A Pomona arrest can lead to five places: the city jail, an LA County jail, West Valley Detention Center in San Bernardino County, a state prison or a federal facility. Each agency runs its own lookup, so the right search depends on who holds the person.
Searching costs nothing, and you do not need a bondsman to do it. Work through the steps below first. If a bond makes sense once you find them, we answer at (888) 998-9511 day or night.
Quick answer: To find someone in Pomona jail, call Pomona City Jail at (909) 620-2131, because the Police Department's pages list no inmate roster. For county custody, use the LA County Sheriff's Inmate Information Center. Use San Bernardino County's locator for West Valley, CDCR's CIRIS for state prison and the Bureau of Prisons locator for federal custody.
Which Pomona inmate search should you use first?
Begin with the arresting agency. Wherever in the city an arrest happens, from Bonita to South Garey or Ganesha Hills, Pomona police usually take the person to Pomona City Jail, at 490 W. Mission Blvd., for booking. The Police Department's pages list no roster, so a phone call to the jail is the search.
Other agencies keep their own custody records. Match the situation to a row.
| Where the person is held | Official lookup | Help line |
|---|---|---|
| Pomona City Jail (Pomona PD) | No online roster; call the jail | (909) 620-2131 |
| LA County jails, including the Inmate Reception Center | LASD Inmate Information Center | (213) 473-6100 |
| West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga | Locator on the San Bernardino County Sheriff's site | Facility line: (909) 708-8371 |
| California state prison | CDCR CIRIS | (916) 445-6713, CDCR Identification Unit |
| Federal prison | Bureau of Prisons locator | Online search |
Not sure who made the arrest? Call the city jail first, then try the Sheriff's finder. Keep the person's name and date of birth in front of you for both. A blank result from one agency does not rule out the others.
What should you have ready before you search?
Gather what you know before you type or dial. The Sheriff's Department asks callers for the person's complete name plus a date of birth or date of arrest. Its custody page tells searchers to have the name and date of birth ready.
- The legal name, with a few spelling variants to try.
- The date of birth.
- The arrest date and place, plus the arresting agency.
- The booking number, once you have it.
For someone held by the Sheriff, call its information line, (213) 473-6100, if you lack a booking number. Give the complete name and the date of birth or arrest. For Pomona City Jail, ask the jail line, (909) 620-2131. Keep the number for later calls.
Why does the search come back empty?
An empty screen has ordinary causes. Check them in order.
- Too soon. The Sheriff's Department says inmate records are not available for bookings made in the last 2 hours. Search again later, or call.
- Wrong agency. The Sheriff's finder covers Sheriff's custody. If Pomona police made the arrest, the person may still be in city custody, so call the jail.
- Already moved. The Sheriff's Department does not notify families when someone changes facilities, and Pomona jailers also transport prisoners to other L.A.-area jails. The Sheriff's information line can give current whereabouts for people in its custody.
- Already out. The City says people who post bond or bail, or qualify for a citation, leave custody. An empty result can mean they already left.
- Spelling or birth date. Try another spelling, then check the date.
If the Sheriff's Department calls someone "unclassified," that person awaits a permanent housing location. Neither calls nor visits can reach an unclassified inmate, and the Department estimates two weeks to a month for classification.
How long can someone stay in Pomona City Jail?
Pomona City Jail is a Type I facility. California's jail standards define that as a place for holding people no longer than 96 hours after booking, holidays excluded (15 CCR 1006). The court clock is shorter. Under PC 825, the clock for seeing a magistrate is 48 hours from the arrest, and Sundays and holidays do not count. It runs from the moment of arrest.
Per the City, anyone not released on bond, bail or a citation stays at the jail for arraignment, provided no medical problem exists. Arraignment takes place at the Pomona Superior Courts, such as Pomona Courthouse South. Because a Type I jail holds people for 96 hours or less after booking, someone held longer, or someone with a medical need, may move to another facility. Call the jail line to ask where the person went.
Where do you look for West Valley, state prison or federal custody?
West Valley. West Valley Detention Center sits at 9500 Etiwanda Ave, Rancho Cucamonga. The San Bernardino County Sheriff runs it, and it receives arrestees from many agencies. Use the county Sheriff's locator or call the facility. Visit scheduling runs through the same locator, or by phone at (909) 887-0364, Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. If the case sits in one county and the jail in another, see our out-of-county transfer bonds page.
State prison. CDCR runs CIRIS. You must accept a disclaimer before searching, and CDCR warns the site may contain errors or omissions. Its Identification Unit takes calls on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., holidays excluded.
Federal custody. The Bureau of Prisons locator covers federal inmates from 1982 to the present. A result of "Released" or "Not in BOP Custody" can mean another agency holds the person.
ICE runs its own online detainee locator. This page offers no immigration advice.
What should you do once you find them?
Note the facility that holds the person, the booking number and the bail amount. Ask the jail for the amount, or read how the LA County bail schedule sets it.
Next, check whether you need a bond. Some low-level arrests end in release at $0 bail, and the pre-arraignment release protocol explains which. If bail applies, the bail bond premium is 10% of it, so $10,000 in bail means a $1,000 premium.
Call us at (888) 998-9511 whenever you are ready. We start work when you call, and the jail controls posting and release. In our experience, release takes 2 to 6 hours. For the release steps, read how bail works in Pomona; what happens after posting bail explains the wait for release.
Common Questions About Finding Someone in Jail
How do I check if someone is in jail in LA County?
Open the LASD Inmate Information Center and search with the person's name and date of birth. The Sheriff's Department says records are not available for bookings made in the last 2 hours. For help locating someone, call (213) 473-6100, the Sheriff's custody information line.
Can I check online if someone is in the Pomona jail?
Pomona PD's website lists no inmate roster, so call Pomona City Jail at (909) 620-2131 with the person's full name and date of birth. If the person moves into county custody, the Sheriff's online finder then becomes the place to look. Ask the jail whether a transfer has happened.
Can you see California mugshots?
PC 13665 bars police and sheriff's offices from posting booking photos on social media when the arrest is on suspicion of a nonviolent crime. Three exceptions apply: a fugitive or imminent threat, a judge's order, or an urgent law enforcement need. Posted photos come down within 14 days. An agency's own website is not covered.
How can I find an incarcerated person in California?
Match the search to the facility. County jails run their own finders, such as the LA County Sheriff's and San Bernardino County's. CDCR's CIRIS covers state prisons, and its Identification Unit, (916) 445-6713, helps when a search fails. The Bureau of Prisons locator covers federal inmates.
Can you help if the arrest was in San Bernardino County?
Yes, when West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga holds the person. We serve Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County. Find the person with the county Sheriff's locator, then call (888) 998-9511 with what you learn. Have the full name and date of birth ready, and a licensed agent will explain the next step.
or call (888) 998-9511