Find Monterey County Released Inmates

Released inmate records in Monterey County are managed by the sheriff's office and the county jail in Salinas. The Monterey County Sheriff runs an online In-Custody Log where you can search for current and recently released inmates. This tool is free and open to the public. Monterey County also works with the VINE alert system for custody change updates. If a person served time in state prison and was released to Monterey County, CDCR's CIRIS database covers those records. This guide walks through how to search for released inmates in Monterey County, what data is available, and how California law shapes your right to get it.

Monterey County Inmate Search Tool

The Monterey County Sheriff operates an In-Custody Log at mcso.countyofmonterey.gov. This is the main way to look up released inmates and people currently held at the Monterey County Jail. The jail sits in Salinas, which is the county seat. You can search by name or booking number. Results show the inmate's charges, booking date, and custody status. When someone has been released, the record reflects the release date and method. The tool does not need a login or account. It is open to anyone with an internet connection.

People arrested anywhere in Monterey County end up at this jail. That covers arrests in Salinas, Seaside, Marina, Soledad, Gonzales, King City, Pacific Grove, and Monterey. Local police departments in those cities do not run their own jail facilities. They book people at the county jail instead. Once an arrested person is booked at the Monterey County Jail, their record enters the same system and can be searched through the In-Custody Log. If you need a paper copy of a booking record or arrest report, contact the Monterey County Sheriff's records division. Staff there can help with the forms you need to fill out. Copies are available by mail or in person at the sheriff's office in Salinas.

Note: The In-Custody Log focuses on current and recent bookings, not records from many years back.

How to Search Monterey County Inmates

Start by going to the Monterey County Sheriff's website. Find the In-Custody Log link. Enter the last name of the person you want to look up. Adding a first name helps if the last name is common. Hit search. The system pulls up matching inmates from the Monterey County Jail. Each result shows the booking number, charges, bail amount, and whether the person is still held or has been released.

Here is what Monterey County released inmate records generally contain:

• Full name and date of birth
• Booking number and arrest date
• All charges filed at booking
• Bail amount set by the court
• Release date and method of release

If you cannot find a person, they may have been booked under a different name. Try alternate spellings. You can also call the jail directly to ask about a specific inmate. Sometimes data for released inmates drops off the online log after a certain window, and the records division can help you look further back.

Released Inmate Data Under California Law

California requires the Monterey County Sheriff to share booking and release information with the public. Government Code 7923.610 lists the exact details that must be made available. This includes the full name, physical description, date of birth, arrest time, booking time, charges, bail, and how a person was released. The only exception is when sharing a specific detail would put someone in danger or compromise an open investigation. This law went into effect on January 1, 2023. It covers every law enforcement agency in California, including the Monterey County Sheriff.

People who served time in a California state prison and then got released to Monterey County fall under different rules. Penal Code 3003 tells CDCR to give local law enforcement detailed data on each parolee. That includes names, physical traits, tattoos, scars, offenses, and the address where the released inmate will live. A parolee must return to the county where they last lived before prison unless CDCR allows a transfer. Each released inmate leaves the prison with $200 in gate money and a ride to the nearest Greyhound or Amtrak station if no one picks them up.

Beyond jail records, you can submit a formal public records request to the Monterey County Sheriff under the California Public Records Act. The agency has 10 days to respond. A 14-day extension is allowed for unusual cases. The DOJ PRA page explains the full process for requesting records from state and local agencies.

VINE Alerts for Monterey County

The VINE notification system tracks custody changes in Monterey County. You can register to get alerts by phone, email, or text when an inmate is released. VINE is free. It runs all day, every day. The system supports over 200 languages. Anyone can sign up. Victims and families use it most, but it is open to everyone.

Call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone or go to vinelink.com to set up alerts online. VINE covers about 2,900 facilities across the country, including the Monterey County Jail and California state prisons. When someone's custody status changes, you get a notice fast. Many Monterey County officials point to VINE as the best way to stay informed about released inmates without having to check the In-Custody Log over and over again.

The screenshot below shows the CDCR CIRIS inmate locator, which is the statewide tool for searching California state prison releases. While the Monterey County Sheriff handles local jail records, CIRIS covers inmates who served time in a state prison facility.

CIRIS lets you search by name or CDCR number. Results include the inmate's name, CDCR number, age, commitment county, admission date, and parole hearing dates for released inmates who went through the state prison system.

Nearby Counties

If you cannot find the person you need in Monterey County, check neighboring counties. Inmates sometimes get transferred or booked in a different county than where the arrest happened. Each of these counties has its own inmate search system.

Monterey County Released Inmate Resources

Monterey County does not have any cities with a population over 100,000. Salinas is the largest city and serves as the county seat. All jail bookings in the county go through the Monterey County Jail. For state prison releases, the CIRIS database is the right tool. You can also request your own criminal history from the California Department of Justice by submitting Live Scan fingerprints and paying a $25 fee. The DOJ record review page has instructions. For public records requests to CDCR specifically, use the CDCR Public Records Portal.

The Monterey County Sheriff handles all local released inmate inquiries. If the online In-Custody Log does not have what you need, reach out to the records division directly. They can pull older records and help with formal requests under the California Public Records Act.