San Bernardino County jails and inmate search
San Bernardino is the largest county in the contiguous United States by land area. Its Sheriff's Department runs jails in the valley and the high desert.
How the San Bernardino County jail system works
The Sheriff's main jails are the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, the Central Detention Center in downtown San Bernardino, the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center in the Devore area and the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto.
West Valley is the main booking and housing facility for the valley. High Desert serves Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Barstow and the surrounding desert. Central Detention Center holds many people with upcoming court dates in San Bernardino.
Some cities, such as Ontario and San Bernardino, have police holding facilities for short stays before people are moved to a county jail.
Searching for someone in San Bernardino County
- Use the Sheriff's online inmate locator. It lists the booking number, facility and scheduled court dates.
- Driving distances in this county are long. Confirm the facility before you leave for a visit.
- Arrests in mountain and desert communities are usually booked at High Desert Detention Center or a nearby station first.
The official source is the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department website. For a general walkthrough, see our guide to finding someone in jail.
Practical details for families in San Bernardino County
Posting cash bail
In San Bernardino County, cash bail is usually posted at jail facilities or bail windows designated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, and sometimes at the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino once a case is filed. Check the Sheriff's official bail page for current locations, hours and accepted payment types. Learn more: How to Post Cash Bail in Southern California.
Property and account money
Property stored at booking is usually released only to someone the person in custody authorizes in writing, and that person needs a photo ID. Money on the person's account has to be released by them. Check facility rules on the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department website. See How to Pick Up an Inmate's Property and How to Release Money From an Inmate's Account.
Release and parking
Releases can happen at any hour. In large counties, people are sometimes released from a different facility than the one where they were housed. Downtown facilities usually rely on nearby public parking that's shared with the courts, while facilities outside downtown generally have visitor lots. See Picking Someone Up After Release From Jail and Parking and Arriving for a Jail Visit.
Cars towed after an arrest
The arresting agency issues the vehicle release. That's the city police department, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department in unincorporated areas or contract cities, or the California Highway Patrol (CHP) on freeways. See Getting a Car Back After an Arrest: Impounds in Southern California.
After a court hearing
Check the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino online case search and the Sheriff's inmate search. See Who to Contact for an Update After Court.
County jails in San Bernardino County
West Valley Detention Center
Rancho Cucamonga
Central Detention Center
San Bernardino
Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center
San Bernardino (Devore)
High Desert Detention Center
Adelanto
City jails in San Bernardino County
City jails hold people for a short time after arrest by local police, then release them or move them to county custody.