The San Mateo County Jail Roster is a public resource that allows you to find out who is currently in custody at the county jail in the state of California. On the SanMateoCourt.us website, you can find publicly available information about current and recently released inmates. In addition to online tools, information about individuals in custody is available through the official website of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, personal visits to the jail, and phone inquiries. The roster search allows the public to check the custody status of a specific individual, view charges, and booking date. The roster is maintained by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and is regularly updated on the office's website.
Search Current Inmates in San Mateo Jail
To find information about an individual in custody at the county jail, use one of the methods below.
Online Search
- Visit SanMateoCourt.us — here you can search publicly available court records related to county criminal cases.
- To view court materials on criminal cases, visit the Criminal Division of the San Mateo County Superior Court, where hearing schedules, warrant information, and bail details are posted.
- To search court cases online, use the Odyssey Portals — a system that allows searching the Superior Court's case index (MIDX).
- If the individual has been transferred to a state facility, check the CIRIS system of the California Department of Corrections or call the CDCR Identification Unit at (916) 445-6713.
You will need the individual's full legal name and surname for the search. A booking number will expedite the result if you know it. Juvenile offenders are not displayed in the public roster.
By Phone
Call the San Mateo County Jail and ask the operator to confirm whether a specific individual is in custody. Be prepared to provide the full name and date of birth.
In-Person Inquiry
You can appear at the jail lobby and approach the public information window. Note that visitor hours may be limited.
Maguire Correctional Facility (Main County Jail)
Visiting hours for inquiries may vary — it is recommended to call in advance.
Find San Mateo Jail Booking Records Online
A booking record is created when an individual is officially admitted to jail. It is the first document in the custody chain. During the booking process, the following data is recorded:
- Booking number — a unique identifier
- Date and time of admission
- Charges filed
- Arresting agency (city police, sheriff's office, etc.)
- Personal data: name, date of birth, gender
Access to booking records is available through the online jail roster on the sheriff's office website. If the record does not appear in the online roster, you can submit an official public records request in accordance with the California Public Records Act. This law guarantees state residents the right to access public information held by local and state authorities.
To obtain copies of criminal cases by mail, contact the Records Management Division of the Superior Court. This division provides copies of criminal, civil, family, and probate case materials.
Search the San Mateo Jail Roster by Last Name or Booking Number
The roster supports two main search methods.
Search by Last Name
Enter the last name in the search field. Adding the first name will narrow the results, which is especially useful for common surnames. A few tips:
- Check the spelling — even one letter can change the result.
- Try variations of the name if the individual may be registered under a different spelling.
- If the system supports partial search, enter only the first few letters of the last name.
Search by Booking Number
This is the most accurate method. Each booking receives a unique number, so the result will be unambiguous.
If the Search Yields No Results
The absence of records does not necessarily mean the individual was not arrested. Possible reasons:
- The individual has already been released or transferred to another facility.
- The booking is not yet completed — data will appear with a delay.
- The name is entered incorrectly or recorded under a different spelling.
- The individual is held in a state facility, not the county — in this case, use the CIRIS search.
If none of the options work, call the jail directly at (650) 363-4911.
Jail Roster Updates and Search Limitations in San Mateo
The San Mateo County Jail Roster is updated periodically throughout the day. However, there may be a delay of several hours to one business day between the actual booking and the appearance of the record in the online system. This depends on the facility's workload and the time of day the arrest occurred.
Main limitations to be aware of:
- Current custody only. The roster shows individuals in custody at the time of the request. After release or transfer, the record disappears.
- Not an archive. This is not a database of all past arrests. For historical records, contact the court's records management division or submit a request to the sheriff's office.
- Data entry delays. Weekends and holidays may increase the time for record appearance.
- Confidential cases. Some records may be restricted from public view — for example, cases involving minors or certain categories of protective orders.
To obtain a copy of your own statewide criminal history, contact the California Department of Justice — the procedure involves submitting fingerprints and paying a $25 fee.
The roster is a tool for checking current status, not a comprehensive source of criminal history. For a complete picture, use multiple resources simultaneously: court online portals, sheriff's office inquiries, and state databases.