff to disclose the full name, date of birth, physical description, arrest date and time, booking time, charges, bail amount, and the time and manner of release for every person booked. This law applies to all agencies in the state. The only exception is when sharing a specific detail would endanger someone or harm an active investigation. The statute took effect January 1, 2023, and it is the legal foundation for the booking log that Marin County publishes.

For state prison inmates released to Marin County, Penal Code 3003 controls what happens. CDCR must send the Marin County Sheriff details about each parolee, including names, physical descriptions, tattoos, scars, the crimes that put them in prison, and the address where they will live after release. Parolees must go back to the county where they lived before they were sentenced. CDCR can approve a transfer to another county in certain situations. Each released inmate gets $200 in gate money when they walk out.

VINE Alerts for Marin County

The VINE notification system tracks custody changes for Marin County inmates. You sign up for free alerts by phone, email, or text message. VINE runs around the clock and supports more than 200 languages. When someone is released from the Marin County Jail, the system sends your chosen alert within minutes. This is the fastest way to find out about a custody change without checking the booking log yourself.

Call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone, or go to vinelink.com. VINE covers roughly 2,900 facilities in 48 states, including all California county jails and state prisons. Victims, families, and anyone else tracking a Marin County inmate can use this service at no cost. Many law enforcement agencies in the state recommend VINE as the primary notification tool for released inmates.

The Marin County booking log at apps.marincounty.gov/bookinglog is shown below. This is the public portal for viewing recent bookings and released inmates at the Marin County Jail.

The booking log lists recent entries in order. Scroll through to find a specific person or check the latest releases from the Marin County Jail.

Marin County State and DOJ Records

If you are looking for someone who served time in a California state prison and was released to Marin County, use the CIRIS database. CIRIS is run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. It covers state prison inmates only. Results show names, CDCR numbers, ages, admission dates, and the facility where the person was held. It does not cover county jail bookings in Marin County. For those, use the booking log.

You can submit a public records request through the CDCR Public Records Portal if you need documents beyond what CIRIS shows. Agencies must respond within 10 calendar days. The California DOJ PRA page handles requests for state-level criminal history data. Individuals can also request their own record from the DOJ by submitting Live Scan fingerprints and paying a $25 fee. The DOJ record review page explains the full process for Marin County residents and everyone else in California.

Note: The DOJ does not keep local court records from Marin County, only state-level criminal history summaries.

Nearby Counties

Released inmates are sometimes booked in neighboring counties or transferred between jails. If you cannot find someone in Marin County, try these nearby county searches.

Cities in Marin County

Marin County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. All local arrests are processed at the Marin County Jail in San Rafael. Use the booking log above to search for released inmates booked anywhere in Marin County, including San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley, and other communities in the area.