Search Santa Clara County Released Inmates

Released inmate records in Santa Clara County are kept by the sheriff's office, which operates the main jail and the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas. The sheriff provides an online OVR Inmate Finder tool that lets anyone search for current and recently released inmates at no cost. Santa Clara County is the largest county in the Bay Area by population and handles thousands of bookings each year. State prison releases are tracked through CDCR CIRIS. This page covers how to find released inmate records in Santa Clara County, what tools are available, and what California law says about access.

Santa Clara County OVR Inmate Finder

The Santa Clara County Sheriff provides an OVR Inmate Finder at eservices.sccgov.org/ovr/findinmate/find. This is the main search tool for looking up inmates in Santa Clara County. You can search by name or booking number. Results show the person's charges, booking date, bail amount, and current custody status. If the inmate has been released, the record will show the release date. The tool is free and open to anyone. No account is needed.

Santa Clara County runs two main jail facilities. The main jail is in downtown San Jose. The Elmwood Correctional Facility is in Milpitas and holds both men and women. People arrested by police in San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Gilroy, and other cities end up at one of these facilities. The OVR Inmate Finder covers both locations. A single search checks the entire Santa Clara County system, so you do not need to look at each jail separately when trying to find a released inmate.

For phone inquiries, call the sheriff's office at (408) 808-4705. The jail line is (408) 299-2305. Staff can help you check on an inmate's status or direct you to the right office for records about released inmates in Santa Clara County.

How to Search Santa Clara County Inmates

Go to the OVR Inmate Finder page. Enter the person's last name. You can add a first name or use a booking number if you have one. The system checks the Santa Clara County jail database and pulls up all matches. Each result shows the inmate's booking details, charges, and whether they are in custody or released. The interface is clean and straightforward. Results load quickly.

Here is what Santa Clara County released inmate records typically include:

• Full name and date of birth
• Booking number and date of arrest
• All charges at the time of booking
• Bail amount
• Custody status and release details
• Facility holding the inmate

If the online tool does not have what you need, submit a public records request to the Santa Clara County Sheriff. California law requires a response within 10 calendar days. A 14-day extension is possible in unusual cases. Provide the person's name and any dates you know to help the records staff locate the right files about released inmates in Santa Clara County.

Santa Clara County Released Inmate Laws

Government Code 7923.610 requires all law enforcement agencies in California to disclose arrest and booking information. The Santa Clara County Sheriff must follow this rule. Public data includes the full name, occupation, physical description, date of birth, arrest time, booking time, arrest location, charges, bail amount, and how a person was released. An agency can withhold a detail only if it would endanger someone or compromise an active investigation. This statute took effect January 1, 2023.

State parolees released to Santa Clara County fall under Penal Code 3003. When an inmate leaves state prison for Santa Clara County, CDCR notifies local law enforcement. The notice includes the parolee's full name, physical traits, tattoos, scars, offenses, and planned residence. Parolees must return to the county where they lived before going to prison. Each released inmate gets $200 in gate money and transportation to the nearest bus or train station if nobody picks them up from the facility.

You can also check your own criminal record through the California DOJ. The record review page has full instructions. Submit Live Scan fingerprints and a $25 fee. Most requests from Santa Clara County residents process within 2 to 3 days.

VINE Alerts for Santa Clara County

The VINE notification system covers Santa Clara County jails and state prisons across California. It is free. You register for alerts and pick how you want to be notified. Options include phone calls, emails, and text messages. When an inmate's custody status changes, VINE sends the alert within minutes. The system works 24 hours a day in over 200 languages.

Call 1-877-411-5588 to register by phone, or visit vinelink.com online. VINE tracks about 2,900 facilities in 48 states. For Santa Clara County, it covers both the main jail and Elmwood. Victims, families, and other members of the public use VINE to stay informed about released inmates. It is often the fastest way to find out when someone leaves the Santa Clara County Jail, since the online inmate finder may not update instantly in every case.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's OVR Inmate Finder at eservices.sccgov.org is shown below. This is the primary search tool for finding released inmates and current inmates in Santa Clara County.

Search by name or booking number to see charges, bail amounts, and custody status. The tool covers both the main jail in San Jose and the Elmwood facility in Milpitas.

State Records for Santa Clara County

For state prison inmates tied to Santa Clara County, the CIRIS database is the go-to resource. CDCR maintains it. Search by name or CDCR number to find facility information, admission dates, commitment counties, and parole hearing results. CIRIS covers both current and released inmates from California state prisons. The search is free and runs 24 hours a day. For documents beyond what CIRIS shows, the CDCR Public Records Portal lets you submit a formal request. CDCR must respond within 10 calendar days.

The California DOJ PRA page handles requests for records held by the Attorney General's office. Copy fees are 10 cents per page. The DOJ does not maintain local court records. For Santa Clara County court files, contact the county clerk. Records related to a specific case may be spread across multiple offices, so you may need to submit requests to both state and county agencies when researching a released inmate.

Nearby Counties

Inmates are sometimes booked in a neighboring county or transferred between facilities. If you cannot find a released inmate in Santa Clara County, try searching in these nearby areas.

Cities in Santa Clara County

Most city police departments in Santa Clara County do not run their own jails. Arrested people are taken to the county jail or Elmwood. Select a city below to learn more about released inmate records in that area.