Santa Barbara County Released Inmate Search

Released inmate records in Santa Barbara County are held by the sheriff's office. The sheriff runs a Who Is In Custody search tool online where anyone can look up inmates at no cost. Santa Barbara County operates jail facilities in both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, handling bookings from cities and unincorporated areas across the county. State prison release records are tracked through CDCR's CIRIS system. This page covers how to find released inmates in Santa Barbara County, what data you can access, and the laws that govern public records about inmates in California.

Santa Barbara County Who Is In Custody

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff provides a Who Is In Custody tool at sbsheriff.org/home/who-is-in-custody. You can search for inmates held at the main jail in Santa Barbara or the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria. The tool is free to use. Type in a name and see if the person is currently in custody. Results show booking dates, charges, bail amounts, and the facility holding the inmate. When someone is released, the record updates to show they are no longer in custody.

Santa Barbara County handles bookings from the city of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Carpinteria, and the unincorporated areas throughout the county. Law enforcement agencies in these communities bring arrested people to the county jail for processing. The Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria opened to ease crowding at the main facility and handles inmates from the northern part of the county. Both jails feed into the same Who Is In Custody system, so a single search covers all Santa Barbara County released inmates and current inmates.

Note: The online tool shows current and recent data, not a complete historical archive of released inmates.

Searching Santa Barbara County Inmate Records

Go to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff website and click on Who Is In Custody. Enter the last name of the person you want to find. You can add a first name for a more precise search. Results appear with booking information and custody status. If the person has been released from Santa Barbara County Jail, the record will show that. Each entry includes the charges, case number, and bail if it was set. The page works on computers and phones.

If you need copies of specific documents, contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's records division. You can request arrest reports, booking logs, and other records tied to a released inmate. California's Public Records Act gives you the right to ask. The sheriff must respond within 10 calendar days. Include as many details as you can when making the request. A name, date range, or case number helps the records staff find what you need faster.

Santa Barbara County released inmate records typically include the person's full name, date of birth, booking number, charges, bail amount, release date, and the arresting agency. This data is public under California law for anyone who asks for it.

California Law on Santa Barbara County Releases

Government Code 7923.610 requires all law enforcement agencies in California, including the Santa Barbara County Sheriff, to make booking and arrest data public. The required information includes the full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, time and date of arrest, time and date of booking, arrest location, charges, bail, and how a person was released. Agencies can only withhold a detail if it would endanger someone or harm an active investigation. This mandate went into effect on January 1, 2023, and covers every released inmate record in Santa Barbara County.

Parolees released from state prison to Santa Barbara County are covered by Penal Code 3003. CDCR sends local law enforcement a detailed notice about each returning parolee. It lists names, physical descriptions, tattoos, scars, offenses, and the address where the person will stay. Under this law, parolees return to where they lived before prison. CDCR can grant exceptions, but the default is the original county. Each released inmate gets $200 in gate money and a ride to a bus or train station if needed.

For personal criminal history checks, the California DOJ record review page walks you through the process. Submit fingerprints and the $25 fee. Processing takes 2 to 3 days for most requests from Santa Barbara County.

VINE Custody Alerts in Santa Barbara County

VINE is a free notification system that tracks inmate custody changes across California. You can sign up to get alerts about inmates in Santa Barbara County. Choose phone calls, emails, or text messages. When an inmate is released or transferred, VINE sends the alert within minutes. The system works around the clock. It supports over 200 languages.

Call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone. Online registration is available at vinelink.com. VINE covers about 2,900 facilities in 48 states, including the Santa Barbara County jails and California state prisons. Many victims and family members in Santa Barbara County rely on VINE as their primary way to know when a released inmate leaves custody. The sheriff's office recommends the system for anyone who needs timely updates on inmate status.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Who Is In Custody page at sbsheriff.org is shown below. This is the primary search tool for finding released inmates and people currently held in Santa Barbara County jails.

The search covers both the main jail in Santa Barbara and the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria. Look up any inmate by name to check charges and custody status.

State Records for Santa Barbara County

For state prison inmates connected to Santa Barbara County, the CIRIS database from CDCR is your main tool. Search by name or CDCR number. CIRIS shows the inmate's facility, admission date, commitment county, and parole hearing results. It covers current and released inmates. The database is free and runs 24 hours a day. If you need documents beyond what CIRIS shows, use the CDCR Public Records Portal. The state must respond within 10 calendar days.

The California DOJ PRA page handles separate requests for records held by the Attorney General. The DOJ charges 10 cents per page for copies. It does not maintain local court records. For Santa Barbara County court documents, contact the county clerk or the sheriff's office. This can include case files, sentencing records, and other materials about released inmates that the county keeps on file rather than the state.

Nearby Counties

Inmates can be transferred or booked in a neighboring county. If you cannot find a released inmate in the Santa Barbara County system, try searching these nearby counties.