How to Check if Your Loved One Was Booked in Jail
Posted in Criminal Defense on September 20, 2019
You do not want to be left in the dark as to whether your loved one has been taken to jail or not. If you suspect that your loved one has been arrested in Riverside County, you can find out if they have been booked into jail.
Riverside County inmate search
Your first step is to go to the Riverside Sheriff’s inmate search webpage at the link or by typing “Riverside County inmate search” into a search engine and clicking on the appropriate link. Do not simply type the name of your loved one into the search engine. You will be inundated with results that are not current and may or may not have to do with your loved one.
When you get to the inmate search page, you will be asked to input certain information, including your loved ones:
- Last name
- First name
- Date of birth
- Gender
The only thing that is mandatory to type in is the last name of the person you are looking for, though you can narrow the results down by inputting as much information as possible.
When you click the search button, a list of every inmate in the system that matches the information you typed in will appear. This could range from one result to dozens depending on how specific your search was. Listed on this screen will be the person’s booking number, name, date of birth, sex, and whether they are currently in custody or not.
What information is present?
When you find your loved one, click on their booking number. You will be taken to a brief profile page that is more specific. It shows their physical descriptors (hair color, eye color, height, and weight. You will be able to see the time and location of their arrest as well as the arresting agency.
Also on this page will be a complete list of the charges they faced upon arrest, the time and date of their next court appearance, and where they are currently being held.
If you find your loved one, you can begin to plan on the next steps. This could involve hiring an attorney, planning on a way to secure bond/bail money, and arranging for transportation to the jail.
What if you do not find your loved one when you search?
If you do not find your loved one when you search the Riverside County Sheriff’s inmate search page, that does not necessarily mean they have not been arrested. If your loved one was arrested outside of Riverside County, they will not show up in this system. Other county sheriff’s offices all have similar systems. If you do not find your loved one in the Riverside system, check the systems of the surrounding counties:
- Los Angeles County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
- Orange County
- Imperial County
Where else can I search for a loved one?
If you do not find your loved one when you search the Riverside or surrounding county inmate searches, you should consider checking will all hospitals in the region. When you call, ask if your loved one is there. If they are in the hospital, do not expect to get much information from the hospital staff until you arrive and establish that you are a family member. This is due to privacy concerns.
If you do find your loved one at a county jail, and find the reason for their arrest, contact a criminal defense attorney to get help. The Law Offices of Graham Donath offers free consultations, give us a call at
