Santa Monica, CA Santa Monica Jail View
Santa Monica Jail is a local detention facility in Santa Monica, California, operated by the Santa Monica Police Department. It primarily holds adults arrested by local law enforcement who are awaiting booking, release, bail, arraignment, or transfer to a Los Angeles County jail or court. The facility generally serves as a short-term city jail rather than a long-term correctional facility. In California, people held in local jails may include pretrial detainees and, in some facilities, individuals serving short sentences, but city jails commonly focus on temporary custody and processing. Its role is to support local arrests, court processing, and coordination with the Los Angeles County justice system.
Contact and Location Information
How to Find an Inmate at Santa Monica Jail
To find someone in custody, use the official inmate search link on this page for the facility’s roster or custody lookup. Inmate rosters typically list a person’s name, booking date, alleged charges, custody status, bail information when available, and possible housing or release details. Records usually do not appear immediately after an arrest because booking, identification, medical screening, and data entry can take several hours. If the person is not listed, check again later or contact the facility or the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department if the person may have been transferred. Information can change quickly after release, court appearance, or transfer.
FAQs
How do I visit an inmate at Santa Monica Jail?
Contact the facility before going, because city jail visiting may be limited and can change based on custody status, staffing, or transfer. If the inmate has been moved to a county jail, you will need to follow the visiting rules for that location.
What do I need to bring when visiting Santa Monica Jail?
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID, passport, or military ID. Leave personal items in your vehicle or follow staff instructions, because phones, bags, and other items are often not allowed in visiting areas.
How do I make phone or video calls with an inmate?
Inmates are usually allowed to make outgoing calls after booking, but they generally cannot receive incoming calls. If video calling is available, the facility or phone service provider will provide registration, scheduling, and payment instructions.
How do I send mail to an inmate?
Call the facility first to confirm whether mail is accepted for people held here, because short-term detainees may be released or transferred before mail arrives. If mail is allowed, include the inmate’s full name and follow all rules on envelopes, contents, and prohibited items.
How does the commissary work?
Commissary access may be limited in a short-term city jail. If the inmate is transferred to a county facility, family or friends may be able to deposit funds through the approved jail payment system for snacks, hygiene items, and other approved purchases.
How is bail set and how do I post bond at Santa Monica Jail?
Bail is usually based on the county bail schedule or a judge’s order, depending on the charge and case status. Contact the facility or the court to confirm the bail amount, accepted payment methods, and whether a licensed bail agent may be used.
What happens during the intake process at Santa Monica Jail and when will the inmate appear in the system?
Intake usually includes identification, property inventory, health screening, fingerprinting, and entry of arrest information. Records may take several hours to appear online, and the inmate may be released, cited, taken to court, or transferred before the roster updates.