The Santa Barbara County Jail Roster is a public resource that allows you to find out who is currently in custody at the county jail. SantaBarbaraCourt.us helps quickly find publicly available information about current and recently released inmates in California. Additionally, information can be obtained through the official sheriff's website, by calling the jail, or visiting in person. The roster is maintained by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office; data is regularly updated and posted on the "Who Is In Custody" page. The search allows the public to check a person's custody status, view charges, and booking date — all serving as a tool for transparency in the county's criminal justice system.
Search Current Inmates in Santa Barbara Jail
There are several ways to find out if a specific person is in custody at the county jail.
Online Search
- Open the Who Is In Custody page on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office website.
- Browse the list or use the browser's search function (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F) to find the last name.
- Click on the inmate's name to see details: charges, booking number, arrest date.
For court records related to the case, use SantaBarbaraCourt.us or the Superior Court case search system.
What you need to start the search:
- Full legal name of the person (last name required)
- Booking number, if known
Juvenile offenders are not displayed in the public roster.
By Phone
Call the jail directly and provide the person's name or booking number.
To check for active warrants, you can call (805) 681-4330 and select the "Warrants" option in the voice menu.
In-Person Inquiry
Visit the lobby of the Santa Barbara Main Jail during business hours. The staff at the information desk can confirm if a person is in custody and provide basic booking information.
Find Santa Barbara Jail Booking Records Online
A booking record is created each time a person is brought to jail and processed. It is the first official document recording the arrest.
During booking, the following data is generated:
- Unique booking number
- Date and time of processing
- List of charges
- Arresting agency (sheriff, city police, CHP, etc.)
- Basic identification information of the inmate
Online access to these records is provided by the Who Is In Custody page — it displays data on individuals currently held. If you need information about a case already in court, use the Court Records section of the Superior Court. The easiest way to find a record is by case number; if unknown, a name search is available.
To obtain copies of police reports, submit a request to the Santa Barbara Police Department Records Bureau according to California Government Code Section 6250 (Public Records Act).
If the person has been transferred to a state facility, the search can continue through the CIRIS system of the California Department of Corrections.
Search the Santa Barbara Jail Roster by Last Name or Booking Number
The roster supports two main search methods.
By Last Name
Enter the last name in the search field or use the Ctrl+F function in the browser. A few tips:
- Check the spelling — even one letter mistake can yield no results.
- Try spelling variations if the last name has a hyphen or apostrophe.
- Add the first name to narrow results for common last names.
By Booking Number
The booking number is the most accurate identifier. If you have it (e.g., from arrest documents or a lawyer), use this method. It will immediately bring up the required record without needing to filter through namesakes.
If the Search Yields No Results
- Ensure the name is entered correctly.
- The person may have already been released — the roster only shows those in custody at the time of viewing.
- Booking may not be complete yet — there can be a few hours between physical delivery and the record appearing in the system.
- Call the jail at (805) 681-4260 and verify information directly with the staff.
Jail Roster Updates and Search Limitations in Santa Barbara
The county sheriff updates the online roster regularly throughout the day, but it does not happen instantly. There is usually a time gap between booking and the record appearing on the site — from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the facility's workload and time of day.
Main limitations to be aware of:
| Limitation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Delay in Record Appearance | A recently delivered person may not yet appear in the system until the processing is complete. |
| Disappearance After Release | When an inmate is released (on bail, by court decision, etc.), the record is removed from the public roster. |
| Not an Archive | The roster only reflects the current custody status. Historical data on past bookings is not available through it. |
| Minors | Records of individuals under 18 are not published. |
| Transfers | If a person is transferred to another facility or to the state system, the record will disappear from the county roster. |
For archival data or document copies, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. Court records, including criminal cases, can be requested through the Court Records division of the Superior Court at 118 E. Figueroa Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. Note: the online criminal case index is currently unavailable, so to view a file, you need to visit the Records window in person during business hours.
Californians have the right to access public information under the California Public Records Act. If you are denied records that you believe are public, you can submit an official request under this law.