Santa Barbara County jails and inmate search
Santa Barbara County has jails in two very different parts of the county: the South Coast around Santa Barbara and the North County around Santa Maria.
How the Santa Barbara County jail system works
The Sheriff's Office runs the Main Jail in Santa Barbara and the Northern Branch Jail, which opened near Santa Maria to serve the North County.
Arrests in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria usually go to the Main Jail. Arrests in Santa Maria, Lompoc and the Santa Ynez Valley may be booked at or moved to the Northern Branch Jail.
People may be moved between the two jails for court appearances, so check the current location before you visit.
Searching for someone in Santa Barbara County
- Search the Sheriff's online inmate locator by name to find the booking number and facility.
- The two jails are more than an hour apart, so confirm the location before you drive.
- Read the Sheriff's posted rules on approved clothing and ID before a visit.
The official source is the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office website. For a general walkthrough, see our guide to finding someone in jail.
Practical details for families in Santa Barbara County
Posting cash bail
In Santa Barbara County, cash bail is usually posted at jail facilities or bail windows designated by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, and sometimes at the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara online case search and the Sheriff's inmate search. See Who to Contact for an Update After Court.