San Mateo County Jail Roster Overview
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail system and posts custody data through the public Inmate Locator at smc-inmatelocator.org. The tool is free, needs no log-in, and lists each person held in a county jail along with the next court date, bail amount, and current facility. Sheriff Kenneth Binder was sworn in as the 27th San Mateo County Sheriff on November 12, 2025, and the Corrections Division reports through the Sheriff's chain of command from the main office at 400 County Center, Redwood City. The Inmate Locator pulls data from the Sheriff's booking system and reflects the most recent record known to staff as people move through court, transfer, or release.
The San Mateo County jail roster does not show every person in custody in the area. It leaves out state prison inmates held by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, federal inmates booked by the Bureau of Prisons, people held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention, and minors held by Probation in juvenile hall. Search those people through CDCR's CIRIS tool at ciris.mt.cdcr.ca.gov for state cases, the federal locator at bop.gov/inmateloc, or VINELink at vinelink.com for notice of custody status changes. The county roster also does not always show people booked under sealed cases or certain law-enforcement exemptions under Government Code section 6254(f) and its current recodified text.
How to Use the San Mateo County Inmate Locator
The Sheriff Inmate Locator is the fastest way to check if a person is in San Mateo County custody. The portal sits at smc-inmatelocator.org and asks for a first and last name. A phonetic search box helps when the spelling of the name is not certain. The Sheriff's 2016 release on the tool said anyone without web access can call Maguire Correctional Facility at (650) 363-4000, extension 6070, around the clock for the same data, but the caller must give the inmate's name and correct date of birth before staff release any information.
- Open the Sheriff Inmate Locator at smc-inmatelocator.org in any web browser.
- Type the first name and last name in the two text boxes. Both are required. The middle name box is optional.
- Pick a gender from the drop-down if known. Tick the phonetic search box if the spelling is in doubt.
- Press Find Inmate. A single match opens the profile page; multiple matches show a list with last name and first name columns.
- Click the row to open the full record. Review the facility, next court date, bail, and charge list.
- Call (650) 363-4000 ext. 6070 to confirm status if the online entry shows stale data or no result.
San Mateo County Inmate Search Fields
The Inmate Locator search form is short and forgiving. The page tells users to enter both a first and a last name, but the back end accepts either field plus the phonetic option. Each text box has a max length of 35 characters. The gender drop-down defaults to All, and the Clear button resets the form. The table below mirrors the live San Mateo County inmate search form as captured on the official site.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter First Name | Text | Yes | Up to 35 characters. Page tells users to enter first and last name together. |
| Enter Middle Name | Text | No | Up to 35 characters. Helps when several inmates share the same first and last name. |
| Enter Last Name | Text | Yes | Up to 35 characters. Most reliable filter when paired with phonetic search. |
| Gender | Dropdown | No | Options: All, Male, Female. Defaults to All. |
| Use phonetic search | Checkbox | No | Check the box if the spelling of the name is uncertain. |
| Clear | Button | N/A | Resets every field on the form. |
| Find Inmate | Button | N/A | Submits the search and loads results or a no-match notice. |
Note: A no-result search returns the message "No results found, please check the spelling of your search" and may offer first-name or last-name spelling suggestions.
What a San Mateo County Inmate Profile Shows
A profile page in the Sheriff's Inmate Locator lists a fixed set of fields tied to the booking. The data comes from the Sheriff's custody system and refreshes as the case moves. The sample inventory below was drawn from a live record on the official locator. Mugshot, housing pod, arresting agency, and warrant number are not part of the public profile. A notice on each page warns that charges and bail values changed during court may not show on the screen yet.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| Name | Full last, first, and middle name of the person in San Mateo County custody. |
| Date of Birth | Full DOB used to match against the name field and to confirm identity by phone. |
| Gender | M or F as recorded at booking. |
| Facility | Maguire Correctional Facility or Maple Street Correctional Center. |
| Case Number | Local case or custody number tied to the booking event. |
| SMCSO Number | Sheriff's Office number used inside the agency to track the person across bookings. |
| Booking Number | Unique booking ID, often shown in a decimal format on the screen. |
| Next Court Date | Date and time of the next set court event, format MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM AM. |
| Projected Release Date | Release date when set, or "Not Available" when no firm date is on file. |
| Court Dockets | Table of dockets with bail and charge columns. Bail shows as USD currency or "NO BAIL." |
| Charges | Severity letter, code section, code book, and short charge description, such as a felony Penal Code count. |
San Mateo County Jail Facilities
The Sheriff's Corrections Division runs two jails, both on the Redwood City civic corridor a short walk from the Hall of Justice. Maguire is the older of the two and sits next to the Sheriff's main office on Bradford Street. Maple Street is the newer 260,000-square-foot center that opened in the late 2010s and added program space, mental-health beds, and modern housing for the full female jail population. A 2020 Sheriff release listed combined max capacity at the two San Mateo County jails of about 1,516. Confirm any current capacity figure against Board of State and Community Corrections data before relying on it.
Maguire Correctional Facility
300 Bradford Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 363-4000
Inmate info 24/7: ext. 6070
Maple Street Correctional Center
1300 Maple Street
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 599-3000
Corrections Bureau main line
Lead-in source: the Sheriff's Office Corrections Division page at smcsheriff.com/corrections-division lists both jails, their addresses, and the units that staff them. The page also points to the inmate mail, money, and program rules used at each site.
The image above is from the live Sheriff Corrections Division page and shows the jail list at a glance. Use it to confirm address details before mailing or visiting.
Booking Process in San Mateo County
A typical San Mateo County booking starts at arrest by a local police force, the Sheriff, the California Highway Patrol, or a federal task force partner. The person is moved to a county jail for intake. Staff confirm identity, run criminal history, take prints, take a photo, and screen for medical and mental-health needs. The Sheriff's custody team then logs the person into the booking system, which feeds the public Inmate Locator. Classification staff assign housing based on charge, security level, prior record, and program needs. The profile in the locator goes live within hours of booking, but the next court date may not show right away.
The first court event in most cases is the arraignment at the Hall of Justice and Records, 400 County Center, Redwood City. The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, sets bail or releases the person on their own recognizance under California rules. Bail values seen on the public roster track the bail set in court, not the cash a bondsman may need. Some charges are listed as "NO BAIL," which means a judge must rule on release. Search underlying case files through the court's court records portal once the docket is filed.
Note: The Inmate Locator says all data shown is the most recent known to the Sheriff's Office and may change as a person moves through the judicial process.
Visitation Hours and Rules
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Corrections Manual sets visit rules across both jails. Visits run on a slot schedule managed at each facility, mix in-person and video visit blocks during the week, and may shift for security or staff reasons. The current public schedule changes from time to time, so confirm by calling the jail before driving to Redwood City. The table below shows a general slot pattern based on the public visit blocks staff have used at the two San Mateo County jails.
| Day | Hours | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Video visit |
| Tuesday | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | In-person visit, Maguire |
| Wednesday | 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | In-person visit, Maple Street |
| Thursday | 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Video visit |
| Friday | 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. | Video visit |
| Saturday | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | In-person and video, both jails |
| Sunday | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. | In-person and video, both jails |
Hard rules from the Sheriff's manual govern every visit:
- Visitors may be asked to show a state or federal driver license, ID card, passport, or military ID.
- No bags, books, or other items may be brought into the visit area. Use the lobby locker.
- No person under 18 may visit without an adult.
- Inmates are limited to two visits in any seven-day period.
- A maximum of three visitors, including children, may visit at one time.
- Inmates may not receive personal items through the visit room.
- Mail is never accepted at the visit desk. Mail must go through the U.S. Postal Service.
How to Contact a San Mateo County Inmate
Mail to a person in San Mateo County jail goes through Smart Communications, the vendor that scans and screens inmate mail for the Sheriff's Office. Senders must put both the inmate's name and ID number on the envelope, plus a full return address. Envelopes may not be decorated. Stamps, paper, envelopes, paperclips, metal fasteners, stickers, and like items are not allowed inside. Polaroid pictures are not allowed. Items deemed contraband are not delivered. Returned mail receives a "Return to Sender" notice and the inmate gets notice of the rejection. Only paperback books direct from a publisher are allowed, no hardback.
Personal mail address:
- Smart Communication - San Mateo County Jail
- Attention: Inmate Name and ID Number
- P.O. Box 9126
- Seminole, FL 33775-9126
Legal mail and certain other approved mail bypass the Florida processing center and go straight to the jail:
- For Maguire inmates: Maguire Correctional Facility, Attn inmate name and ID number, 300 Bradford Street, Redwood City, CA 94063.
- For Maple Street inmates: Maple Street Correctional Center, Attn inmate name and ID number, 1300 Maple Street, Redwood City, CA 94063.
Note: Phone calls are placed by the inmate through the jail phone vendor; family and friends set up a prepaid account with that vendor before the first call.
San Mateo County Inmate Commissary and Funds
Keefe Commissary is the official commissary partner of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. The Sheriff's inmate commissary page lists the Money Deposit and Package Order links used to fund accounts or buy items for a person in custody. Both jails have lobby kiosks that take cash deposits and post funds online within minutes. Online deposits run through the vendor portal, with card fees set by the vendor. Family and friends may also send funds by mail using the vendor's instructions on the kiosk receipt or the Sheriff page.
Package buying has firm caps. Each inmate may receive one package per month, and the total may not exceed $100. The Corrections Bureau at (650) 599-3000 handles commissary questions for both Maguire and Maple Street. Items in a typical package include hygiene, snack food, stationery, and approved clothing. The Sheriff's mail rules bar third parties from sending books, snacks, or photos direct to the inmate; those goods must come through Keefe or a publisher under the rules above.
Inmate programs run on Sheriff-funded contracts plus the long-standing work of the Service League of San Mateo County, 727 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, (650) 364-4664. The Service League has worked with families and people in custody for 50 years. Program lists at smcsheriff.com/inmate-programs include the Enneagram Prison Project, Conflict Transformation and Anger Management with Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, Hope Inside for Women and Men, a Domestic Violence track, Parenting class, and Relapse Prevention/Staying Sober.
Lead-in source: the screenshot above is from the Sheriff's inmate programs page and lists the current classes and partners. Use the page to confirm which programs are open at each jail before a family member asks about enrollment.
What the San Mateo County Roster Does Not Show
The public locator is not a full criminal-history tool. It does not show mugshots, prior bookings, sentence credits, parole or probation status, or the arresting agency. It does not list the housing pod, tank, or unit inside the jail, only the facility name. Warrant numbers tied to a charge do not appear on the public page. Bond type and the name of the magistrate who set bail are also not on the screen. For that data, pull the related court records through the Superior Court portals or call the Records Management Division at the Hall of Justice and Records.
Some bookings are held back from the public site under California law. The locator points to the prior Government Code section 6254(f) and its current recodified language, which allow police to keep names off the public list in narrow cases tied to active investigations or victim safety. If a person should be in custody and no record shows up, the locator tells the user to contact the arresting agency or the local jurisdiction.