San Luis Obispo County jails and inmate search
San Luis Obispo County, on the Central Coast at the northern edge of the Southern California region, has one main county jail run by the Sheriff's Office.
How the San Luis Obispo County jail system works
The San Luis Obispo County Jail is on Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. It handles booking and housing for the whole county.
Arrests by local police departments in Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach and other cities are generally booked at the county jail.
Check the Sheriff's Office website for the current visiting schedule, mail rules and deposit options.
Searching for someone in San Luis Obispo County
- Search the Sheriff's online inmate information by name to find the booking number.
- Since everyone is booked at the same jail, a recent arrest anywhere in the county should show up in the same search.
- Check posted rules on video visits before you travel.
The official source is the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office website. For a general walkthrough, see our guide to finding someone in jail.
Practical details for families in San Luis Obispo County
Posting cash bail
In San Luis Obispo County, cash bail is usually posted at jail facilities or bail windows designated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, and sometimes at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office 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 Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office 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 Luis Obispo online case search and the Sheriff's inmate search. See Who to Contact for an Update After Court.