What should I do if someone does not appear in the Los Angeles County inmate search?
Check the name, date of birth, and whether the booking was recent, then contact LASD if you still cannot locate the person. Use the official Inmate Information Center. For location assistance, call 213-473-6100 with the person's full name, date of birth, and arrest information when known.
A search with no results does not establish that the person was never arrested, has been released, or is not held by another agency. Booking delays, incorrect identifying details, another agency's custody, and website problems require different checks.
Independent information: This website is not affiliated with LASD. We cannot confirm custody status, change inmate records, or accept medical information on behalf of a jail.
Choose the Next Step for Your Situation
| Your situation | What to check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| The arrest or booking was recent | The arresting agency, destination, and booking time if known. | Review the published booking interval and contact inmate information if location remains unclear. |
| The search completes but returns no match | Name fields, spelling, date of birth, and known name variations. | Correct reliable details, then call 213-473-6100 if you still cannot identify the record. |
| Another agency may hold the person | Which agency arrested or last held the person. | Contact that agency through its official website or published telephone number. |
| A previous record no longer resolves the person's location | The prior booking number, facility, and any known transfer information. | Ask inmate information to clarify the current location or appropriate agency to contact. |
| The page fails or verification does not complete | Error messages, service notices, and whether the search actually ran. | Return through the official LASD website or use telephone location assistance. |
| There is an urgent healthcare concern involving someone believed to be in LASD custody | Available identifying information and the specific concern. | Call the Medical Command Center at 213-893-5544 without waiting for an online result. |
Check the Name and Date of Birth
Compare the information entered with a reliable source, such as a booking document or communication from the arresting agency.
- Make sure first and last names are entered in the correct fields.
- Review spelling, compound or hyphenated surnames, and any middle name entered.
- Verify the date of birth and use the format requested by the form.
- Consider a former surname or another documented name when relevant.
- Follow the service's search instructions rather than assuming it accepts nicknames, partial names, or wildcard characters.
If a possible match appears, compare the available identifying details. A matching name alone does not establish identity. Explain incomplete or conflicting information when asking for assistance rather than selecting an unrelated record.
Allow for the Difference Between Arrest and Booking
The LASD Custody Operations page states that records are unavailable for bookings within the preceding two hours. This concerns the booking time, not the arrest time, and does not guarantee that a record will appear immediately after that interval.
If the arrest was recent, establish which agency made the arrest and where the person was taken. Do not calculate an expected publication time by adding two hours to the arrest.
You can check the official search again after allowing for the stated interval. If you need location assistance or do not know whether booking has occurred, contact inmate information with the details available.
Call LASD Inmate Information With the Details You Have
LASD lists 213-473-6100 for general custody questions and help locating an inmate. Its Custody FAQ also directs people seeking a booking number to this line.
Prepare:
- The person's complete name and any known name used during booking.
- Date of birth.
- Date and approximate time of arrest, if known.
- The arresting agency and arrest location, if known.
- A booking number or previous facility name, if available.
- The search details entered and the result or error shown.
Provide what you know and identify anything uncertain. Explain whether you need a booking number, the current holding facility, or clarification of a possible transfer.
If directed to a station or facility, use its official contact information. The LASD Phone Directory lists station numbers and the inmate information line.
Check Whether Another Agency Holds the Person
The LASD search is not a combined directory of every city jail, state prison, federal facility, or juvenile detention setting. An arrest in Los Angeles County does not by itself establish that the person is held in an LASD jail.
Ask the arresting agency where the person was booked and whether it still holds them. If a transfer is known or suspected, ask the last confirmed holding agency to identify the receiving agency, then use that agency's official locator or contact instructions.
Confirm custody or release information before arranging travel or pickup. Do not assume a family member will automatically receive a transfer notification.
Court records concern a separate proceeding and do not establish a person's current jail location. Use the responsible custody agency for location confirmation.
Check Whether the Search Completed
A blank page, expired session, failed verification, or error message may mean the search did not run. Return through the official LASD Custody page, read any service notice, and follow the search page's browser and verification instructions.
If the problem continues, keep the error message available and use 213-473-6100 for location assistance. A technical failure provides no information about the person's custody status.
Report Urgent Healthcare Concerns Without Waiting
For a healthcare concern requiring immediate assistance involving someone believed to be in LASD custody, call the Medical Command Center at 213-893-5544. Explain that you cannot locate the person online, describe the concern, and provide the identifying information you have.
For reporting steps and routine submissions, see how to report medical or mental health concerns about someone in Los Angeles County jail. If another agency holds the person, use that agency's healthcare reporting process.
Once the person is located, record the confirmed booking number and facility. See our County Jail page for visiting, mail, deposits, and other custody services.
Follow current LASD instructions and direct unresolved location questions to the responsible agency. Messages and personal documents submitted to this website do not reach LASD.